A note about instant coffee
Instant coffee is characterized by a large number of disadvantages, which, unfortunately, outweigh its advantages. This drink is characterized by high acidity. In this regard, it is not advisable to drink coffee on an empty stomach for people who suffer from stomach diseases, especially if it is a soluble powder. Those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases should not drink instant coffee.
It should also be noted that, contrary to the prevailing opinion that instant decaffeinated coffee is not harmful, it has a negative effect on health. This product provokes the formation and deposition of kidney stones. There is also an assumption among doctors that decaffeinated instant coffee can have a carcinogenic effect on the body.
Think a few times before taking instant coffee off the shelf, maybe natural ground coffee is still better?
Choice of ground coffee
For express brewing you need medium grind coffee. Ground grains that are ground too finely form a suspension in the bowl, which not everyone likes, and grains of coarsely ground grains are good for filtration brewing, but in a mug they float up and spoil the impression of the drink.
It is ideal when the grains are ground immediately before use, but often this is not possible. You can buy grains in specialized shops and ask them to immediately grind them as needed.
In supermarkets, a product suitable for brewing in a mug is marked with a special inscription or icon on the packaging. An opened pack should be used within 2 weeks by pouring the contents into an airtight, opaque jar.
- Don't miss: How to store ground coffee at home
It is best to brew ground coffee in a mug using only Arabica beans, without adding Robusta. Single-varietal high-mountain Arabica beans are the most advantageous with this preparation option, but espresso blends are not at all suitable here.
- More on the topic: Arabica or Robusta, which is better?
Egyptian style with foam
To prepare a delicious Egyptian version, you will need the following ingredients:
- coffee extract - 2-3 spoons;
- granulated sugar - optional;
- warm milk - 100 milliliters;
- mineral water - 100 milliliters.
There are several nuances to how to prepare coffee according to the Egyptian recipe. Pour the powder and sugar with warm water up to 40 degrees. Do not take liquid from the tap.
How to make foam correctly is indicated above. To make it fuller, use a straw. Lower it to the bottom of the vessel and rotate quickly.
Spoon the finished foam onto the top of the contents of the cup. The drink can be served.
The drink must not boil
Making coffee just involves bringing the drink to a boil. The Turk should be removed from the heat as soon as the foam begins to rise.
After a break of a minute, the Turk with the drink should be put on the fire and brought to a boil again. It is recommended to repeat all steps two more times to ensure the best aroma and taste.
Cooking secrets, milk and foam
To properly prepare instant coffee at home, warm the cup well, for example, pour boiling water over it.
Pour 1-2 teaspoons of granules into an empty container, add sugar as desired. Stir the resulting mixture, pour a couple of tablespoons of hot water.
Grind everything again until smooth, add water to the desired level. Its temperature should not exceed 90 degrees. Boiling water is not recommended, as it interrupts the taste and makes the drink “run away.”
If you like to drink it with milk, it is better to add it warm. When cold, it dulls the aroma.
To prepare the foam, instead of granulated sugar, use powder, 1-2 teaspoons more. You will need 50 milliliters of cold clean water for a couple of spoons of sugar, along with a spoon of coffee extract.
You will have to whisk the foam by hand for a long time and vigorously. To make several servings, it is better to use a blender. The height of the “cap” will be greater if you take powder rather than sublimate or granules.
Making the right cappuccino
Cappuccino from powdered raw materials can be made in two ways: cold and hot.
The first method is to churn the ingredients with ice. In a mug or other suitable container, mix 2 tablespoons of powder, 50 milliliters of chocolate syrup, 150-200 milliliters of milk and granulated sugar to taste.
Beat the resulting mixture thoroughly with a blender. Add frozen water at the end, crush it first. Finish the composition with grated chocolate.
To brew a hot cappuccino, pour 2 tablespoons of the powder mixture with hot water and milk. Take both liquids in equal parts - 100-150 milliliters. Add sugar to taste. To make the drink as if it came from a coffee shop, first prepare the foam. How to do this is discussed above.
Using ice
Let's look at how to make a cold version of the usual coffee. The following ingredients will be required:
- powder – 5 spoons;
- granulated sugar – 5 spoons;
- water – 250 milliliters;
- milk – 250 milliliters;
- vanilla - on the tip of a knife.
Mix the powdered extract with sugar, add hot water, stir again and let cool. Add vanilla, pour liquid into ice cube trays, freeze.
Add the resulting ice to cold milk and refrigerate for a quarter of an hour. During this time, the ice will melt and the components will mix together.
This kind of treat is a great refresher in the summer heat. It is advisable to drink it through a straw.
How to brew instant coffee correctly
We will teach you how to brew instant coffee to get an original budget drink. These tips will come in handy when you don’t have time to cook natural, you’ve run out of grains, or you want to try new flavors. Keep in mind that one cup of coffee made from powder, granules or sublimate contains 60-80 milligrams of caffeine. Therefore, study the characteristics of manufacturers' brands and dilute the drink with milk or cream, vanilla, and ginger.
Intensive boiling
Another common mistake is boiling the drink too hot.
Make sure that your coffee does not boil for too long when brewing.
If you let it sit on the stove for too long, you will get a drink without foam and, as a result, the aroma and taste will lose their entire palette, and you will get just an ordinary drink - the worst of those served on tap in various eateries.
No rush!
Turkish coffee is brewed only at the lowest heat, which is the fundamental rule for preparing a high-quality drink.
Often this condition is ignored due to the constant rush of many busy people. But if you really want to enjoy the rich taste and aroma, you will have to forget about the rush.
With milk and cinnamon
Let's figure out how to brew instant coffee using this recipe. The technology is similar to the previous version. Prepare:
- 2 tablespoons of coffee extract;
- 40-50 milliliters of milk with 3% fat content;
- granulated sugar optional;
- cinnamon on the tip of a knife.
- 160-170 milliliters of water.
Pour the powder, sublimate or granules along with sugar into a cup. Fill the ingredients to ¾ of the container with hot water. While the liquid is infused, heat the milk. Pour it into a cup and sprinkle cinnamon on top. Instead of milk, you can use cream.
Adding salt
The tandem of coffee and salt makes the drink more aromatic. In this case, we are, of course, not talking about adding a large amount of salt to the drink. Two or three crystals of the salty ingredient will be enough to obtain the desired result.
Ginger also has the same properties, a small amount of which can also be placed in the Turk before adding water.
Grinding Features
There are different opinions as to which coffee grind is more aromatic and tasty. Much depends on individual preferences, so it is recommended to try different options to find the best one.
Characteristic
Production
When a plant produces a soluble extract, the grains go through several stages of processing. What is described in the article “What is coffee made from?”
As a result, coffee granules or powder lose the taste properties that are characteristic of the beans. But we will teach you how to make a tasty, aromatic and healthy drink from instant coffee.
Before we tell you how to brew the instant version, let’s find out its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of the drink: it is quickly prepared, has a rich taste, and can be diluted with various ingredients.
There are more disadvantages compared to its natural grain counterpart. The drink has an adverse effect on kidney function. It washes away calcium, magnesium, potassium, disrupts the water balance, and promotes the formation of stones.
No matter how tasty the powdered extract is prepared, it should not be drunk by people who have problems with the cardiovascular system: coronary heart disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents.
It is not recommended to drink instant coffee for people with chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and duodenum: cholecystitis, gastritis, colitis, ulcers.
The limitation is due to the increased acidity of the product - 3-4 pH. The normal value for the gastrointestinal tract is 5-7 pH, for the duodenum - 5.6-7.9 pH.
Types and selection criteria
Coffee powder extract may contain bean waste and food additives (E636) to enhance the aftertaste and aroma. The finished hot drink emits a noticeable chemical smell, and the taste becomes cloying.
Continuing the topic, we recommend that you read the article “Freeze-dried coffee: what does it mean and how is it made.”
The article “The most important things about granulated coffee” contains information about this type.
When choosing delicious coffee from powder, sublimate or granules, pay attention to trusted brands and user reviews.
Before preparing, pay attention to the additives and brewing method indicated on the package.
