Raf is a coffee drink whipped using a cappuccino machine, which contains black coffee, cream and vanilla sugar. Its main difference is that first the coffee and cream are mixed, and only then whipped to the consistency of a homogeneous foam, rather than putting already whipped cream on top of the drink, as is done for other coffee-cream drinks.
Originally from Russia
The history of raf coffee began in Moscow, where the drink was first prepared in the mid-90s of the last century. An unusual order was received from a client of a small coffee shop in the capital called Coffee Bean. This was a kind of challenge to the Russian baristas, who were not at a loss and created a coffee and creamy dessert, which delighted the man. They named the cocktail “raf” in honor of that same client with the name Rafael.
Raf quickly began to gain popularity. Classic raf coffee is made from espresso, cream and granulated sugar. The cocktail has evolved, becoming the basis for coffee dessert drinks with hints of spice and fruit, as well as honey, nutty and even floral notes.
Rough coffee can also be prepared at home. To do this, you need to brew good espresso and know the intricacies of preparing a creamy drink, the observance of which will allow you to enjoy the unique taste in your own kitchen.
How to cook
To make real “coffee for Raphael,” specifically the kind that was served to Coffee Bean guests more than 20 years ago, one cannot do without professional equipment. Otherwise, the ingredients will not mix together properly and you will not get a stable creamy foam of suitable texture.
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Coffee selection
To brew espresso, you must use natural coffee beans. It is better to purchase Arabica beans, which have a rich aroma and mild taste, or a mixture of two main types - Arabica and Robusta. Robusta fruits are less aromatic, but contain more caffeine, giving the drink strength and a characteristic bitterness. The recommended content of robusta grains in the mixture is no more than a fifth of the total mass.
If you have no experience, it is better to buy bean coffee in specialized stores or coffee shops, where you can get expert advice and choose a mixture to your taste. It is important to pay attention to the date of roasting of the grain: the less time has passed after heat treatment, the more aromatic the drink will be.
To make raf coffee, medium roast beans are usually used. The drink should be aromatic, of moderate strength, without pronounced bitterness.
Cream
Cream gives a soft texture to the raffle drink, a unique taste and, together with the manufacturing technique, distinguishes the dessert from other types of coffee drinks. To prepare the cocktail, use fresh cream with 10–15% fat content. This value determines how many calories will be in the finished drink. Cream with high fat content contains more calories and worsens the taste of the dessert.
Raf coffee is a high-calorie dessert. A typical serving of a creamy coffee drink ranges from 150 ml to 180 ml. The average calorie value ranges from 150 to 180 kcal.
Cream is contained in large quantities, and the drink cannot claim to be a low-calorie product. But it is the creamy base that creates the coffee treat.
Sugar and vanilla
Vanilla coffee raf is a classic dessert coffee cocktail. Granulated sugar is added in a 1:1 ratio with vanilla sugar, which gives the cocktail a pleasant sweetish aroma. It is preferable to use natural vanilla. The proportions of the components of the composition can be changed to your own taste.
History of appearance
It was first tasted in one of the first Moscow coffee shop chains, Coffee Bean. The coffee drink was named after one of the visitors named Raphael. According to the story, he refused the drinks offered on the menu, and the barista conducted an experiment for him. The coffee maker has developed a unique formula for soft, sweet coffee.
Unusual tasting coffee drink
Rough coffee was created at the end of the 20th century in 1996-1997. After Rafael liked the new type of coffee drink, Coffee Bean began offering “Raf” to other visitors. They started ordering the new product more and more often with the words “coffee like Raf’s.”
Gradually the drink acquired its modern name. The coffee shop's students gradually began working in other Moscow establishments, and in this way the unique recipe spread.
Invented in the Moscow coffee shop "Coffee-Bean"
Over time, “Raf” became popular not only in the capitals, but also in other regions of the country. Nowadays, in 2022, baristas in other countries began preparing this drink. The recipe reached Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus.
Outside the CIS and in America, Raf coffee can be found quite rarely; they practically don’t know about it there. But most often this milky coffee aromatic drink can be tasted in coffee shops in the Czech Republic and Indonesia.
What you need to prepare the drink
To prepare raf coffee at home, you will need utensils and utensils that allow you to brew espresso and beat it with cream and sugar until a thick foam forms.
A coffee maker facilitates and speeds up the process, and a professional coffee machine completely mechanizes it. In the absence of special equipment, you can prepare raf coffee using improvised devices, such as a Turk and a regular blender. If you are using whole grains, you will also need a grinder.
To preserve the original properties, it is better to grind the coffee beans immediately before brewing. Optimally, the grind should be fine (espresso grind). Depending on the method of preparing raf coffee at home, an average degree of grain grinding is allowed.
Manufacturing Features
The process of preparing classic raf coffee using any available method includes the following stages:
- brewing espresso;
- heating the cream;
- combining espresso with cream;
- adding sugar;
- whisking the mixture.
Espresso for raf coffee is brewed according to a traditional recipe without adding sugar. For a 170 ml serving you will need 30 - 45 ml of espresso. You can cook grain in different ways. It is best to do this in a coffee machine or coffee maker. But it is allowed to prepare black coffee in a Turk, French press, or mug. In the case of manual brewing, the coffee is passed through a filter to remove grounds.
The cream is heated by any available method to a temperature of 50 - 60 degrees, ready-made coffee and other ingredients are added and the composition is whipped.
An important technological feature is the combined whipping of espresso and cream. This stage is the main difference between raf coffee and other well-known types of drinks with dairy products (coffee with milk or cream, latte, cappuccino, mochaccino), in which mass is added to the espresso base in its original form, pre-whipped or in the form of foam.
Rough coffee is a cocktail with a delicate texture, uniform consistency and rich foam that is worth preparing. Using a coffee machine allows you to achieve this result, but you can master the recipe without special equipment. With the right approach, the difference in taste will not be critical.
Difference from cappuccino and latte
These drinks are prepared using the same ingredients, but there are significant differences between them. For example, the difference from cappuccino lies in the subtleties of preparation. When creating raf, cream is added directly to the cup and mixed with coffee there. In the case of cappuccino, the milk product is whipped with a cappuccino machine and then poured into the finished espresso.
When preparing a latte, all components are laid out in layers. The first of these is heated milk. Then black coffee is added, and creamy foam is poured on top. It is extremely important here that the ingredients do not mix.
Whipping devices
Modern coffee machines are equipped with functions for making raf coffee from the grinding stage to whipping cream with ready-made espresso. In other cases, a whipping device will be required.
A cappuccino machine is a special attachment or a separate hand-held device for whipping milk base. Professional coffee machines with a built-in cappuccino maker allow you to get long-lasting, high creamy foam. Streams of steam under pressure successfully cope with the task. You can make raf coffee at home using a manual cappuccino maker or a regular blender.
The technical side of the classic raf coffee recipe implies the presence of a pitcher. A pitcher is a container for frothing milk or cream that looks like a jug with a wide neck of various sizes. Metal pitchers are most convenient to use. Dishes are also made from ceramics and plastic. In the pitcher, cream and coffee are whipped together with the rest of the ingredients.
At home, you can use other suitable containers for whipping, but keep in mind that when whipping the mixture increases in volume by 1.5 times.
Rough coffee is prepared in different variations while maintaining the same coffee-creamy base. You can diversify the raf coffee recipe by adding various syrups. Berry, fruit, milk syrups, as well as chocolate and maple syrups are suitable. Liqueurs and cognacs will add piquancy to the cocktail.
Vanilla coffee dessert
Coffee with cream and vanilla is the basis of the recipe. Vanilla raf coffee is prepared on average in 15 minutes using standard ingredients.
For one serving of vanilla raffa you will need:
- 30 – 40 ml espresso (or black coffee prepared at the rate of 10 grams of ground beans per 30 grams of water);
- 100 ml fresh 10% cream;
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar;
- 5 grams of vanilla sugar.
Prepare espresso in the usual way. Heat the cream and pour it into the pitcher. Then add espresso, vanilla and regular sugar and beat the mixture. Vanilla sugar can be successfully replaced with vanilla syrup. In this case, you will need 1 dessert spoon of syrup per serving of drink.
It is customary to drink raf coffee warm. The drink is served in tall glass glasses that are preheated, with or without a cocktail straw.
Submission tips and secrets
As a rule, raf coffee is served in cups intended for cappuccino. In this dish, the powder on the surface looks impressive. It is also possible to pour the cocktail into transparent glasses. At the same time, everyone will be able to appreciate its cream color and original balloon cap.
The drink should be served in preheated containers. Thanks to this, it will fully reveal its taste and aromatic qualities. The cocktail is placed on the table immediately after the preparation process is completed. It is extremely important that the foam has not yet settled at this point.
Among the many coffee drinks, raff deserves special attention. This is one of the few coffee recipes that were invented in Russia. It has excellent taste and has gained popularity outside the country. There are many recipes for its preparation. You just have to choose the one that is most suitable for you.
Raf with honey
To make honey raff at home, you need to add as much honey as there is sugar in a regular recipe. Otherwise, the drink is prepared according to general rules.
Honey-creamy raf consists of the following ingredients:
- 45 ml espresso;
- 100 ml fresh cream 10% fat;
- 2 teaspoons of natural honey.
The finished espresso is poured into heated cream, honey is added and whipped. The drink should be drunk warm. You can sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top.
Rough honey coffee is pleasant to drink warm. It has a delicate aroma and velvety taste with natural sweetness. Coffee with cream and honey is an unusual and healthy recipe.
Reviews
Marina, St. Petersburg
It seems to me that this is the most feminine coffee that exists. Although the name sounds a little harsh, in reality the taste is very delicate and soft. I often prepare lavender raff at home. It turns out a little different than in a cafe. Maybe because I cook it in a cezve.
Anastasia, Moscow
In a coffee shop next to the office I buy raf coffee for 300 rubles. for a cup. I take different varieties, especially tasty ones - lavender and citrus. I cooked it at home once, but it didn’t turn out right.
Andrey, Nizhny-Novgorod
My wife loves this coffee very much. When I want to please her, I prepare her a cup of lavender raf in bed.
Citrus raf
Making a citrus coffee dessert in your home kitchen is easy. Orange is suitable for making cocktails, as it is an aromatic fruit with moderate acidity. Use orange juice, ideally freshly squeezed, or orange sugar. By adding this sugar instead of juice, the raf will be softer and sweeter.
To prepare orange raff you will need:
- 45 ml espresso;
- 80 ml cream 10% fat;
- 1 tablespoon orange juice (or 1 teaspoon orange sugar);
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
The finished coffee is added to the heated cream, fresh orange juice and granulated sugar are added and the mixture is whipped until foam forms.
To avoid pieces of pulp getting into the drink, the orange juice must first be strained.
The combination of coffee and cream blended with citrus notes makes the taste rich and bright.
Raf cheese drink
An interesting cocktail with cheese flavor is worthy of the attention of even those who consider coffee to be an ordinary drink. Cheese raf can have a sweet or spicy taste, slightly spicy or salty. Preparing the drink is not difficult, and you will definitely be able to surprise with an unusual recipe.
To make raf cheese coffee at home you need the following ingredients:
- double espresso;
- 50 ml cream or full-fat milk;
- 50 grams of soft cream cheese;
- salt, sugar, spices - to taste.
The difference starts with brewing espresso, which will require a larger volume. For 100 ml of clean water, take 2 full teaspoons of ground grain and brew in an accessible way. If desired, add salt at the tip of the knife and spices.
Place cheese in warm cream and mix thoroughly until smooth. Pour the prepared espresso into the mixture, add a teaspoon of sugar (to taste) and beat with a blender or cappuccino maker until the mass increases in volume and foam forms.
Sugar may not be added during the cooking process at the initial stage if you lack experience. It’s better to make the drink unsweetened once, taste it, and if necessary, sprinkle powdered sugar on top. When re-preparing the cheese raffa, it will be easier to decide on the ingredients.
Nut-coffee dessert
Making raf nut coffee involves using peanut paste, which gives the drink a delicate aroma. How many calories are in a serving depends on the ingredients. To reduce calorie content, it is recommended to replace cream with milk.
To prepare the cocktail you will need:
- 30 – 40 ml espresso;
- 100 ml fresh milk;
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter;
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
The dense nut mass is stirred in warm milk until smooth. Add sugar and prepared espresso and beat the mixture thoroughly.
Coconut cocktail
An unusual recipe for making raf coffee with coconut milk, which turned out to be a worthy replacement for cream, will help bring a touch of exoticism to the menu. The drink turns out nutritious and delicate, with an unusual taste. Calorie content is 86 kcal per 100 g.
Coconut drink consists of the following components:
- double espresso;
- 100 g coconut milk;
- 1 teaspoon sugar;
- coconut shavings for decoration.
The ingredients are mixed and whipped according to general rules. Before consumption, raf is sprinkled with coconut flakes.
Rough coffee is a drink that you should buy at a coffee shop and try to make at home. In a coffee shop, the cost of a serving ranges from 100 to 200 rubles. Homemade rough costs no more than 50 rubles. Following simple rules reduces the differences between a barista’s cocktail and a homemade drink to a minimum.
Additional Information
If you go by the classic recipe, then raf coffee contains about 80-90 calories (see how to calculate the calorie content of coffee?). If you change the recipe, you should take into account the characteristics of the ingredients used. All information can be found on the packaging.
The cost of such a cocktail in an establishment is around 160 rubles. Everything is very approximate - as you can see above, there are quite a lot of recipes. As well as the ingredients used - hence the possible price change.
Have you tried Raf coffee? Share your experience in the comments below!
