A professional barista will probably have a lot of different recipes for preparing a wonderful, aromatic treat in his arsenal. One of the most popular is raf coffee (spelled in English - coffee raf).
Some chuckle, calling it a treat for girls, but among its admirers there are many brutal men and respectable businessmen. If you still haven’t heard about this drink, don’t know what it is, or how to prepare it at home, read our review.
Raf coffee - what is it?
So, we are talking about a drink made from espresso, sugar (usually vanilla), and cream. The ingredients are whipped by the pitcher. All components are whipped at the same time. Of course, the Russian version is not as exotic as “kopi”, which means Singaporean coffee, but still, it has a huge number of fans. Unlike cappuccino, for which a technological map has been developed, raf is an original recipe, so there are no strict standards or requirements.
It is recommended to use low-fat cream - 10%; it does not need to be whipped for long, so the foamy head is less fluffy and thick than coffee prepared using traditional Viennese technology.
Various syrups are added; according to true connoisseurs, lavender is best. The taste of the treat is tender, with a pronounced creamy note.
Interesting fact! Lavender raff is a worthy alternative to pumpkin latte.
History of origin
An amazing fact: coffee appeared in Russia, namely in 1996 in a small and cozy establishment “Coffee Bean” not far from the Kuznetsky Most metro station (Moscow). Here they sold grains and offered drinks prepared according to various recipes.
One day a strange guest, either Raphael or Raphael (the exact name has not been preserved), came here. It was not only the name that was strange, but also the very fact that he entered the coffee shop - the guest claimed that he did not drink coffee because no one could prepare it to please.
For the barista, the phrase sounded like a challenge. They offered many variations to the reluctant client and finally got rave reviews from the client. Raphael was captivated by the treat of strong espresso, sugar, and cream with a fat content of no more than 10%.
Many visitors ordered coffee “Like Rafa”, then for convenience the name was shortened, leaving a simple one – Raf. Today, the number of options and components confidently tends to infinity; they add citrus, honey, chocolate, various syrups, and lavender. One thing remains unchanged - amazing taste, delicate texture.
Mix milk and cream to obtain 10% fat content
I would like to note right away that mixing cream with milk is an extra burden on the barista’s intellectual abilities, which leads to an increase in the number of mistakes. In addition, milk and cream still need to be mixed evenly, and storing open cream for a long time is also not the best thing that can happen to it. In order for the reader to assess whether he needs this, mixing calculations will be given below.
For calculations we use Fine Life , sold in Metro, with the price at the time of writing. Conventionally, we assume the fat content of milk is 3.2% and the price is 60 rubles per liter.
When purchasing 10% cream: price per liter is 183 rubles.
When purchasing 20% cream: mix cream with milk in a ratio of 2 to 3. The resulting cream is 9.92% fat. Price per liter is 147 rubles.
When purchasing 33% cream: cream and milk are mixed in a ratio of 1 to 3. The resulting cream is 10.65% fat. Price per liter is 139.5 rubles.
What do we have in terms of overall savings? For a “coffee to go” island with a turnover of about 150,000 rubles, this is approximately 1,500 rubles per month.
Classic recipe step by step
Wikipedia will tell you in detail what types of treats there are, and here is a classic recipe for cooking.
- Prepare the necessary components.
- The cup must be warmed up.
- Pour the cream into the pitcher, add sugar (vanilla or 50% regular, 50% vanilla, so that the bitterness characteristic of vanilla does not appear);
- Brew espresso, pour in cream and sugar.
- Whisk the ingredients.
- Warm the cup, pour and garnish before serving.
Raf coffee at home
The lack of a coffee machine is not a reason to refuse an aromatic, tasty treat. Brew strong coffee in a convenient way. Be sure to strain the drink. Sugar is added to the cream and heated in the microwave for about 2 minutes. Then the components need to be mixed, beat with a blender until foam appears (you can use a whisk).
You can also use any mechanical cappuccino maker. But an automatic cappuccino maker for whipping will not work, as the milk pipes become clogged. If the cream is heavy, it can be diluted with milk. If you want to make a larger portion, simply make a double shot of espresso. Cream and sugar are added according to taste or according to the volume of the dishes.
Important! A homemade treat will not work out like in a coffee shop, for one simple reason - there is not enough steam power. However, the drink is tasty, close to the original, especially if you use a coffee machine.
Original recipes with additives
Raf has gained enormous popularity, many baristas have come up with their own recipes, which is why today there are so many variations on the theme of a delicate, aromatic drink. Moreover, in its short history it has received awards in various competitions and today has become part of the classic coffee menu.
Lavender
The classic recipe appeared only in 1996, but this did not stop creative people with a rich imagination from coming up with fascinating legends for the drink. One of them is about lavender raff. The Chinese emperor went on a campaign with his wife. One day he was preparing coffee for the woman he loved, but fell asleep. When the couple was resting, lavender flowers fell into the cups, and the drink turned out wonderful. After drinking it, the emperor and his wife felt cheerfulness and strength.
To prepare a treat according to the recipe from the legend, you will need lavender petals. You can purchase them at any pharmacy or grow a flower yourself. A teaspoon of petals is crushed, added to the rest of the ingredients, then prepared according to the classic recipe.
Chocolate with spices
You will need one shot of espresso, 100 ml of cream, 50 g of dark chocolate, but if you prefer milk chocolate, take it and other spices to taste. You need to melt the chocolate in a water bath, brew coffee, mix the ingredients, and beat them. Sprinkle spices on top.
Orange
An original combination of the taste of coffee beans and citrus fruits. To prepare, you will need a teaspoon of chopped orange zest, then the drink is prepared according to the traditional recipe. However, you can use orange or tangerine flavored syrup (20 ml), then you don’t have to add sugar.
Another recipe - instead of zest and syrup, add 20 ml of freshly squeezed juice. The juice is pre-strained. Other components are added according to the traditional recipe. Citrus drink speeds up metabolism and strengthens the immune system.
Honey
Instead of sugar, add honey - 1-2 teaspoons, depending on how sweet you drink your coffee.
Advice! If the honey is sugared, you can heat it and it will become liquid again.
Rough cheese (cheese) coffee
For a cheese treat you will need soft cream cheese - 30 g, milk 100 ml, cream 50 ml, one shot of espresso. An important feature of this coffee is that all ingredients must first be blended with a blender, only then heated. The top of the drink is decorated with grated cheese.
With halva
Instead of sugar, use halva, if you take a traditional dessert - 25 g, if syrup - 20 ml, you also need cream - 150 ml, one serving of espresso. Some gourmets add 10 ml of nut syrup.
All ingredients must be whisked and then heated.
Raf Snickers (peanut)
All you need for a peanut treat is adding a tablespoon of peanut butter. Then the products are mixed and traditionally whipped. If you prefer sweet peanut raffe, pour in 20 ml of caramel syrup. To decorate the finished drink, use whipped cream and roasted peanuts in sugar.
Raffaello or coconut
Recipe for connoisseurs of Raffaello sweets and coconut flavor. Instead of cream, coconut milk is used (volume - 150 ml). Then the ingredients are mixed and beaten. The drink is sprinkled with coconut on top.
Walnut
Coffee and nuts are another successful combination of flavors. To prepare nut raffa you will need 15 ml of hazelnut syrup, Brazil nut syrup, 150 ml of cream, one serving of traditional espresso. Decorated with whipped cream and roasted almond petals.
Raf gingerbread
Coffee and the subtle taste of gingerbread are the perfect combination for the cold season. Instead of sugar, you can use 10 ml vanilla syrup, you also need to add 20 ml gingerbread syrup, 150 ml cream, one shot of espresso. Decorated with whipped cream and candied fruits.
As you can see, there are a huge number of cooking options, we talked about the most popular ones. If you like experiments and original combinations, create your own, original version.
Of course, it will no longer be the raf familiar to many, but perhaps the new drink will be no less tasty and will win the hearts of millions of coffee lovers.
If among the recipes presented you did not find the one you want to try, watch the video with other unusual recipes:
Also, experiment, try making strawberry, almond, raspberry raf. Many sites offer detailed recipes, photos, master classes, so if you are caught up in coffee addiction, try, mix, surprise.
For lovers of exotic tastes, there is salted raf with salted caramel. Today, Russian coffee shops offer guests wonderful treats, for example, in Shokoladnitsa they prepare raf with Far Eastern lemongrass.
The following video will interest novice baristas:
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.
What is the difference between raff and latte and cappuccino?
Cappuccino and latte are perhaps the most popular coffee drinks with the addition of milk or cream. Unlike them, the new Russian recipe does not enjoy such fame, but this is a temporary phenomenon. Here are the main differences:
- Only cream and never milk are used for cooking;
- The preparation technology is different - for latte and cappuccino, milk is whipped separately, added to the finished coffee, when raffe is prepared, all ingredients are whipped together.
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.
