In coffee shops, espresso is served with cold water. Sometimes restaurant menus indicate that water is served with espresso and does not need to be ordered separately.
What is the reason for the existence of such a tradition? Why should you drink espresso with water? In this article we will try to answer these questions.
What is the reason
The taste of coffee is enhanced with H2O. Drinking fluids also reduces the body's production of HCl (hydrochloric acid). Water reduces heartburn when drinking coffee in the morning on an empty stomach.
Caffeine increases blood pressure. And water reduces caffeine levels and normalizes blood pressure.
Coffee, through its effect on the urinary system, helps remove fluid from the body. It is necessary to prevent dehydration and restore water balance.
Another reason why espresso and its varieties are accompanied by water has been shown by recent scientific research.
According to the discovery of scientists, a fair amount of caffeine is contained in the upper shell of the grain. And caffeine is known to excite the nervous system.
Meanwhile, the main interior of the grain contains theobromine. This substance has a soporific effect on humans.
Therefore, water prolongs the invigorating effect of caffeine and, on the contrary, neutralizes the effect of theobromine. In another way, two different components of grain under the influence of water smoothly affect a person.
It should be taken into account that freeze-dried and soluble types of coffee are made from the internal component of the grain. They lack the upper shell, which contains more caffeine. Accordingly, there is more theobromine. And it’s better to drink it down.
Water weakens the irritating effect of strong coffee on the gastric mucosa.
Caffeine has different effects on the blood vessels of the heart, brain and other human organs and on the kidneys. If it compresses the vessels of the former, then it expands in the kidneys. Therefore, there will be a desire to visit one place, a desire to drink water due to dry mouth.
However, caffeine does not last long. Theobromine helps dilate blood vessels, but the kidney vessels, on the contrary, narrow and blood supply deteriorates. That's why the kidneys need sips of water;
A glass of water prevents dehydration, ensures stable organ function and the overall water balance of the body; Another, but secondary, function of water is to cool the body before drinking coffee;
In addition, they drink water to:
- Eliminate the bitter aftertaste of strong, dark-roasted varieties;
- Balance the effect of coffee substances such as caffeine and theobromine on the vascular system;
- Don't take risks with pressure;
- Protect from overheating in hot weather;
- Replenish water deficiency in the circulatory system;
- Improve the sensitivity of taste receptors;
- Preserve the aftertaste of espresso longer;
- Neutralize foreign spice tastes and odors.
Why is coffee served with water?
To understand why cold water is served with coffee, you first need to know how this tradition appeared. There is an assumption that this custom originated in Ancient Greece. According to historians, this is where a glass of cool liquid was first served with a hot drink. The goal that was pursued then was the opportunity to get a charge of vivacity, freshness and cool down a little. This is due to the fact that coffee beans have a tonic effect, and Greece is characterized by fairly hot climatic conditions.
There is also a version that water is served along with coffee for a completely different reason. This tradition originated in Turkey. Here, the use of liquid was due to the fact that the invigorating drink was prepared on the sand using a cezve, and it was drunk separately from food. Before enjoying the contents of the small cup, it was necessary to neutralize the taste of previously eaten foods. Therefore, first we drank water and only after that coffee.
The tradition of such an unusual serving, which came from the East, is also due to the need to avoid dehydration. It is known that coffee drink has a diuretic effect, and in hot climates, fluid loss increases even more. Therefore, local residents began to resort to this combination in order to maintain water balance.
When to drink water: before or after
It is recommended to take small sips of water before, during and after drinking espresso. Only then will it be useful, will give a unique sensation to the taste sensors and will not leave a bad aftertaste. All these actions can be logically explained.
Water is drunk before coffee to eliminate the remnants of previous food on the taste sensors and to prepare them to perceive all the notes of coffee. Only then will a person fully enjoy the sensation and retain the trail of flavor for a long time.
You should alternate coffee with water. All the beauty of the taste and aroma of espresso cannot be felt immediately by sipping it. Therefore, to enhance the sensations, it is recommended to drink a small liquid before coffee.
Subsequently, the sensations are saturated, and the quality of the coffee is felt more intensely. In addition, water weakens the sugary or sour taste in the drink and temporarily eliminates the feeling of thirst.
To leave the espresso aftertaste, drink 200 ml of water after 15-20 minutes.
How to drink correctly?
You can drink water before drinking coffee or during the process. In the first case, water allows you to remove the taste of the food you eat and prepare the receptors for enjoying the aromatic drink. Usually one or two large sips are enough. You can also drink liquid during the process: this will cleanse the receptors that are accustomed to the coffee taste. If you are at home, you can drink water at the end of your coffee to clean your mouth and rinse your teeth enamel. It's quite hygienic. But remember, such a gesture in almost any cafe in any country (and especially in the East) will be perceived by the barista as an insult, since it is believed that you only want to wash down a tasteless drink.
Why do people drink water after espresso?
- To protect teeth. It is believed that coffee leaves a residue on the enamel, damaging the whiteness.
Therefore, it is suggested to drink water after espresso to wash away the coffee pigment and to prevent the effect on tooth enamel.
However, there are people who believe that such sips will not save tooth enamel from absorbing plaque.
- To protect the cardiovascular system. To reduce the effect of espresso on the system, it is advised to follow the coffee with cool, clean water in small quantities. The drinks will mix in the stomach and there will be little effect. Water reduces overload and heart rate and prevents a sharp rise in blood pressure.
- To protect against constriction of renal vessels. A person suffering from damage to this organ needs water so that the blood vessels do not narrow and pain does not appear.
- To prevent dehydration. The minor diuretic properties of the drink are reflected in tissues and skin. Thus, the water following the espresso replaces moisture in the body.
In fact, the diuretic effect of coffee is not very pronounced and dehydration of the body does not occur when consuming a couple or three cups of espresso.
- To eliminate aftertaste. Water relieves the oral cavity of bitter or sour tastes.
Four reasons why you should drink coffee with water
- Espresso, brewed according to all the rules, is a rich, aromatic drink. In this case, taste buds quickly stop responding properly to stimuli. Accordingly, the taste of coffee is not felt properly after just a few sips. Therefore, it must be washed down. Just one sip of the tasteless liquid helps cleanse the receptors. You can feel the bouquet of rich espresso shades again. As a rule, this is how they drink high-quality drinks prepared in compliance with all the technical features.
- Another reason to drink water after coffee is that cool liquid reduces the effects of caffeine. The concentration of the alkaloid decreases, and due to this it is possible to avoid sudden changes in blood pressure and normalize the heart rhythm.
- This combination of drinks, which are drunk alternately, has a beneficial effect on the condition of the teeth. Coffee is known to change the shade of tooth enamel - a brown coating appears on it. Thanks to water, the coloring pigment is not absorbed and is easily washed off.
- In addition, in hot weather, this way you can not only get a boost of energy, but also refresh yourself . Espresso helps to tone up, and cool water cools down. To achieve the most vibrant refreshing effect, it is recommended to drink it at the end of your coffee meal. This is exactly what was practiced in Greece.
Requirements for water quality and properties
Serve cool, clean, chlorine-free liquid. Water that has undergone a distillation process will not work. Temperature is about 10-15 °C, optimal is 8–10 °C and above. In hot weather it should not exceed 20°C.
Water should be served in a thick-walled transparent glass to maintain the temperature of the liquid longer. It would be great if it was spring water or well water. Or still drinking water from the store.
Do not add ice, sugar or sweeteners to the water. It is also not advisable to add lemon or fruit juices or herbal infusions to water.
Only if you want to enhance or emphasize the taste sensations, then you can mix juice or decoction into drinks of the original recipe.
What should the water be like?
You are allowed to consume any liquid based on personal preference. Bottled, non-carbonated mineral water, purified through a filter, with gas, or spring water are suitable. It is important that there are no impurities, it is not chlorinated, and has no foreign odors or tastes. Professional baristas prefer to use soft water, which does not produce sediment, is better absorbed by the body and helps to reveal the flavor subtleties of brewed coffee.
To highlight the aroma and taste of an invigorating drink, follow these rules:
- The water temperature should not be too low, approximately +10 °C is a suitable option. Using excessively cold liquid can lead to problems with tooth enamel, which reacts negatively to sudden changes in the temperature of foods and drinks.
- On a hot summer day, it is advisable to serve coffee with a glass of cold water with a slice of lime or a circle of lemon. Citrus, refreshing taste will help avoid dehydration and quench your thirst faster.
- For flavoring, you can add orange zest or fresh mint leaves. But watch the amount of additional ingredients so as not to get too strong a taste.
- Regardless of what you drink along with the invigorating drink, drink the liquid in small sips, as if savoring it, while rinsing your mouth.
- Mineral water or any other variety is usually served in a tall glass, one-third full.
The taste of coffee and traditions of communication
Coffee has a pronounced, intense taste. The first sips of a quality drink can enchant, but then the taste buds get used to it and the aroma ceases to be noticeable. Drinking water can cleanse your taste buds, allowing yourself to experience the magic of those first sips over and over again. Thus, the tradition of drinking coffee with water allows you to greatly increase the pleasure of the drink.
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In Turkey, coffee is often drunk after a meal, which ends slowly, turning into communication between people sitting at the table. After the main course has been eaten, a few sips of water will help get rid of the aftertaste so you can enjoy your coffee more. And the opportunity to alternate an invigorating drink with water allows you to prolong the conversation, gatherings at the table, because southerners are very sociable and value the company of loved ones no less than the Slavs.
“When eating, the receptors need to be reset with water”
4K 3 min.
Water is a unique product that can easily be spoiled by a piece of ice or lemon. It appears on the dinner table much more often than wine, accompanies dishes and often helps to feel their taste and retain the aftertaste. About how and why to drink water, Marina Gladkaya
said the holder of the title “Best Sommelier of the World 2007”
Andreas Larsson
, specially invited to Kiev by the producers of mineral waters Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino.
— How to serve water correctly in a restaurant?
- The correct temperature is important for both wine and water - it is important not to make a mistake in this delicate matter. Wine is not always present on the table, but you can’t do without water; it is the first gastronomic companion of every meal. For example, San Pellegrino sparkling water is always served at a temperature of 8-10 degrees, while non-carbonated Acqua Panna requires a temperature slightly higher than 10-12. Water also has its own bouquet of taste; the minerals in it should be revealed, but not predominate. When the temperature rises, the necessary balance is lost, the minerals can open up too much, and then the taste will lose.
— Why do they carbonate water?
— Most often, mineral water is carbonated to level the mirror of harmonious taste. If you leave everything as it is, ringing, metallic notes will predominate in the water, and not everyone likes this; the gas softens the taste of mineral water, and this is great. Few people take water seriously, although in fact it is a delicate product that does not tolerate barbaric treatment. Water is a real delicacy, and its taste must be protected. Before water reaches our table, it faces a number of dangers. First, it is important to store water properly.
- How to do this?
— While a bottle of water is sent to the establishment to fulfill its main function - to provide a competent accompaniment to food so that the guest enjoys it, it is exposed to environmental influences - changes in temperature, lighting, exposure to ultraviolet rays, shock and attack by foreign odors. The first enemy of water is heavy odors: cigarette smoke or any other odors that water inevitably absorbs. Try leaving an open container with the most delicious and clean water in the refrigerator. After a while, you simply won't be able to drink it. The water will absorb the smell of lemon, goose liver and anything else. Water must be stored in a clean, cool, odor-free environment if you want it to arrive on the dinner table in perfect condition. Like any other food product, water loves gentle, attentive treatment, and the topic of combining water and food is actually more important than many others.
— Can water improve or distort the taste of food?
- Of course, it can, and this must be remembered. An innocent cup of coffee before breakfast is the real enemy of pure taste, but as soon as you take a couple of sips of water, you are again ready to receive undistorted impressions of food, especially in the morning, at the beginning of the day, when it is important to be in a good mood and maintain it until the evening. I’ll try to explain more clearly - when we drink coffee before eating, we clog the receptors, and they need to be reset. For some reason, everyone focuses on the tongue, believing that only it is involved in the game of taste and is called upon to draw our attention to sour, sweet and bitter. In fact, in addition to the tongue, both the palate and the gums recognize the taste of food; it is also important to wash them, so one modest sip is not enough.
— Does this mean that you need to drink during meals?
— There are a lot of theories about this, at the moment I’m talking about a gastronomic dinner, about the pleasure that a person wants to get from meeting a work of culinary art. Yes, in this case it is important not to miss the nuances, to feel and even see with your receptors the delicate lace of taste that the chef tried to create in his dish.
— In what cases should you drink carbonated water, and in what cases should you drink regular water?
— Acqua Panna still water is a faithful companion to delicate-tasting dishes; it is good to accompany scallops, and it will also help prolong the enjoyment of the aftertaste of seafood. If we eat food with a high protein content, for example, grilled veal, and if meat is also served with risotto, we desperately need sparkling water to reset the receptors, because rice envelops the palate and receptors, pulls the whole blanket over itself and clearly prevents us from feeling others nuances of taste.
—Is ice in a glass of water really a big crime?
— If you need to lower the temperature of the water, it is better to close it and put it in the freezer for a couple of minutes, but you should not throw ice. Ice is a completely different water, which will begin to melt, as a result, two different waters will mix, the taste will completely deteriorate, and this frivolous act will have undesirable consequences. Tasty, high-quality water has its own unique taste, ice or a slice of lemon, which they often try to force on a guest, are real enemies; they will destroy that miracle of nature that has been coming to you for decades, drop by drop through rocks. The water has come a long way, just taste it.
How to tell fortunes from coffee grounds in Turkish coffee
For Turks, the ritual of drinking coffee is, first of all, a great opportunity to tell fortunes to each other using coffee grounds. To do this, place the saucer on the edge of the coffee cup. Then rotate the saucer with the cup three times around its axis (although this step is sometimes skipped). After this, turn the cup and saucer over so that the cup faces down onto the saucer. Allow the cup to cool completely before inverting it.
Sometimes coins or rings are placed at the base of the cup to help it cool faster and filter out any bad omens.
After the cup has cooled, it is turned over and the fortune is read from the grounds flowing down the walls of the cup. If you don’t know a Turkish fortune telling specialist, don’t worry! Fortune tellers who are ready to help you in this matter can often be found in the vicinity of Istanbul cafes.
