The 4M’s of Espresso
The making of espresso is both a science and an art. Over the years they have found that precision is required to make a great espresso. There are four factors that affect the making of a great shot. They are also called the four M’s.
The first factor is Macinazione or the proper grinding of the beans. Great baristas in fact will only grind beans for an espresso right before using them. 30 seconds after they have been ground, the beans are already too stale for a good espresso. The proper grind is between fine and powdery. The grind has to be uniform in order to insure the best taste. Instant powder will definitely make an awful espresso.
The second factor is Miscela or the coffee blend. Good beans means better tasting coffee. Perfectly logical, right?
The third factor is the Macchina or the espresso machine. Thanks to many inventors, you now have eay to use tools to help you make your espresso. But it will not magically make perfect espresso if you don’t know how to use it properly. The Rancilio Silva is considered the best by most espresso lovers but feel free to shop around til you find the machine that you are comfortable with.
The last factor is Mano or the skill of the barista - that means you. More than half the battle is knowing how to use your equipment properly. You need to know how to properly fill your filter basket. Some espresso lovers will tell you to tamp the ground coffee, others will tell you not to. Like all skills, making the perfect espresso takes practice so that your every espresso shot has that beautiful crema that is the mark of true espresso.
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Espresso
Most people are familiar with coffee. If you ask them to describe it, they’ll probably describe their cup of coffee as putting a teaspoonful or sachet of coffee powder and sugar in their favorite mug and mixing it with water and milk. Others may describe their coffee as freshly brewed referring to coffee made by drip using their coffee makers. This is the most familiar way most people make their brew.
Many have heard the term espresso. They may have seen it on the boards or menus but not knowing what it was, have never tried it. Little do they realize that they may already have had some with their favorite cappuccino or other mix they bought in the coffeeshop. You are not a true coffee lover it is said unless you have tried espresso.
Espresso was first made in Italy. It is formally called Caffe Espresso. Unlike in any other part in the world, espresso is not just a beverage. In fact in Italy they make time to drink their espresso. This is one brew that is an experience, not just a drink.
Espresso is drunk in shots and is usually served in glasses. It is a rich tasting brew that has a great aroma. Hard to explain its taste but it is rather like dark chocolate though definitely not the same.
Espresso is made with hot (not boiling) water being pressured through ground coffee beans. It has a distinctive reddish-brown color and a delicious aroma. It should also have crema - the tan colored foam found on top of every good shot of espresso. If it has no crema, it is a bad shot. Have it replaced immediately.
Technorati Tags: coffee, espresso, coffee preparation, Italy
Green Coffee
While waiting in line at one of the shops of Starbucks, we saw a display of beans. It said green roast, yellow roast, medium roast and dark roast. Cool! These were samples of the roasting results that they use for some of their blends. Curious about what a green roast was, it made sense to ask around and do some research and learn something new about our favorite cup of joe.
Roasting is one fo the most important steps in making coffee. Think of it as preparing grapes for wine. The roast helps bring out the flavor of the beans just as the pressing does for grapes. Fortunately we don’t have to wait as long as wine makers do in order to enjoy the drink.
Coffee, like most anything we consume, is best when it is fresh. It does not only taste best when it is freshly brewed. It tastes better if it is also freshly roasted. In fact, the beans must be made into coffee within 5 days of roasting. After 5 days, the beans are actually already stale. Surprise!
Fortunately, it is possible for you to buy green coffee or unroasted beans. It is available in some gourmet coffee shops and is also available online. You would of course need to have equipment for roasting them at home which is also available in shops and on the internet.
“Sounds like too much work”, you say?. For some it is. It will be a lot easier to go to your favorite cafe. Many coffee lovers will tell you though that it is worth the extra effort and saves you about half the cost of your cafe bought brew and has even better taste. Just don’t forget this advice from the merchants of green coffee:
For coffee to be fresh, and best, it should be consumed within 5 days of roasting, 3 hours of grinding and 15 minutes of brewing.
Enjoy your coffee today!
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Flavored Creamers
What goes into your coffee? Do you take it as black as you can get it? Are you among those who believe that adding anything to your cup of joe detracts from the cup? Quite a number of people will agree with you. To really taste the goodness of the beans, the it needs to be pure says our coffee cuppers. For the rest of us though, a good cup may not just be about the bean.
In all things it is great to have variety. This is the basic principle that makes the consumer industry rich. They know that we like some amount of variety, even if it is as simple as adding sugar and some milk to our brew.
So what else goes into your cup with your favorite brew? Most would say non-dairy creamer would definitely be one. Many people have fallen for the tag line that says milk is not for coffee. So they choose to purchase products like Coffee-Mate.
Others want a bit more spice to their coffee. Nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla are favorite add ons. As are other nuts such as almonds, macademia and yes, chocolate.
You could buy some ready made creamer in your favorite stores. On the other hand you could pamper yourself and make your own. Here are some simple recipes to make your regular cup something new with just a little effort.
The base of these flavored creamers is:
3/4 cup of non-dairy coffee cream (powdered)
3/4 cup of confectionaires sugar (you may want to sift this before measuring)
Then add the flavoring:
To make
Amaretto: add 1 tsp of almond extract and 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
Mocha: add 2 Tbsp of cocoa powder and use granulated sugar instead of confectionairs
Spiced Cream: add 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp allspice
Whichever you choose place all the ingredients in a blender and mix well then store it in an airtight container. Enjoy!
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In Bottles and Cans
Do you brew your own coffee at home? Do you have your own grinder and coffee maker? Do you actually take the time to find the best beans for your perfect cup? Then you may soon become part of the few, the elite group who insists that gourmet cannot be found in a can.
There are various consumer companies out there doing their best to make coffee even more available and ready to go. No longer will you need to wait while the barista creates your favorite drink. If these companies succeed, you can walk into your favorite stores and pick up your favorite coffee drink off the shelf. No brewing, no measuring, no waiting - just truly instant coffee in bottles and cans. Wow!
New though this idea may seem to some, it’s one that has been around for over a decade. Pepsi tried out a new drink they called Pepsi Kona that didn’t catch. Coca Cola later tried releasing Planet Java that they later stopped producing. Now both companies are trying new recipes and blends of ready-to drink coffee to give the public. Will they hit the jackpot this time?
This may even be a great idea. So many people live on the run. They have very little time for much of anything so this will shave off their time preparing their morning brew. There won’t be any need to walk down the block anymore to the crowded cafe and stand in line. Hooray!
If you’d like to give it a try, Pepsi and Starbucks have together produced some of your Starbucks faborites in this form already. You may want to check out the Double Shot or the Frappuccino. It is a given though that gourmet coffee will always be around.
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Instant Coffee
Sometimes, much as we would like to, gourmet coffee is out of our budget. Instead of a daily latte from the nearest coffeeshop, you’ll need to make do with instant coffee. Still, that is no reason to have a boring brew.
Instant coffee has come a long way since it was first invented in 1906 by George C. Washington. The producers have done their best to produce coffee crystals that have retained more coffee flavor. They don’t come close to fresh beans but they aren’t that bad.
Thankfully, there are many varieties to choose from and quite a number of mixes as well. They have sachets for instant capppuccinos, instant iced mochas and many more. There come ready mixed and all you need to do is add water (hot or cold will depend on the mix of course).
Here are some fun, simple and delicious recipes you can try with your instant coffee:
Coffee Milk Shake
Ingredients
- Ice
- 1 Tbsp Coffee Powder
- 1 cup of cold milk
- sugar to taste
Put the Ice and coffee in a blender to grind and mix. Add the milk and sugar.
As alternatives, you can:
- Use ice cream instead of ice and lessen the milk
- Add some flavor like hazelnut or macadamia to give you a new experience
- If you’re dieting, use skim milk instead
If you want to get a bit more fancy, try it this way:
Make your self a fresh cup of coffee (black and strong) and pour it over a couple of ice cubes in a blender. Once cool add 2 scoops of ice cream and a tablespoon of sugar and beat. Be careful not to over mix. Pour it into a glass and serve with a dollop of cream garnished with some chocolate shavings.
Who said instant coffee is boring?
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What Makes A Good Cafe
Most people will tell you that a good cafe must have great coffee. That is true. How can you call yourself a cafe and not serve a good cup of joe?
A good cafe will have a great variety of brews. Remember that nursery rhyme: “peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold”? That’s what a good cafe would be like. It will have coffee that is hot and coffee that is cold. Espresso, cappuccino, machiatto should be on the menu. They’ll most likely have a special house recipe that is uniquely their own and a crowd favorite.
A great cafe will also have a variety of beans and blends. You’ll have a choice of drinking the familiar Arabica or Robusta. You can also choose beans you’ve never tried: Brazilian, Columbian, maybe even the rare Jamaican Blue Mountain.
A good cafe isn’t just about the coffee though. It’s also about the ambiance. A good cafe has a relaxed feel to it. It feels homey and is a great place to sit and chat. The aroma of coffee subtly, deliciously scents the air, giving everyone a chance to unwind.
A good cafe is busy but not noisy. There is a fluid flow of customers yet people aren’t deafened by the sound of everyone coming and going. People can have a decent conversation, a heart to heart or a casual chat as they feel like it.
In this day and age, a really good cafe isn’t just a place to have a cup of coffee. It is also a great place to work as a second office. This usually means having a wifi connection since most people will need to be able to keep in touch with their offices and clients no matter where they are. Wifi zone cafe’s are truly a blessing. You can have a space to work that serves great coffee and have meetings in a relaxed atmosphere at the same time.
Have you found a good cafe in your area yet?
Technorati Tags: coffee, cafe, espresso, cappuccino, machiatto, wifi, coffee beans
Breakfast Coffee
Your roommate walks in and says, “Good morning sunshine! Rise and shine! It’s a beautiful sunny day.” Do you growl and walk zombie like through your morning routine til you’ve had your first shot of caffeine? Then you will definitely need to have coffee ready at home or have a cafe nearby to supply you with your need (you must be one of the millions keeping Starbucks in business).
Some people make the mistake of thinking that breakfast coffee is strong enough to wake the dead. Many assume that it’s the amount of caffeine in it that coffee lovers look for when they say they need their morning fix. They may be right.
On the other hand, they may not realize that the breakfast blends are meant to be the most delicious. They are supposed to be the freshest brews and finest beans. They are meant to be drunk as a hot cup of coffee to warm up your body, much like you warm up any piece of equipment.
Most coffee lovers will recommend a cup of Arabica for your first cup. Medium roasted, these beans have a medium acidity. It makes a very smooth brew and smells absolutely delicious.
Of course you may want your coffee pre-blended for you. Not all of us are master roasters or master brewers. In which case, wander over to your local gourmet coffee shop and check out their breakfast blend. Most of them have one for you to try. It may even get to be a habit.
More Coffee Trivia
Here is some more coffee trivia for our coffee loving community.
What is a Skinny?
Latte fans this one is for you. If you take your latte wth 1% or non-fat milk then you’re getting a skinny. Hmmm… a lean coffee drink to savor.
What are Thunder Thighs?
No, the baristas are not insulting you! Thunder thighs is what they call a double maccachino that is made with whole chocolate milk and extra whipped cream. Delicious but too much of this will definitely add to your weight.
When your barista says “No Fun” what did you order?
You requested for a caffe latte made with decaf espresso. Definitely a tame drink by their standards but if it works for you, go ahead and enjoy it.
Coffee originated from what country?
Ethiopia is acknowledged to be the origin of our favorite joe. Thanks to some frisky, coffee loving goats coffee beans were discovered. Smart goat herd too to actually test the berries and share his new brew. His discovery has spread out all over the world and given us a beverage to enjoy.
How many beans are there in a coffee berry?
Each berry contains 2 coffee beans inside. The 2 are centered flat side to flat side within, perfectly cuddled together. Maybe that’s why this brew is such a community favorite. Even in the berry, coffee is sociable.
Take 5 and savor the rich flavor and aroma of your favorite drink. No matter how you take your brew, we hope you enjoy your favorite cup.
Trivia Time
So, you’ve been drinking coffee a while. You love its taste and savor its aroma everyday. But do you really know your coffee? Aside from standing in line and ordering it from your favorite barista, what do you know about it?
Take this quick coffee quiz and check how much you know. It’s a short quiz so try not to scan for the answers til you’ve answered the questions.
Questions:
- What color are the best coffee berries when they are picked?
- Where did the Cappuccino get its name?
- Which country produces the most coffee beans?
- What is the best coffee in the world?
- What is a burr mill?
Here are the answers. Hope you didn’t peek:
- The greatest and most conscientious coffee pickers will get the red berries. Each branch of a coffee plant produces many berries, which are in various states of ripeness. Green is unripe, red is ripe and black is overripe.
- Cappuccino is said to have gotten its name because the peak of foam resembles the cowl of the habit of a Capuchin friar.
- Brazil is currently the world’s largest producer of coffee beans. They supply a third of the world’s coffee.
- The best coffee in the world is the Jamaican Blue Mountain. True blue mountain coffee is expensive but is worth every cent or shilling you pay for it.
- A burr mill is the preferred tool for grinding coffee beans. It has adjustable blades that makes it possible to have a more consistent grind
