Recipes @ Suite101.com: Brew a Batch of Café Style Coffee

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Saturday, January 14, 2012

Brew a Batch of Café Style Coffee

Brew up a batch of coffeehouse coffees right from your own kitchen without the special use of equipment. Find out how to prepare the best cappuccinos and café lattes.

Imagine walking into your neighborhood coffeehouse. The aroma of roasted coffee beans, the hiss of steamed milk from the espresso machine, and the clink of mugs greet you as you walk through the door. It's certainly the place to go for specialty coffees like café latte, cappuccino and espresso.

But you don't have to visit your local java joint to enjoy your favorite brew. In fact, you can make those fancy coffees right in your own kitchen without all of those hissing machines, or any other special equipment. All you need is a simple drip coffeemaker and a little ingenuity.

Most specialty coffees start with a base of espresso. To make espresso, it's important to start with a high-quality coffee roast. Both French and espresso roasts are excellent choices, since the resulting coffee will be strong. You can buy whole beans at the supermarket and grind them yourself in a coffee grinder, or you can have them ground when you purchase them.

Espresso

In a regular drip coffeemaker, add 1/3 cup of ground beans for every 1 cup of cold water. Brew the coffee according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once brewed, you can then use the espresso to make a specialty coffee (see variations below; all of the recipes will yield about 4 servings). If you prefer plain espresso, simply pour the coffee into small cups (for regular coffee mugs, fill them only about 1/2 full). Serve with sugar cubes.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino is espresso topped with a fluffy head of frothed milk. To make cappuccino, prepare a pot of espresso (as directed above). Heat 1 cup of milk in a microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes until hot; do not boil the milk. Pour the milk into a lidded, heat-resistant container. Apply the lid to the container and shake vigorously until the milk is foamy (alternatively, whisk the milk in a bowl until the milk becomes frothy). For each serving, pour the espresso into the coffee cups. Top each cup with a generous amount of the frothed milk. You can even sprinkle the top with ground cinnamon or shavings of chocolate, if desired.

Café Latte

Café latte mixes a small amount of espresso with hot steamed milk. To make cafe latte, brew a pot of espresso (directions above). Heat 2 cups of milk in a microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes until hot; do not boil the milk. For each serving, mix together 1/4 cup of espresso and 1/2 cup of hot steaming milk. Pour the mixture into each coffee cup and serve plain or top with a head of frothed milk (see directions above for making frothed milk).

Dessert Coffee

If espresso isn't your favorite type of coffee, you can make a delicious dessert coffee with almost any type of roast available in supermarkets. Prepare coffee as directed by the manufacturer's instructions for your coffeemaker. With a wire whisk, whip 1/2 cup of heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract in a small mixing bowl until the cream forms soft peaks. For each serving, pour the coffee into the coffee cups, and add a generous dollop of whipped cream to the top. You can garnish the top with a sprinkling of shaved chocolate, if desired.

So instead of heading out to enjoy a cup of coffee, why not stay in and turn your kitchen into a one-stop coffeehouse for you and your friends and family?

Sources: Bodum Chambord 8-cup French press coffeemaker, $18.95; Braun coffee mill (#KMM20), Krups touch-top coffee grinder (1.6 oz.), $10.00; Krups fast-touch coffee grinder (3 oz.); all from Porto Rico Importing Co., 201 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012; 212-477-5421 or 800-453-5908. Catalogue available. Oxygen-bleached coffee filters (#4), $1.95 for box of 100, from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters; 800-223-6768. Catalogue available. Espresso cups, $98 for a set of 6 with coffee, both from Illy Espresso; 800-USA-ILLY (800-872-4559) for more information.

1 comment:

  1. Hey very nice post having good knowledge coffee tips.Thanks to share..

    ReplyDelete