How to make coffee?

An ancient drink with a rich history is loved all over the world. Each country has its own rules and traditions related to its preparation and use.Let's try to figure out how to make coffee properly, consider the most popular ways of serving it, get acquainted with interesting facts about the “drink of the wise men”.

The history of coffee has so long roots that so far the origin of the drink has not been established for certain. But we can safely say that after oil it is the most frequently sold and purchased raw materials in the world. There is not a single state on the planet in which they would not drink coffee. And this means that there are no less special ways of its preparation than there are countries in the world atlas.

The rhythm of modern life literally rebuilds for itself everything that surrounds it: entertainment, sports, and even food. Everything becomes fast: express workouts, fast food, perpetual motion. In such conditions, even coffee has long been for the overwhelming majority an instant drink. That's just with real coffee, this option has little to do. Speaking about this invigorating means, first of all it is necessary to mean a natural grain product which needs to be cooked.

It may seem to someone that the game is not worth the candle, because to prepare for a long time what you can get in a matter of seconds does not make sense. But such an opinion is wrong. After all, the useful properties of any product are lost during its long processing. And in order to make instant coffee for cooking, it is subjected to the mass of various manipulations. More about them will be discussed later. In the meantime, it is worthwhile to focus on the effects of coffee on the human body as a whole.

Fresh, brewed according to the rules of drink, is able to give its fans a lot of benefits. Among the facts checked by time and scientists, the following should be noted:

• With moderate use, that is, no more than 1-2 cups per day, coffee is able to prolong life. This is due to its ability to regulate many processes in the human body.
• The drink is a mild laxative, therefore, its regular use will avoid constipation. In addition, it has diuretic properties, so that coffee lovers have to drink plenty of pure water to make up the balance, and this is a very good habit.
• The caffeine contained in this natural energy helps to focus. In addition, the drink, according to numerous research scientists, can prevent Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type 2 diabetes.

The first thing worth finding out to the newly-made coffee lover is the sorts of drink. Many mistakenly refer to them the names of coffee trees - Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsus. In fact, there are more than two thousand varieties of coffee, so there is simply no point in listing them all. But some are still worth special attention.

These or other varieties are obtained by different processing of coffee beans from one of the four listed trees. The most expensive brand in the world is the “Kopi Lüwak”. What is most surprising, the method of its production is not only unattractive, but also very shocking. This creation is not of human hands, but of the vital activity of an exotic Mussang animal. The fact that this rodent does so-called coffee cherries, like a few.

He eats them. His stomach cannot digest them, so the grains simply leave the animal's body naturally. But this journey is not in vain for coffee beans: they are going through a very important process at this time - gastric juice treatment, or fermentation.

Under the influence of special enzymes, grains acquire a unique taste.In addition, coffee experts are confident that the musang selects only the most juicy fruits, and this guarantees the highest quality of such coffee.

Grains are subject to varying degrees of roasting. There is a large and complex system of their classification, but briefly they can be divided into light, medium and dark.

Ground coffee is different according to the degree of grinding:

• Large. Not very shredded, large. Suitable for cooking in coffee machines and filtration coffee makers.
• Average. Suitable for any cooking method.
• Small. Ideal for cooking a drink in a geyser pot and cezve.
• Ultrathin. The consistency is identical to flour. It is rather difficult to use such coffee, therefore it is rarely chosen, mainly for cooking in Turkish.

The product of any grinding can be used as brewed, that is, it can not only cook, but also insist, pouring hot water. To determine the pros and cons, it is worth considering the opponent of the “right” coffee - its analogue of instant cooking.

This species has three subspecies, each of which has its own mode of production. Let's get acquainted with each of them:

• Powder. For its production, the grains are fried, ground, dried and sprayed. Before this, the grains are treated with hot water under high pressure. After a few more complex technological manipulations, instant coffee is produced.
• Granulated. It differs from the first type in that, in addition to everything done with the powder option, this coffee is re-processed with steam. And so characteristic lumps - granules.

• Sublimated. This cooking method is the youngest - opened in 1965. Grains are fried, a strong coffee brew is made from them, frozen. Then the ice is evaporated under the influence of high temperatures, and the coffee crystals are dried in a vacuum. This is the highest quality type of instant coffee. Unlike the first two, it retains all the taste, color, flavor, benefit.

Now, when it became clear all about the varieties of coffee, you can proceed to the most interesting - to its preparation.

The most famous all over the world specialized coffee-making utensils is Turk. As the name implies, this is a Turkish invention. Although there is something similar in many countries. For example, the jazz of the Arabs or the state of the Armenians. Fragrant drink, brewed in the Turkish, is called "Turkish coffee".

Traditional Turks are made of copper. The budget option - a promise of aluminum. There are also ceramic varieties. The most modern version is the electric model, which is built on the same principle as the electric kettle.

For this method of preparation the ideal option would be fine and ultrafine coffee. Even if you only have a rough or medium version in your house, you can always bring it to the desired state with the help of a regular coffee grinder with blades, and if there is no such thing, a blender (immersion variety).

There are some general recommendations for using Turks that do not depend on the selected recipe for a coffee drink:

• Dishes must be preheated.
• The first step is to pour the coffee into the pre-warmed Turk and wait until the grains reveal their flavor.
• Now you can fill with water. The colder it is, the better it will be for a drink.
• Turk is put on a slow fire. From this point on you need to monitor the appearance of the creamy foam on the surface of the drink. When it rises to the upper edge of the dish, the Turk is removed from the stove and cooled slightly.
• After the Turk is put on the fire again, the drink is brought to a boil and removed again and cooled slightly.
• The actions from clause 5 are performed again.

Another popular budget option for making an invigorating drink is the use of a geyser coffee maker. This is a great way to make the perfect coffee at home.

Most often, the device is an aluminum, steel or ceramic dish of two large pieces, wring on each other. Also included are a special funnel, a sieve and a rubber gasket. The essence of making coffee in this dish is that the raw materials are not in contact with water and with fire.

The cooking mechanism in the geyser-type coffee maker is as follows:

• Water is poured into the bottom of the fixture. Then a special watering can from the kit is immersed in it. Part of the funnel is closed with a sieve. Coffee is poured on it.
• In the outer bottom part of the upper part of the coffee maker is placed another sieve, fixed by a gasket. After that you can wind the top to the bottom. So ground coffee is securely fixed between the upper and lower parts of the coffee maker. It is restrained on both sides by sieves with very small holes.
• When the water in the bottom of the coffee maker boils, steam displaces it, and it rises up through the watering can. Then the water passes through the coffee, saturated with its taste, aroma and color. So, in the upper part of the coffee maker, a ready drink makes its way through all the obstacles, like a geyser stream. Hence the name.

However, fans of this method of cooking emit one very important trump card geyzernoy coffee makers against the Turks - brewed in her drink will never have a burnt taste. It is softer, gentle, but no less rich.

This method is considered the fastest and easiest, because a person for him almost does not need to put any effort. The methods discussed above are the choice of romantics. And this one is for modern people who care about every minute.

It should be noted that the process itself may be different, and it depends on the type of apparatus. There are four main groups:

• carob;
• pods;
• capsular;
• super automatic.

On the example of these types, we can consider a peculiar evolution of coffee machines. The simplest carob models require some human involvement in the cooking process. So, for them you need to pre-grind the grain and form a coffee pill. In the most simple varieties, cooking time is also controlled manually. More complex rozhkovy devices are equipped with function of independent control of preparation time of drink. One big drawback of this type of machine is that it is difficult to care for them.

The pod is a special bag of special paper in which there is ground coffee. Such bags refuel chaldovy coffee machines. Accordingly, it is quite simple to cook in such a device: I installed a pod in the corresponding compartment, turned on the strait - and it’s done.

The capsule variants work according to the same principle. The difference between the pod and the capsule is only in the fact that the latter retains all the properties of coffee longer, since it has a more reliable structure.

Superatomachines, as the name implies, do absolutely everything for a person. It’s enough to load whole grains in them and get ready drink at the exit.In such units, as a rule, dozens of recipes are programmed.

Any finely ground coffee can be prepared in a mug without any problems. To do this, you need the powder itself and hot water with a temperature of about 92 degrees. One teaspoon of coffee powder usually goes to one cup. The cooking algorithm is simple:

• pour coffee in a cup, pour it with water, mix;
• leave the drink to infuse for 2–4 minutes, covering the cup with a saucer;
• when the indicated time passes, the thick will settle, the drink will become transparent, it can be consumed immediately;
• if you like coffee with sugar, you need to add it at the very beginning along with the powder.

You can add any ingredients you like to the beverage prepared this way: cinnamon, grated chocolate, milk or cream - anything. In its pure form, this option is called "Warsaw-style coffee". By the way, the method of brewing in a cup is an official method used in professional tastings of coffee.

There are many recipes for making coffee right in the mug by steaming on boiling water. For example, you can adopt an interesting option - coffee in Cuban.

For effective serving, it should not be cooked in a cup, but in a faceted glass:

• 13 g of medium coffee mix with 20 g of cane sugar.
• Pour the mixture with water - hot, but not boiling. The optimum temperature is 90–95 degrees.
• Cover the glass with a saucer and leave it for 4 minutes. The final chord can be the addition to the finished drink a few drops of Cuban rum.

An alternative method of making coffee is to get a drink without cooking the product. In coffee houses, special dishes are used for it. At home, you can do with improvised means. In addition to coffee, you will need:

• 1.5–2 l plastic bottle;
• a glass jar of any capacity from 0.5 liters;
• a piece of felt;
• filter for coffee machines.

The action algorithm is very simple:

• At the bottle cut the bottom, screw the cap on the neck, turn the design upside down.
• Jar to use as a stand. Having installed the structure on a glass container, lay the neck folded in several layers with felt so that it forms something like a cork.
• Ground coffee pour into the filter. Quantity - to taste. Tighten the filter tightly.
• Place the coffee in the constructed structure and pour cold water to the brim.
• Infuse the drink from 12 to 24 hours depending on the desired strength.
• For submission, it is enough to unscrew the cover and press on the container in the neck area. Felt will provide additional filtering.

Each of the above options for making coffee requires a different effort, as well as a different time. In order to calculate everything correctly and understand which method is closer to you, you need to evaluate each technology by this criterion. Let's make a rating, having ordered all methods on increase in time in minutes:

• in the coffee machine: 0.25–0.75 (or 15–45 seconds), depending on the model of the machine and the selected drink, plus 1-2 minutes for preparatory manipulations;
• in the cup: 2–4 plus 1–2 minutes for preparing dishes and raw materials;
• in Turk: 5–6 for the main stage of preparation plus 1–2 minutes of stock for manipulations on taking pictures from the fire and reheating;
• in a geyser-type coffee machine: 7–15 (depending on the volume of the coffee pot) plus 1–2 for the preparation of the apparatus and raw materials;
• cold brewing - 720–1140 (or 12–24 hours) plus about 5 minutes to prepare the powder to be brewed.

So, having a complete idea of ​​how much time is needed to make coffee by each of the methods available at home, you can safely choose the best one and proceed to find suitable recipes. Consider the most popular ways to make a popular drink.

The main thing you should pay attention to when choosing is the reason for cooking. For example, simply cheer up or try something new, surprise your friends with your culinary skills or brighten up a romantic evening. All recipes below are universal. That is, they can be used to make coffee in any way available to you.

In fact, the simplest coffee made in the Turk or in the geyzernaya coffee maker - this is espresso. Both cooking options have already been discussed in detail above. But here there are some nuances, which should be paid special attention. For example, there are different types of espresso, differing in the ratio of its main ingredients - water and ground coffee. Conventionally, you can select four drinks:

• Standard espresso. To 30 ml of water is 8 g of dry product.
• Doppio The so-called double espresso. And it is not about double the volume of water. During its preparation, 16 g of ground coffee is brewed in 30 ml of liquid.
• Lungo. The complete opposite of the previous version. Coffee 8 g, and water can be from 60 to 100 ml according to your taste.
• Ristretto. The strongest type of espresso. The standard dosage of 8 g of dry ground product is diluted with only 18–20 ml of water.

Another secret to properly prepared espresso is the right grain. They should be strong roasting. To make surely the right choice, look for the inscription Espresso on the coffee package. Of course, the easiest way to prepare espresso in a coffee machine. Some 15-20 seconds, and the cup of "standard" is ready.

This strong alcoholic drink is quite well combined with the taste of coffee. And because there are many options to prepare such an option for adults. Consider the most interesting of them.

• "Habits of the French." One of the curious examples of drinking coffee with brandy is not to mix them in the same container, but serve them separately and drink them alternately. The ideal coffee in this case is regular espresso. But this is by tradition, as well - by request. You can try any coffee drinks in this pair. Cognac is served in a separate glass. They say that this method was invented in France.
• "Custard drink". The method of making coffee in the cup described earlier can be diversified by adding brandy to the ingredients. For 100 ml of water you will need 15 ml of an alcoholic beverage. In order not to disturb the taste of the ingredients, it is important to pour coffee for brewing not with boiling water, but with water not hotter than 90 degrees.
• "Milk whim". There is another drinking product that goes well with coffee and brandy. This is milk. All three ingredients can be mixed in a cold version of a coffee drink.To do this, you need to cook an espresso of any concentration, cool it, then add brandy and milk to it at the rate of 8 ml each per 100 ml of base.
• "A simple way to cheer up." Another option is to make any version of a coffee or a drink based on it and just drop a few drops of brandy there.

One of the options for Eastern cooking - this is classic coffee in the Turk, discussed earlier. Closer to the original, oriental culture, it can be done by placing the Turk not on the stove, but on hot sand. But in the dwelling of the overwhelming majority of Europeans there is no such possibility. Therefore, it remains to be satisfied with the Turk on the stove.

To diversify the classic recipe for Turkish coffee as follows:

• Turku put on the fire, pour into it a little sugar so that it completely covers the bottom. Stir sugar for a few seconds. Then fill it with water, filling the Turk by about one third.
• Constantly stirring slightly caramelized sugar, you need to evaporate most of the water. Then you can pour the ground coffee and pour the mixture with cold water.
• Over low heat you need to bring the drink almost to the boil. Before the appearance of characteristic bubbles, the Turk should be removed from the stove, stir up the drink, add more sugar to taste. You can add your favorite spices.

One of the most popular spices on the planet is cinnamon. It perfectly complements the taste of coffee, opens new notes in it and enriches it with its own. This product can be found in two forms - in rods and in powder. By the way, in the latter form, the product is a tool of coffee art - the art of creating drawings on coffee crema. In any form, the spice fits perfectly into the original coffee preparation recipes. So, there is a great example of a drink using cinnamon powder.

At 150 ml of water will need 1 tsp. coffee, sugar and cinnamon - 1/3 tsp. All dry ingredients must be mixed and make coffee from them in any way convenient for you. If you want to get a light skimmer, you can cook better in a Turk, and in the absence of one, you can cook in a saucepan. Another recipe implies that first coffee will be made - any strength and consistency, you can even with milk or other additives. Then coffee must be poured into cups and immersed in each cinnamon stick. This should be done while the drink is still hot. When it cools to room temperature, it will absorb all the necessary notes of spices, and then it can be served.

To an inexperienced coffee taster, such a phrase may seem very strange. But those who have ever tried a drink brewed according to this recipe will understand the secret of its popularity.

For a start, it is worthwhile to designate the priceless qualities of salt in the composition of a coffee drink:

• neutralizes the bitterness inherent in strong drink;
• softens water;
• helps to reveal all the notes of coffee beans.

Of course, all of the above properties carries a small pinch in it, and if it is too salty to drink, it, like any dish in this case, will be hopelessly spoiled.

Among the many recipes of coffee with salt is to highlight the two most popular. The first one is classic. 200 ml of water will need 2 tsp. ground coffee, 1 tsp. sugar and salt on the tip of a knife. It is necessary to brew classic coffee in any usual way, add sugar to it and at the end add salt. Some like to supplement such a drink ½ tsp. cinnamon

The second recipe is a bright refreshing drink with an orange.For the preparation will need 160 ml of water, 1.5 tsp. ground coffee, 1 tsp. sugar, 1 tsp. orange juice, ½ tsp orange peel, salt - pinch. The most convenient way to make this drink is Turk. The algorithm is as follows:

• in a bowl pour coffee, salt and sugar, heat slightly on the fire and pour water;
• bring the mixture to a boil and remove from heat;
• when the drink has cooled slightly, add orange juice and sprinkle with zest on top.

In any of the recipes with salt, you can add cream to taste. This is an option for those who do not like too strong coffee.

There are many ways to make a frothy coffee drink. For example, it can be obtained during the cooking of grains in the Turk. As mentioned above, with this method of preparation, the foam is formed by itself. But if you prefer other tools and devices to get your favorite drink, then there are plenty of other options.

Every fan of coffee knows such a word as “cappuccinator”. This is a special device that makes the foam on coffee. Sometimes it is called a milk frother, but this is not a completely correct definition, since the device beats foam from any composition.

As for manual cappuccinators, in their appearance and essence they resemble a reduced and simplified version of immersion blenders, only at the end they have no knives, but a whisk for beating. These are miniature devices, as a rule, on batteries. Today they can be found in any large store of dishes and kitchen utensils.

To properly prepare the foam using a coffee machine, it is enough to follow the instructions in the instructions for your unit. The manual version is so simple that you can understand the principle of its work without separate instructions. But still it is necessary to identify the main subtleties of its application. To make coffee with a foam using this accessory, you need:

• Cook any version of a coffee drink without milk and pour the finished composition into a cup. It should fill half or two thirds.
• Heat a small amount of milk over low heat. Temperature - at your discretion, but you can not bring it to a boil.
• Immerse cappuccinator in warm milk, turn on the device and wait for thick dense foam to appear.
• Slowly and carefully, so as not to disrupt the structure of the resulting crema, place the latter in a cup of coffee.
• The final touch is décor with grated chocolate, broken nuts or shavings of merchmallow.

The recipe described above can be adopted by the owners of coffee machines. If the machine is equipped with steamer, milk does not require pre-heating.

To make a delicious and healthy coffee, a little stock up on necessary utensils and explore popular recipes. No less important are the nuances and subtleties that may not seem so mandatory at first glance. So that each cup of invigorating drink brings only pleasure and benefit, you should not neglect the following rules:

• Do not use unfiltered tap water. In addition to the fact that the question of the purity of the water eaten is a matter of health, here it is worth considering the fact that the slightest impurities negate the taste of the drink, reduce its benefits.
• It is preferable to buy coffee in whole grains. Grind them immediately before cooking. So in a product the maximum of useful substances will remain and tastes will not be lost.
• Before cooking, no matter what dishes or method is used, you need to make sure that all utensils are well washed and wiped dry. From this also depends on the quality of the product at the outlet.

In addition to the exclusively "coffee" nuances, all lovers of natural energy will benefit from knowledge of the intricacies of serving any hot drinks. So, cups before serving must be heated. This can be done in the microwave or in the oven. Another way is to boil water in a kettle and pour it over each cup. Only then can you pour the prepared drink.

In the modern world, where coffee shops are located on almost every corner, there is a great temptation to use “everything ready-made”. However, it is worth a little touch of coffee etiquette and culture of making this ancient drink, and it will be difficult not to fall in love with this process. This is a whole science, fascinating world and worthy of a hobby.

To learn how to make coffee in Turk correctly, see the next video.