INTERNATIONAL COFFEE PREPERATION TECHNIQUES

French Press Method

  • Also called The French Plunger, the French Press Method has been around for centuries.

  • Coffee is steeped, rather than filtered, which produces richer coffee.

  • A French Press requires a coarse grain to keep coffee grounds from seeping through the wire mesh strainer.

  • The carafe is rinsed with hot water then filled with ground coffee and covered with boiling water.

  • The coffee is allowed to steep for 5 minutes, then strained, and served immediately to prevent over extraction of the coffee.

  • The glass that the French Press is made of should be of high quality and the container must be cleaned thoroughly to avoid residue.

Turkish or Arabic Method

  • The Turkish brewing method is enjoyed by people around the world.

  • Turkish coffee is ground very finely, and often contains cardamom.

  • It is brewed in a decorative pot called an Ibrik or Cezve.

  • Pots are filled 2/3 full of water, then sugar and coffee is added.

  • It is brewed until foam appears on the top and bubbles up 3 times.

  • The coffee is slowly poured, foam first, into small cups; the coffee grounds should settle to the bottom of the cup.

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

  • An earthenware coffee pot is heated over coals, while green coffee beans are roasted in a pan.

  • The beans are then crushed with a pestle-like instrument and placed in the clay pot of boiling water.

  • After the coffee is steeped, it is poured into small pots.

  • The youngest child present often serves the coffee to the elders.

  • This is part of a celebration ceremony in which incense is burned and food sometimes is served.

Dutch Coffee Concentrate (cold water method)

  • Coffee and water are mixed in a glass and soaked for 12-24 hours.

  • A cheesecloth is used to line a funnel, which is put inside the glass jar.

  • The coffee and the water are poured into the glass jar, which is refrigerated.

  • Coffee is made by putting boiling water into a cup and stirring in 1-2teaspoon of the cold mixture.

Italian Espresso (expresso)

  • The word espresso is derived from the Italian word for express, since espresso is made and served immediately.

  • Espresso is a 47-62.5ml (1.5-2 oz.) extract that is prepared from 14-17g of coffee through which purified water of 88-95°C has been forced at 9-10 atmospheres of pressure for a brew time of 22-28 seconds.

  • Coffee should be ground finely; 8-10g of ground coffee per 2oz. shot should be put into a stovetop espresso maker and 7g of ground coffee per 1.5oz shot should be put into an electric espresso maker.

  • While the coffee is still coming out as a golden brown liquid, it is ideal; this liquid is the ‘crema’ that lies on top of the black coffee underneath (the crema will dissipate a few minutes after the coffee is made).

  • Espresso brewing is defined by 4 “Ms”: Macinazione is the correct grinding of the coffee blend, Miscela is the coffee blend itself, Macchina is the espresso machine, and Mano is the skilled hand of the barista; when each factor of the 4 Ms is precisely controlled the espresso beverage that is produced is considered to be the ultimate coffee experience.

Moka-Napoletana

  • The Italian Moka pot contains an upper and lower unit, with a filter; it features a tube in the upper chamber from which the brewed coffee flows.

  • Boiling water is forced from the lower chamber, up through a tube and down through the finely ground coffee.

  • The bottom of the compartment should be filled with cold water and the filter packed with ground coffee.

  • The top chamber should be attached and the pot placed over medium heat.

  • When the pot begins to hiss, the coffee will be trickling out of the tube.

  • When the coffee begins to spew, it is removed from the heat.

  • The upper chamber should be detached and the coffee served.

Caffè Corretto

  • An espresso method “corrected” with the addition liquor

Caffè Latte

  • Espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of foam on the top.

Caffè Mocha

  • Espresso mixed with chocolate and steamed milk, topped with foam or whipped cream.

Doppio

  • A double shot of espresso.

Ristretto

  • A shot of espresso that is cut of at 15-20 seconds (when the crema turns light brown), yielding less that 1oz. per 7g of coffee.

Express Macchiato

  • “Macchiato” means spotted or marked in Italian; it is a single serving of espresso topped with a dollop of frothed ilk

Mochaccino

  • An American invention that features espresso mixed with chocolate and topped with more foam and less steamed milk than a Caffè Mocha.

Cappuccino

  • Cappuccino is made with espresso topped with frothed milk.

  • A late is made with espresso topped with steamed milk and a dab of frothed milk.

  • A condiment of your choice can be sprinkled on top such as chocolate powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg or vanilla.

American

  • The drip method is the most common form of coffee served in the United States.

  • An automatic drip brewer pours hot water over coffee grounds, through a filter, and into a pot.

  • Near-boiling water is poured through a filter over medium coarse coffee grounds to produce coffee.

  • Coffee is best when beans are ground immediately before brewing, fresh cold water is used.

  • The recommended measurements are 1tablespoon of coffee to 5oz. of water.

  • The 3 types of filters are paper, metal or plastic.

  • The paper filter will absorb some of the essential coffee oils.

    Metal or plastic filters require a slightly coarser grind f coffee and may enhance flavor.

  • The coffee will be stronger initially and grow weaker as the infusion continues, so coffee should stirred before serving.

Lungo

  • A long shot of espresso, about 1-2oz. per 7g of coffee.

Wet Cappuccino

  • A cappuccino with foam and steamed milk; usually the espresso, foam, and milk are in 1:1:1 ratio.

Caffè Americano

  • Half drip-brewed coffee and half steamed milk.

Caffè au Lait

  • A latte made with half-and-half instead of milk.

Dry Cappuccino

  • A cappuccino with foam only, no steamed milk.