Espresso with water: how to drink correctly in a cafe, why it is served with a glass of water

A visit to an elite coffee shop requires that the visitor drink espresso correctly and enjoy every sip. Baristas know the intricacies of preparing this alluring drink, and the secrets of drinking will help you feel all the shades of taste. Coffee shops serve water with coffee. This tradition did not appear by chance; it turns coffee drinking into a magical ritual.

How is espresso served?

An invigorating drink with crema foam was invented in Italy, and since then it has been served in cafes around the world. Its appearance is associated with the invention of the coffee machine, because it is impossible to follow the preparation technology manually. In the article “Espresso coffee: what it really is,” we wrote about the traditions of its use.

This type of coffee, like tea, has its own preparation characteristics. To reveal the taste and aroma, use dishes heated to 40 degrees. Italians know how to drink coffee correctly; they order it at the bar. In other countries it is consumed while sitting at a table. You need to drink it immediately after preparation, while the foam is thick. It is believed that the lifetime of this product is 15-30 seconds. After this period of time, the foam does not have sufficient density.

Arrange cutlery so that the client does not waste a minute. The spoon and cup handle should be on the side of the visitor's right hand. Baristas can tell you how to drink espresso coffee so that you can feel the aftertaste for several hours. To do this, it is better not to complement your coffee drinking with cakes and cookies, they will clog the taste.

Turkish coffee on the UNESCO list

The popular Turkish writer Iskander Pala, in his short story “Coffee and Nescafe,” laments that the centuries-old tradition of drinking Turkish coffee is becoming a thing of the past, that only tourists drink it, and the indigenous population increasingly prefers three-in-one instant coffee from the Nescafe brand. ", which has already become a household name. He gives the following example: “When a bus with 30 tourists stopped in front of a traditional coffee shop, the guide turned to the waiter: “30 Turkish coffees! And two Nescafe - for me and the driver!”

However, the coffee traditions of modern Turkey are stronger than ever, especially since in 2013 Turkish coffee was included in the UNESCO list of masterpieces of the oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Of course, modern Turkey cannot be imagined without this aromatic drink, which has performed and continues to perform not only an applied function of quenching thirst, but also has cultural and social functions. For example, the spread of coffee in the Ottoman Empire gave impetus to the development of crafts for the production of gold and silver trays, silver coffee sets, porcelain, copper, etc. Socially, coffee had a unifying character and contributed to the opening of coffee shops where people gathered, had conversations, discussed news, and read books. And coffee has become a symbol of hospitality. Every family still has its own secrets of making coffee, which have been passed down from generation to generation. There are several proverbs that very clearly reflect the meaning and role of coffee in Turkish society. Translated into Russian they sound as follows:

Modern Turkey cannot be imagined without this aromatic drink. Photo vokrugsveta.ru

A cup of coffee contains 40 years of memories - a good deed is never forgotten.
A person does not need either coffee or a coffee shop, and coffee is just an excuse - the main thing is communication, the reason for which is coffee.
A villager's (Turkish) cezve is dark, but permanent - a villager's cezve may be unsightly, but guests are always welcome in his house.
Coffee is known by its cup.

This is all today, but what were things like in the Ottoman Empire?

What water gives

In high-end restaurants, visitors are often served a glass of water along with their coffee. This method of presentation is associated not only with the rules of etiquette. It is known that after taking the first sip, a person perceives less aroma and subtle notes of taste. Therefore, they drink water, which washes away the remains of the drink. As a result, receptors respond better, and taste qualities are fully revealed. Finishing your coffee ceremony with a sip of water will relieve the bitterness in your mouth.

Interesting! Espresso coffee: what is it really?

Along with classic espresso, there are its varieties that differ in concentration.

Doppio is a double portion. In the classic one, about 10 grams of coffee are mixed with 25-35 milliliters of water. In doppio, the amount of liquid and tea leaves is doubled

Triplo – triple portion.

Ristretto - has the highest concentration and rich taste. This is double doppio, but it has half the water. The serving is for 2 sips.

Lungo coffee is less concentrated. Served at the bar, it contains the same amount of coffee as an espresso, but is mixed with 100 ml of liquid.

It is clear why concentrated doppio, triplo or ristretto is usually washed down with water. These types of espresso, due to the larger amount of brewing, are quite bitter and create a high load on the heart. Water not only enhances the taste, but also makes Ristretto traditionally consumed with a glass of water, but do not add sugar, otherwise it will ruin the taste.

It is important for a person who cares about their health to ask how to drink espresso in order to reduce the burden on the body. There is scientific evidence why drinking water 25 to 25 minutes after coffee is beneficial. The coffee bean has an outer and an inner shell. The outer shell contains the alkaloid caffeine, the inner shell contains theobromine.

If you prepare coffee beans, the caffeine will be released immediately and will act on the body within 25 minutes. It constricts the blood vessels of almost all organs. On the contrary, the kidney vessels expand. Blood supply improves, the kidneys work better, and fluid quickly leaves the body.

After 25 minutes, theobromine begins to act, and caffeine no longer has an effect. It dilates all blood vessels and constricts the renal ones. The pressure decreases, the person may feel a pulling sensation in the kidneys. To avoid the harmful effects of theoromine, you need to drink a glass of water 25 minutes after the espresso. Therefore, in decent coffee shops, visitors are always offered coffee.

Interesting! Coffee latte - composition and recipes for making it at home, history of origin

Is it healthy to drink coffee with water?

Is it reasonable to drink coffee with water? It turns out that this type of drink consumption is quite advisable from the point of view of human physiology and health. The effect of caffeine lasts no more than 20 minutes, after which theobromine takes the leading role, causing depression of the nervous system. To get rid of the opposite effect, you should drink a mug of water after coffee - for about 10 minutes. Then the duration of a person’s stay in a toned state will increase significantly.

For people prone to high blood pressure, alternating coffee with water will minimize this effect. Coffee is known for its ability to increase blood pressure, but in alternation with water, the pressure will not be high, and the pulse will be within normal limits.

Water after coffee also helps prevent darkening of tooth enamel. The pigment is simply washed off from the teeth, barely having time to get on them without being absorbed.

What kind of water can be used

Water quality plays an important role. It is recommended to use filtered liquid. If possible, it is better to buy spring or mineral. Coffee should be drunk with cold water, but not ice water. Otherwise, the taste will not be fully developed, and the temperature difference will create a feeling of discomfort. The liquid must be cooled, otherwise it will not give the desired effect.

Mineral water has a taste, but some connoisseurs like it more than regular water. Therefore, sometimes, at the client’s request, a glass of mineral water is served. An experienced coffee drinker knows why the water is served and may ask for natural flavors to be added to it. To do this, infuse mint leaves or add a little lemon. It is important not to overdo it with additives, otherwise the aroma of the grains will not be felt.

European view

According to Turkish researchers, Istanbul was the main coffee artery through which Europeans first became acquainted with this aromatic drink and then established supplies to Europe.

The French traveler Jean de Thévenot, who visited the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century, in his notes speaks of the popularity of Turkish coffee, which became part of the Ottoman lifestyle:

“...regardless of whether a person is rich or poor, every Turk drinks two cups of coffee a day. It is the husband’s responsibility to provide his wife with a supply of coffee.”

And the Italian writer Edmondo de Amici describes the Ottoman passion for coffee in these words:

“At the top of the Galata and Bayezid towers there is coffee, on the ferries there is coffee, in the cemeteries there is coffee, in government buildings there is coffee, in the hamams there is coffee, in the market there is coffee. No matter where in Istanbul a person is, without looking around at all, as soon as he shouts “coffee!”, in three minutes a cup of coffee will be steaming in front of him.”

Usually the Ottomans brewed coffee without adding sugar, so they served it with sweets, Turkish delight, jam, etc. Photo: turkishbazaar.ca

How to drink espresso with water - instructions

It is believed that the tradition of drinking coffee came from Ancient Greece. In hot weather, the extra liquid helped cool me down. In many southern countries, the ancient tradition has been preserved. But a glass of water is drunk after a coffee drink.

To enjoy the taste of espresso, it is convenient to follow the instructions:

Take a glass of water and take a couple of sips to prepare the receptors.
Recommend: take a sip and alternate two types of liquid with each other.
You need to take breaks between sips to feel the taste. It is better to hold the cool liquid on the tongue to activate the receptors.
You need to hold the water in your mouth for a few seconds and then swallow it.
To leave a bitter aftertaste in your mouth, you need to drink the rest of the coffee with your last sip.
If you drink some water at the end of the coffee ceremony, it will wash away the remaining coffee in your mouth. In this case, there will be no aftertaste, but the effect of the product on the stomach will be reduced. Therefore, there will be no heartburn or increased heart rate.

A glass of water is not a tribute to tradition or a way to decorate the table. This method of consumption reduces the impact of caffeine on the body and reduces the load on the heart. Reasons: regular coffee increases blood pressure, and if you drink it, the effect will decrease. For people suffering from heartburn, this method of consumption will be a real salvation. Water reduces the secretion of hydrochloric acid, so a person does not feel discomfort in the stomach.

Interesting! Recipes for making Irish coffee at home, composition and proper serving

There are other ways to use it. Residents of Turkey drink the entire portion of the coffee drink after a sip of water. Then drink the remaining water. As a result, the body does not react so strongly to caffeine, there is no feeling of being thrown into a fever. In addition, water washes away the coloring pigment from the teeth. Therefore, after drinking coffee, there will be no yellowish residue left, scaring off your interlocutors.

Who came up with the idea of serving a glass of water with coffee and why?

There are many versions of why water is served with coffee.
There is no consensus and there is no single correct answer to this question, but there are many versions. First, Arab coffee shops offered water in addition to the drink to help guests stay hydrated. Coffee provokes fluid loss from the body, which can be dangerous in hot countries.

The second version concerns security. As you know, hot drinks can increase temperature and blood pressure, so in hot countries they began to supplement strong black coffee with cold water so that the drinker could cool down a little and reduce the strength of the drink.

Finally, the third option. In the 16th century, in the palaces of Arab nobles, a tradition arose of washing down every sip of coffee with water, which made it possible to perceive the taste more clearly.

There is an opinion that drinking water with a tart drink allows you to experience all the facets of taste.