How to serve and drink espresso? Why do they serve water with coffee?

Why is water served with coffee? Is it possible to do without it?

Water is brought for a reason.
Its purpose is not the aesthetic side of the issue or the rules of table setting. Although most people prefer to go without water when drinking coffee, professional baristas do not recommend drinking coffee this way.

Reasons for this appearance:

Water enhances the taste of coffee.
Water reduces the amount of hydrochloric acid produced by the body. It helps with heartburn or when taken on an empty stomach in the morning.
Caffeine increases blood pressure. Water reduces caffeine levels in the blood and regulates blood pressure.
Coffee affects the diuretic system and removes water from the body. To avoid dehydration and restore water balance, you must not forget to drink water.

What should the water be like?

You are allowed to consume any liquid based on personal preference. Bottled, non-carbonated mineral water, purified through a filter, with gas, or spring water are suitable. It is important that there are no impurities, it is not chlorinated, and has no foreign odors or tastes. Professional baristas prefer to use soft water, which does not produce sediment, is better absorbed by the body and helps to reveal the flavor subtleties of brewed coffee.

To highlight the aroma and taste of an invigorating drink, follow these rules:

The water temperature should not be too low, approximately +10 °C is a suitable option. Using excessively cold liquid can lead to problems with tooth enamel, which reacts negatively to sudden changes in the temperature of foods and drinks.
On a hot summer day, it is advisable to serve coffee with a glass of cold water with a slice of lime or a circle of lemon. Citrus, refreshing taste will help avoid dehydration and quench your thirst faster.
For flavoring, you can add orange zest or fresh mint leaves. But watch the amount of additional ingredients so as not to get too strong a taste.
Regardless of what you drink along with the invigorating drink, drink the liquid in small sips, as if savoring it, while rinsing your mouth.
Mineral water or any other variety is usually served in a tall glass, one-third full.

Should it be consumed before or after a coffee drink?

In order for the drink to benefit the body, give a unique sensation to the receptors and not leave a bad aftertaste, you need to drink a few sips of water before, during and after drinking espresso. Each of these actions has its own logical explanation.

Drinking water before drinking coffee is necessary in order to eliminate the remnants of previous food on the taste buds and prepare them to perceive coffee notes. Then a person will be able to enjoy the whole palette of sensations and retain a pleasant aftertaste for a long time.

During administration, you need to alternate between the drink and H2O . Even after the first sips of espresso, you cannot fully feel its taste and aroma. Therefore, to sharpen the sensations, coffee lovers are advised to drink some water.

Then the next sips will again become rich in sensation, and the invigorating property will appear even more intensely. Water also dilutes the cloying or sourness if it is present in the drink and relieves the feeling of thirst after a while.

You need to drink water (about 200 ml) after coffee about 15-20 minutes so as not to deprive yourself of the coffee aftertaste. Reasons for drinking water after espresso:

Teeth protection .
The drink leaves a yellow coating on the enamel, which is absorbed into it and spoils the whiteness of the teeth. Dentists advise drinking a little water after espresso to wash away the coffee pigment and prevent it from being absorbed. Otherwise, a subsequent negative effect on the enamel will be ensured.
Cardiovascular protection . If you drink a little cool, clean water immediately after drinking the drink, the drinks will mix in the stomach, and the effect of coffee on the heart and blood vessels will be minimized. Water protects the cardiovascular system from overload, regulates heart rate and prevents sudden increases in heart or blood pressure.
Protection against vasoconstriction of the kidneys . If a person suffers from kidney disease, he simply needs to drink a glass of water to prevent narrowing of the renal vessels and prevent the occurrence of aching pain.
Protection against dehydration . Having diuretic properties, coffee can have a bad effect on human mucous tissue and skin. By drinking water after espresso, a person prevents excess fluid loss.
Eliminating aftertaste . To get rid of the cloying bitter or sour feeling in your mouth, you need to drink a glass of water.

Coffee and water: what to drink first

Chilled water is served with coffee; it can be purified either by boiling or by filtering. Life-giving moisture should have a neutral taste, have a low temperature, but not be icy.

Too cold water, due to a sharp temperature change, has a depressing effect on the taste buds located in the oral cavity, and will also harm the teeth.

In Turkey, water is served along with coffee so that a person can “wash” the taste buds with cool moisture after each sip of drinking coffee beans. People who suffer from high blood pressure should drink Turkish coffee with water.

In Italian coffee shops, before tasting espresso, they take a sip of neutral liquid. People drink water after coffee when the taste of the drink seems unpleasant.

In Spain, you only need to drink strong black coffee with water. Their traditional drink, cortado, does not come with extra liquid.

During the coffee ceremony, the French place a decanter of cool water on the table. Each guest pours himself as much life-giving water as he needs.

Drinking a neutral liquid before drinking a decoction of coffee beans is necessary to reduce the cardiac stimulating effect of caffeine. This method also allows you to replenish your fluid supply, which is reduced due to the diuretic effect of the drink.

To reveal the taste of brewed coffee beans you need:

slowly drink a few sips of cool moisture and rinse your mouth;
when alternating between an invigorating drink and neutral moisture, take small sips, holding them in the mouth for a short time;
take breaks - rapid alternation of cold and hot depresses the sensitivity of taste buds and negatively affects tooth enamel;
Do not wash down the final sip of the aromatic drink - this will give a rich aftertaste.

In Russia, only recently they began to serve cool moisture to drink from coffee beans. In most coffee shops, water is served by default with Americano, espresso, ristretto, macchiato and other types of strong drink.

What should H2O be?

Cold and clean water is used for supply, but does not contain chlorine and is not distilled. Its temperature should be in the range from 10 to 15 °C.

Do not add ice cubes, sugar or sweeteners to the water. It is also not advisable to mix it with lemon juice, fruit juice or herbal decoction.

Mixing with juice or decoction is allowed only if the drink is prepared according to the original recipe , and such a drink serves to enhance or emphasize the taste sensations.

Peculiarities

Choice of water

When choosing water, certain requirements are observed so as not to spoil the taste and emphasize the entire aroma of coffee. Pure spring or boiled water is best. It should be soft, without bleach. Distilled is also not suitable.

Interesting! How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee

The temperature should be at least 10 degrees. In hot weather, warmer temperatures are allowed, but not more than 20 degrees.

It has become common to add a few drops of lemon juice or any other juice that does not contain sugar to the water. This enhances the natural acidity of the coffee drink.

The liquid must not contain sugar or substitutes. Serve in a high-sided glass.

In some countries they serve mineral water that has its own taste.

Sometimes they bring additional boiling water to reduce the coffee strength.

Suitable drink

Water in coffee shops is served with the following coffee drinks:

Americano;
lungo;
ristretto;
macchiato;
black with yolks;
Viennese coffee is drunk with water and in small sips to overcome the taste of cream;
in Turkish – reduces the bitterness of the drink, drink afterwards;
black - drink in small sips.

Continuing the topic, we recommend that you read the article “How to properly drink espresso with water.”

Which is correct?

Hot water is never served with drinks. The liquid should be cold, but not icy.

Secrets of European coffee drinking:

first take a few sips of water;
drink the drink slowly;
alternate between espresso and water;
for 3-5 sec. retain water in your mouth to thoroughly cleanse your taste buds;
pause between sips to taste the espresso;
take the last sip and leave a coffee aftertaste for 20 minutes or immediately refresh your mouth with water.

Everything you need to know about drinking water can be found in this section.

What is the tradition associated with?

In many coffee shops and restaurants, a glass of cool still water is required to accompany a cup of aromatic drink. Some believe that this is done solely for aesthetic reasons, but in fact, coffee is not only possible, but also should be consumed with cold water.

To understand where this tradition came from, you should turn to historical facts. Even in Ancient Greece, freshly brewed coffee was served with a coolant. This was done because in hot climates it was necessary to cool down after a hot drink. Much later, the custom came to Turkey, where coffee is brewed on hot sand in cezves made of copper. In this way, Turks get a strong, rich drink, which they drink separately from food. To quench your thirst and get rid of the bitter coffee aftertaste, drink it with clean, cool water.

Now the tradition is widespread in almost all European countries. In any coffee shop, a cup of invigorating coffee will be accompanied by a glass of cold mineral or drinking water. This custom does not surprise guests of European establishments at all.

What types of coffee are usually served with water:

espresso;
macchiato;
in Viennese;
with the addition of raw yolk.

How to drink espresso correctly

Taking the first sip of the drink with a small inhale, you can feel the temperature of the espresso and its density: watery, thick or enveloping. The aroma and flavor palette are assessed with the second sip. A coffee drink with a rich range of flavors from sour and bitter to sweet. In properly prepared espresso, all shades are felt, some more, some less.

The wheel of flavors used by the barista to prepare the drink is reflected in the aroma of the coffee. You can choose a note of nutty, chocolate or caramel shades.

To briefly answer the question of how to drink espresso, you should know that both the aroma and taste of the Italian drink can be described in words. And this will happen if the espresso is prepared skillfully and from high-quality coffee.

The history of espresso

Italians are the inventors of coffee machines. And they also taught us how to serve such drinks correctly. Residents of Italy drink this coffee with a feeling of pleasure.

And tourists get acquainted with the ceremony, how to serve espresso coffee correctly and continue the traditions at home.

Just a glass of water

We remember from school that water is the source of life, that a person consists of 80% of it, this is the basis of all processes in our body. Without it, you really can’t go there or go there; you can’t even make coffee. And now it turns out that you won’t even drink.

The glass of clean cold water that a waiter places next to a cup of coffee in a restaurant or coffee shop is not accidental. You can ignore his presence and leave after drinking your espresso. But, having found out for what purpose the water was brought, most likely you will not refuse to use it.

How to serve a flavorful drink

Italians are proud of their invention. They even developed a certain order for serving invigorating coffee and rules for drinking espresso. Tourists can observe the established tradition of serving and drinking espresso in all establishments of the sunny country: from small cafes in villages to large restaurants in bustling cities. The ceremony includes the following steps.

The aromatic drink must be served immediately after preparation, because espresso is hot coffee.
The brewed drink is drunk within a few minutes.
The containers into which espresso is poured must also be warm; they are specially heated to a temperature of forty degrees.
Special requirements for cups. To enjoy the taste of espresso, choose ceramic dishes into which you can pour no more than eighty milliliters of ready-made espresso. A special feature of these cups is their wall thickness. In such a container, espresso cools down more slowly.
For Italians, it is more common to drink a drink at the counter, but for residents of other countries it is more comfortable and traditional to drink espresso while sitting at a table.
While the espresso is being brewed, the barista places a saucer and spoon on the counter so that the client who ordered the espresso can immediately enjoy the hot coffee drink.
Scrupulous Italians always wipe the bottom of the cup with a napkin before placing the container of espresso on the saucer. And do not forget to turn the cup so that the handle of the container is under the client’s right hand.
According to tradition, hot espresso is accompanied by sweetness, which is called a compliment.
An important nuance is that the cup with the drink is placed at some distance in front of the client so that he can move it himself.
According to the classic espresso recipe, no additional ingredients are added. Only foam, by Italian standards, is a decoration. But with the development of the popularity of the drink, a new trend of “latte art” began to spread, when coffee is decorated with a pattern.

What is espresso

Espresso is commonly understood as a common method of preparing coffee. It is made by passing boiling water through a special filter containing ground grain powder. Espresso is popular all over the world, especially in European countries. It came to Russia in the 1990s and became the No. 1 drink in many coffee shops, restaurants and cafeterias.

The technology of preparing the drink itself deserves attention. To do this, take 8-22 g of ground coffee and press it using a tempera to form a tablet. After this, water is passed through it under a pressure of 9 bar. An important role is played by the relationship of several factors - correct grinding, required pressure and cooking time.

A classic shot of espresso is served in a volume of 25-35 milliliters in a special cup called demitasse or in regular containers. Double serving volume – doppio – 60 ml. Some establishments prepare the drink in a coffee maker or machine equipped with ESE technology. Pods or capsules are built into it.

Espresso is the most popular coffee drink