Home Barista Guide.
Not long ago we wrote about the catastrophic disadvantages of store-bought coffee, where we also talked about the principles by which you need to choose beans. But how to prepare normal kofas at home? A good barista with a professional coffee machine will definitely make sure that you get everything from the grain. But home methods are still different.
Today we will talk about the most valid methods of home coffee consumption - from banal Turkish coffee to real exotic ones. Naturally, excluding such barbarism as instant coffee and direct brewing in a cup.
I’ll warn you right away - I’m not a pro, but when writing I used the instructions of real baristas. But I performed all the methods with my own hands - except for the last one, in which I only tried the result.
Turk
The fashion for brewing in Turk came to us from the USSR. The Eastern method became popular there for two reasons. First, the Soviets strongly supported the mixing of cultures. Secondly, brewing in a Turk requires minimal costs. Even now this simple device can be bought for three hundred rubles.
It is important to understand that the taste of the same bean in a Turk and in a coffee machine can be very different. And for this it is not even necessary to depart from the classics in favor of the Turkish version of coffee with spices. You need to grind the grain as finely as possible, otherwise the drink will turn out very watery and tasteless. With proper grinding, Turkish coffee will always be strong and overextracted compared to other recipes.
Another trick you need to know is to use cold water and low heat. This is the only way the drink will have time to brew properly. And the owner of a Turk should get a small strainer to strain the grounds. Some will say that this is the whole point, but personally I don’t like leaving mountains of coffee sand in my cup that I can’t finish.
How to grind? Into the dust.
Pros : Convenience. Mobility. Ease of use.
Cons : The need to monitor the coffee while brewing, over-extraction and the fact that the grounds always end up in the cup.
How much coffee can you drink per day
The most valuable asset of a person is health. The pleasure of strong and aromatic coffee will also bring benefits if you take the drink in moderation. Coffee owes its invigorating effect to the natural alkaloid caffeine, which is found in significant quantities in coffee beans. The golden rule of ancient physicians, who formulated the basic principles of a healthy life thousands of years ago, says: there is medicine in a spoon, poison in a cup. This means that everything is good in moderation.
What is the measure of caffeine, according to modern researchers?
A completely safe norm is 100 mg. This amount is contained in one cup of natural coffee, approximately 150-170 ml. Almost anyone can afford such a portion.
The acceptable limit for a relatively healthy drink lover is 300 mg of caffeine, or three cups of coffee per day. This amount is also a good prevention of many diseases.
Only natural coffee is beneficial for the body. Soluble powder cannot be useful in any quantities or doses due to the high content of artificial additives.
If you are healthy and have no special contraindications, then you can allow yourself 3 cups of coffee a day with health benefits.
French press
The main benefit of this method is that it is suitable for both tea and coffee. Essentially, a French press is a cross between a teapot and a juicer. The rules here are completely opposite to the Turk - the grinding must be coarse and coarse, otherwise nothing will come of it.
Compared to a Turk and a machine, coffee from a French press is often not strong enough to taste. But this is just an illusion - the caffeine content depends on the quality and quantity of the bean, as well as on the brewing time. By the way, you may have problems with the latter. It will take some time before you learn how to effectively use a French press and understand how much grain you need and how long it will take to brew.
But there will definitely be no irritating grounds here and you are unlikely to burn your coffee. French always reveals a great aroma, so it’s always nice to try out some new grain in it. Just try to fill it not with boiling water, but just with hot water about 90 degrees. And try not to keep the remaining coffee in the press for too long, otherwise it will turn into slop.
How to grind? Rough, with visible grain pieces.
Pros : Aroma, lack of grounds, ability to clearly monitor the process. And it's pretty cheap.
Cons : Long process of mastering - the desired consistency and strength will not come immediately.
What is the right way to drink coffee?
The rules of good manners allow for serving a variety of desserts with coffee. Some types of coffee are consumed with alcoholic beverages or cold water. What's best to serve with a drink?
- Oriental coffee, which is characterized by increased strength, is drunk with cold water. Dried fruits, candied fruits, and oriental sweets are most often served with a drink brewed according to Arabic or African recipes. European muffins or pastries are not suitable. The small portions in which this coffee is consumed do not provide enough liquid to cope with such desserts.
- Italian espresso is served with rich nut cookies and ice cream. And ristretto is drunk without additives and even without sugar.
- Coffee with milk, as well as various versions of this drink - cappuccino, latte and others - are accompanied by muffins, croissants, and pastries.
- Sweet coffee-containing drinks with syrups are often served with fatty and sugary desserts, although salty and cheese crackers and grain cookies with minimal sugar content would be much more appropriate in this case.
- Americano is often used as an excuse to enjoy a variety of desserts and pastries.
- Alcoholic beverages are sometimes added to coffee, but only as flavoring agents. The standard serving is a tablespoon of strong cognac or rum per 150 ml of prepared coffee.
It is best not to add sugar to coffee. Only in some recipes is it acceptable, for example, when very dark, Mexican or Cuban roasted beans are used for cooking. And even then, sugar is added only to highlight the taste, and not to mask it.
Coffee is drunk hot, in small sips, enjoying the depth and shades. This is an ideal drink for loneliness and good company, for a romantic evening and serious negotiations. Don’t forget about the simple rules for its use, and coffee will remain a devoted friend and even an ally in many great and everyday affairs for many years.
What and at what time do you prefer to drink coffee?
Drip coffee maker
Many coffee pros underestimate the gigantic power of a drip coffee maker. Yes, it cannot be configured. All you control is the choice, grinding and quantity of beans. But with due diligence, it is the drip coffee maker that will give you a drink that is as close as possible to a typical drink from a coffee shop.
What’s also cool is that drip coffee makers are very affordable – you can get a decent option for just a thousand rubles. And you can calibrate any one to suit your taste.
And yes, you’ve definitely seen in American films how a waiter runs around with a reservoir from such a coffee maker and constantly refills for customers. They really have this tradition, but it has a purely negative effect on the taste of coffee. Therefore, try to brew as much as you drink at a time. It definitely tastes better this way.
How to grind? Everything you love about the mid-range. Grinding too coarse or too fine will not work here. By the way, this is an excellent field for experimentation - even a small difference in grinding can dramatically change the taste of the grain.
Pros : An example of how the simplest tools provide a lot of possibilities.
Cons : Literally the same simplicity of design, because of which all responsibility for the taste falls not on the coffee maker and grain, but on you personally.
PROS CONS
Dangerous for hearts. Caffeine makes the heart beat faster and increases blood pressure. Therefore, those who suffer from hypertension should not abuse the invigorating drink.
Makes bones brittle. Coffee interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium. Therefore, it is better to add a little milk to the cup to make up for the losses.
Interferes with the absorption of certain vitamins. Strong coffee drunk on an empty stomach increases the acidity of gastric juice and interferes with the absorption of vitamins. Therefore, it is better not to start breakfast with a cup of coffee, but to end the meal with a flavorful drink.
So that the energy does not leave: recipes for invigorating drinks
More details
Geyser coffee maker
If in a drip coffee maker water is simply poured through a filter with grains, and then drips into a cup or a special reservoir, then in a geyser coffee maker everything happens the other way around. You place it on the stove and the water rises, creating pressure and steam for the filter at the top. On average, such a device costs more than its drip counterpart, which, in my opinion, is not very justified.
Firstly, the geyser requires strict adherence to the instructions. Secondly, it lacks the advantages that drip has. There you turned it on and went about your business, but right there you need to keep an eye on it almost in the same way as a Turk. As soon as the water boils and rises, it is recommended to remove the device from the heat.
But if you do everything correctly, the kofas turn out to be very tasty. The tablet placed in the filter resembles a similar thing in a professional coffee machine. If you really want to, you can achieve the same quality. But the geyser requires too much effort from you. It needs to be washed after each use - without chemicals and after waiting until it cools down. This means that it will not be possible to cook several portions in a row.
How to grind? The same as for drip.
Pros : Taste. The rigor of the preparation - you don't have many options, so the process will become automatic at a certain point.
Cons : You need to monitor both the process itself and the cleanliness of the device. And this takes too much time and attention.
Side effects of coffee
Nutritionists are confident that it is not coffee that causes harm, but its thoughtless consumption in excess of the recommended norm. They pay attention to its side effects:
- Each cup of coffee stimulates the active production of insulin. With frequent use, the risk of gaining excess weight and obesity increases.
- Caffeine tones the human nervous system, stimulating the activity of brain cells. When in excess, it causes sleep disturbances and increased irritability.
- Coffee is an excellent diuretic that actively removes excess water. If you drink more than 3 cups of drink per day, the loss of a large volume of fluid leads to vasoconstriction. Cellulite appears on the thighs, the skin on the face peels, and surges in blood pressure torment you.
- Frequent stimulation of the nervous system with coffee gradually reduces its response to the tonic: addiction occurs and the opposite effect occurs. A person becomes lethargic, apathetic, and inattentive when working.
- Adding milk protects the gastric mucosa from irritation and improves taste. But the caloric content of the drink and the load on the pancreas significantly increases.
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Those who like to drink a cup of coffee after waking up on an empty stomach should remember the risk of damage to the mucous membranes and the development of gastritis. In addition, the aromatic drink stimulates the production of cortisol, in excess it disrupts the functioning of the adrenal glands, and worsens the condition when they are depleted and insufficient.
Reader's recipe
Banana is not superfluous!
Do you think coffee must be hot? But no! Our family makes delicious iced coffee, and even with banana! I am happy to share the recipe - try it, you will definitely like it! Mix in a blender ½ cup of freshly brewed but already cooled coffee, 1 cup of low-fat milk, 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup, 1 ripe banana. Fill chilled glasses halfway with crushed ice and add the coffee-banana mixture. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and serve to the delight of your guests!
Anna Timashova, Pushkino
Dilbar Fayzieva:
– At one time I was fond of coffee, drinking several cups a day. But I began to notice problems with my heartbeat. And the doctors said that you should not abuse this drink. So now I only allow myself a couple of cups a week.
We lose weight on coffee
I've heard a lot about how green coffee helps you lose weight. Is it true?
Olga, Astrakhan
Coffee break. An effective way to lose weight quickly
More details
Answered by Candidate of Medical Sciences, author of a patented method for correcting eating behavior and weight loss, member of the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM, USA), psychotherapist Mikhail Gavrilov :
– Green coffee gained popularity in 2012, when a high-profile American magazine published the results of a study conducted at the University of Scranton. According to this scientific experiment, a substance contained in green coffee, chlorogenic acid, accelerates the breakdown of fat. The author of the study claimed that thanks to dietary supplements based on green coffee, you can lose up to 8 kg per week without following a diet. Subsequently, this study was repeatedly criticized by nutrition experts.
Article on the topic
Can you lose weight with green coffee? Points for and against
Firstly, losing weight by 8 kg per week cannot be considered physiological (WHO recommends no more than 1 kg per week).
Secondly, there is not a single miracle ingredient that would help you lose weight without following the rules of a balanced diet and certain physical activity.
If you eat cookies or sandwiches with butter along with green coffee, then what kind of weight loss can we talk about? Eating one or another “superfood for weight loss,” coupled with proper nutrition, may be beneficial from a psychological point of view: “I finally started taking care of my health.” But think: do you want to pay extra money for such motivation, because by the standards of the cost of high-quality dietary supplements, the price of green coffee and products based on it is unreasonably high.
Article on the topic
From pudding to liqueur. What can you do with instant coffee?
