Category: Making Coffee

Given the fact that many of us appreciate milky coffee such as lattes, the ultimate secret behind a fantastic cup of coffee lay in steaming the milk properly.

What you want to make is a thickened milk with foam all through, a liquid that will pour out like a sauce and has a sweet and rich flavor. This kind of froth is known as microfoam, and by micro I mean that the foam is really part of the milk, not just a coating of froth on top. With some practice and the proper equipment, you will soon be making the most of frothy delights in no time.

What kind of milk?
You can basically froth any type of milk, but each type reacts a little differently. And the fact, that milk with higher fat tastes sweeter than skim or low fat when steamed, and fresher milk is always first choice. We suggest that rookies begin with skimmed and in time evolve to whole milk, it’s much easier to start off with lighter milk.

The making of froth
Turn on your espresso machine and allow have it heating up to its usual brewing temperature. Then load your milk pitcher less than 50 percent with cold milk, and drown a thermometer (if you have one) into the milk. You can prepare your coffee drink before or after, at the moment, it’s not important. Next you want to make sure your machine will create the ideal froth. Do get that near-perfect froth, you need to have dry steam, meaning you need to bleed out the water from the pipe that runs from the boiler and the valve that manages the flow of steam. If your espresso machine has no always enabled steam system, turn it into steam mode, wait for about 10 seconds and next open the steam valve lightly into an empty container right until water turns to steam. Wait about half a minute, and do this procedure all over again. You should now have that proper dry steam. If your unit does not have always on steam, you need to start frothing the milk immediately.

So where to place the tip? Top, or bottom? It’s known that during the frothing procedure, you have to hold the tip at the upper end of the middle zone, so that you sometimes hear a sucking sound. While you do this, check out your milk to get to know the zones and how the froth will turn out. It’s also important to have the tip in the suitable horizontal location. This in general creates a circular current that is folding the milk with air that along with bubbles makes microfoam. You can move the tip around up and down very slowly and then witness the creation of perfect froth. Now you see the foam starting to rise, now it all makes sense why you need to fill the pitcher/cup only half way.
Also note on the milk temperature – it’s an equally important element is the temperature of the milk. At 95°F, the air in the milk is ideal to be effective to keep the bubbles. Too cold or too hot can ruin the making of forth, a pro tip – cup too hot to hold in hand means it’s over 100°F.

Ready to pour
Wait about 15 seconds after the frothing process and then pour it on top of your coffee drink. That’s it, enjoy your frothed coffee!

 

Coffee – It’s more than just coffee. The way we see and taste coffee has changed dramatically thanks to specialty shops. There are many ways to prepare it. People are now more aware of the subtleties that can affect the flavor. What is the real difference between espresso and filter coffee?

The filter coffee is finer than espresso, and their brewing time are the most noticeable differences. Filter coffee is ground coarser and brewed at a lower temperature for longer periods of time. Espresso is made from a finer ground coffee and is brewed with hotter water for a shorter time. Espresso coffees are often roasted darker than filter coffees. Although this is not always true, it is quite common.

Experience the difference
What do these differences mean for the taste of your espressos and filter coffees? Filter coffees are known to have a sweet and delicate flavor that brings out the coffee’s complexity. They tend to have a lower acidity. Espressos, on the other hand, tend to have a more acidic taste. You can see subtleties in body, sweetness, finish. Some people compare filter coffee to wine, and espresso to hard liquor to better illustrate the differences. Both are delicious, but they can be enjoyed in very different ways.

It’s the tehnique
It is important to compare espresso and filter when brewing coffee. You can brew any type of coffee manually or automatically . Manual brewing is preferred for coffee filter. This allows you to control the brewing process so that you get the best out of your beans. You can still enjoy great filter coffee with automatic brewing, but you have less control over the flavor and aromas. Manual brewing is preferred for espresso. The results can be amazing if done properly. Manual espresso takes a lot knowledge and skill. Automatic espresso can be tricky. It requires lots of trial and error to find the right settings.

Filter drip coffee simplicity
Drip coffee is a much simpler option than espresso. It relies on thermally inducing pressure to bring it up to the showerhead and gravity to pull it through the grounds. This brew method dissolves much less coffee’s soluble matter, and the paper filters that are common to drip coffee brewing will trap many oils that might otherwise be in French press, espresso, or percolator. This method is simple, inexpensive, and so, very common among Americans who consider “drip coffee” to be “coffee”.

Filter coffee comeback
Filtered coffee has been rediscovered after being dismissed as boring and uninteresting. This is partly because filter coffee gives you more control over the brewing process. It’s a skill, and it’s giving the art of espresso a challenge. We love filter coffee’s delicate and temperamental characteristics and we are thrilled to see it more often in coffee bars around the world.

In conclusion, the drip/filter coffee is still a thing!

Relevant links: Wiki

 

Do you dream of being a barista at home? Making your favorite coffee drink and then finishing it with an impressive piece of art?
You can make latte art! This skill isn’t just for professionals. With some patience and practice, you can make beautiful latte designs using steamed milk every day in your kitchen.
Here are step-by-step instructions for making latte art at your home.

1. To create a soft microfoam, steam or froth 6-8 oz milk
For tips on steaming milk, see our detailed guide. You may not be able to get the silky texture that you need for latte art if you don’t own a steaming brush. Once you have steamed your milk, place the steaming pitcher on top of the milk and stir the milk to break down any bubbles.

2. Start your pour.
Place your pitcher so that it pours towards the cup’s edge. Tilt the cup slightly toward the pitcher. It is important to control the pour speed and height. To ensure that the milk does not sink to the bottom of your espresso, start a few inches above the cup. Move the pitcher closer to your cup until it is about half full. Then raise the speed until you see white foam on top. Depending on the design you choose, your instructions may vary slightly. For beginners, we recommend starting with the heart or rosetta designs.

How to make a Latte Art Heart

To create a heart, pour more foam into the cup. Once the circle is about 60% of the drink’s size, raise the pitcher slightly and then draw a line around the circle to create a heart.

You’ll soon be able to gauge how quickly you can pour milk with regular practice. It is important to pour it slowly, ensuring that the coffee surfaces are uniform. You can begin drawing once the cup has reached 60-70%.

How to make a Latte Art Rosetta

You can create a rosetta by starting your pour at about 3/4 of the cup’s end. Once the foam has formed on top of espresso, you should gently wiggle the pitcher. Allow the movements to come from your wrist and not your hand. A little movement will produce the curves you want in your rosetta. Slowly, while still wiggling the pitcher, move it back until you reach the cup’s end. Next, lift the pitcher and draw a thin line across the middle of the design.

Latte Art without a Steaming Wand

We mentioned that it is difficult to achieve the perfect texture for latte art without a steaming wand. While other methods of frothing milk may produce nice-tasting foams, they are less likely to separate from the liquid milk. You may find that the foam appears as a large glob after you have poured the liquid milk. This can be avoided by using a few tricks.

First, don’t overfroth your milk. This can cause dry foam and a poor pouring experience.

To create a consistent texture, tap the steaming pitcher on the countertop and swirl the milk. To mix the milk further, some baristas suggest pouring it from one pitcher into another.

Do not pour too fast or you could leave thick foam behind in your pitcher

You can “Cheat” with a toothpick after pouring.

To preserve your handiwork, pour your latte art into your Ember Mug2. The milk foam will dissipate as it cools so temperature control can help preserve the milk’s texture. If you prefer plant-based milk for your latte art, check out our Best Non-Dairy Milk for Coffee.