How to Make a Cappuccino

Ms. Joan of Kitchenlink making a Cappuccino Coffee

C3: Counter Culture Cafe
"A Flavor Experience"

How Coffee Alamid Ends Up Into A Cup

Here it is...

Coffee Making Tips II

How to Evaluate the Quality of Coffee Beans

• Color
• Appearance
• Aroma
• Flavor/ Taste
• Freshness
• Type of Grind

Methods Used in Evaluating the Quality of Coffee

• Use of visual and other sensory means including smelling and tasting coffee
• Customer Feedback
• Consistency of Product

What Makes a Good Coffee

• Water - filtered, measured, calibrated
• Coffee Beans - freshly gound
• Espresso Machine - Clean and in good condition
• Dose/ Grind - 7 grams per shot; sand like texture
• Barista - must be confident, consistent and accurate

Most Expensive Coffee in the World

Coffee Alamid

Alamid 

(Musang or Toddy Cat)

Scientific Name:

Paradoxurus Hermaphroditus

Philippinesis

Coffee Alamid or Civet Coffee is the most expensive type of coffee beans

The most expensive coffee in the world does not hail from Jamaica or Hawaii, but instead from Indonesia.

Kopi Luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world does exist, and those who drink the expensive coffee insist that it is made from coffee beans eaten, partly digested and then excreted by the Common Palm Civet, a weasel-like animal.

"Kopi" the Indonesian word for coffee along with "Luwak"  the local name of this animal which eats the raw red coffee beans. The Civet digests the soft outer part of the coffee cherry, but does not digest the inner beans and excretes them.

Apparently the internal digestion ends up adding a unique flavor to the beans, removing the bitter flavor, and then beans are picked up by locals and sold. The most expensive coffee beans can cost up to $600 per pound and up to $50 per cup, if you can get over the fact that you are drinking such a strange brew.

You would know if you drank the most expensive coffee in the world, because the quantities of it are in tiny amount.

 C3: Counter Culture Cafe

"A Flavor Experience"

Common Types of Coffee Bean

Common Types of Coffee Bean

                                        Arabica                                              Robusta

                        Grows and thrives at high altitudes.         The sole pieces of quality beans, which 

                      Its beans mature slowly and have time      has the ability to grow at lower altitudes

                       to develop body and density.                    and is cheaper to produce.

                   

                       This species produces superior quality.     Robusta tree are easier to grow,

                                                                                    produces higher yields.

                      Its shape is more oblong and has a       This bean is rounder in shape with

                       curving cleft down its middle.               a straight cleft down its middle.

                     Coffees which possess the greatest      Robusta usually possess a woody,

                      flavor and aromatic characteristics.      astringent flavor.

                      Has low caffeine content.                    Has higher caffeine content.    

                                                                             They are used when a lower price 

                                                                               or additional caffeine is desired.

C3: Counter Culture Cafe

"A Flavor Experience"

 

Coffee Making Tips

Here is a collection of tips to making a Good Coffee...

Tips for Using the Espresso Machine

1. Measure the Coffee
2. Pack the Coffee
3. Tap the bottom of the Portafilter against the counter
4. Pack the Coffee again, using a bit more force
5. After packing the Coffee, release the tamper by twisting in a circular motion over the Coffee

 Tips in Brewing Espresso

1. Use a standard commercial espresso machine
2. Seven grams of coffee in a portafilter
3. Brew an ounce of espresso, 15-25 seconds, with nine atmosphere of pressure
4. Use freshly ground coffee
5. Measure the coffee carefully
6. Pack the portafilters correctly

Determining the Grind in Brewing

A. Correct Grind - will flow through the coffee at the right speed

B. Too Coarse a Grind - will result in an under extraction as the water will traverse through the coffee too quickly
                                     - produces a weak result

C. Too Fine a Grind - will result in an over extracted espresso, because the water will stay in contact with the coffee for too long
                               - the finely grind coffee will easily lose its                                                     aromatic complexity

C3: Counter Culture Cafe

"A Flavor Experience"

Steamed Milk and Frothed Milk

In Coffee Concoctions, Milk is one of the most common ingredients you need. You need a Steamed Milk for Cafe Latte and a Frothed Milk for Cappuccino. Iced Coffees and Blended drinks require some milk too. Basically Milk goes well with coffee.

Here are some notes from the Barista Course of Kitchenlink and Recipes Training Center (visit their Facebook account here).


Steamed Milk

Milk that has been heated enough to increase the volume, but not so much that it creates a significant amount of foam. Steamed milk is commonly used in Cafe Lattes and derivatives thereof.

Frothed Milk
Milk that is heated and frothed with a steam wand as an element in the espresso cuisine.

Steaming Milk

The Purpose of steaming milk is to heat it, but not to create a lot
of foam.

Rules for steaming the milk

• Add the right amount of milk - Fill the pitcher with just the right amount of milk for the drink you are making. This will ensure that your drinks are most fresh milk.
• Aerate your pitcher - Keep the stem arm close to the surface of the milk so that it foams for a second or two. Lift the pitcher so that the steam wand is deep in the milk. Aerating the pitcher will keep the milk quiet.
• Watch your temperature - it is very important

Foaming Milk

Foam milk by "sound". Hold the pitcher steady and lower it from the steam wand so it makes a hissing sound. The steam nozzle should stay close to the surface of the foam.

Rules for foaming the milk

• Add enough milk - Usually you need the pitcher to be about 1/4 full
• Use enough steam - Turn the knob atleast one full turn
• Foam fast -  Lowering the pitcher as quickly as possible will enable you to get the most foam before the milk gets hot and stops foaming
• Watch temperature - In general, foamed milk is kept at a lower temperature

 

 

How to Tell Milk Temperature 

• Touch - Very accurate.With practice, your hand can tell temperature within two degrees.
• Thermometer - Accurate thermometers would always be used to verify milk temperatures. In addition, they must be trusted until you can check temperature accurately with your hand and your ear and at least 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Sound - Very accurate. Milk always make the same sound at the same temperature.
• Hopefully not Smell - If the milk smells cooked, you've scalded it. Do not use it.

More tips on Frothing the milk:

How To Froth Milk – Barista Tips

How To Froth Milk For Milk Based Coffee Drinks

Advanced Milk Frothing Techniques

Kitchenlink and Recipes Training Center Corp. 

C3: Counter Culture Cafe

"A Flavor Experience"

Know More About Coffee

A Review on 15 Things Worth Knowing About Coffee

The origin of the word coffee came to the English from the Italian word "caffè". The word "caffè" comes from the Turkish word "kahvè" that was borrowed from the Arabic language where the word "qahwa" referred to a type of wine - wine of the bean (qahwat al-bun).

Robusta coffee is a variety of coffee, which has its origins in central and western sub-Saharan Africa. 

Coffee arabica is a species of Coffee originally indigenous to the mountains of Yemen 

Coffee is a $70 billion industry

The literal meaning of the word "Espresso" is "Made on the spur of the moment"

                    

                         

C3: Counter Culture Cafe

"A Flavor Experience"