Enjoy Your Gourmet Kona Coffee In A Variety of Ways With These Tips and Recipes
Here are some great recipes you can use to whip up some specialty Kona Coffee espresso drinks.
Some of the simplest drinks are the Espresso Con Panna, which is just a shot a espresso with a dollop of whipped cream, and the Espresso Macchiato which is a shot of espresso with a dollop of foam (frothed milk).
For a little zest try an Espresso Romano which is a shot of espresso with a slice or a twist of lemon added.
Of course there is always the standard Cappuccino which is made by adding frothed milk to the espresso and then topping it off with some foam – these three ingredients are added in equal amounts.
Some people prefer their Cappuccino “dry” which means extra foam, or “wet” which means extra milk. The rare bird likes it “bone dry” which skips the milk altogether and adds only foam.
For a little extra excitement add some ground chocolate on top of your Cappuccino, or perhaps some cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla powder.
An Iced Cappuccino is made by pouring one or more shots of freshly-brewed Espresso over ice and then adding about three ounces of cold milk. Now use a spoon to place some foamed milk on top of the Espresso and you can also sweeten it if you would like.
A popular standard is the Caffé Americano which is a shot of espresso with hot water added so it is about as strong as a cup of coffee. A Spicy Viennese Espresso is made by adding ground cloves and one-half teaspoon of allspice to an espresso shot along with some cinnamon, and then topping it off with shipped cream.
A Caffé Latte is made by adding steamed milk to a double shot of espresso and topping it off with just the slightest bit of foam. If you have a sweet tooth you can add some flavored Italian syrups such as hazelnut or almond.
Everyone loves a Caffé Mocha, which is made by pulling one or more shots of espresso into a tall glass and then adding chocolate syrup and mixing it up. Now pour steamed milk atop the drink and top it off with some whipped cream. Mmmm!
For an extra flare of excitement on your Caffé Mocha add a garnish of chocolate flakes sprinkled atop the whipped cream.
Another great espresso drink for chocolate lovers is a Mochaccino, which is made by adding some chocolate syrup or powder to one or more shots of espresso and mixing it up, and then adding about five ounces of steamed milk and topping it off with foam.
If you are feeling a bit French then try a Caffé Au Lait, which is made by first brewing up some good, strong coffee and pouring it into a wide cup. Prepare a pitcher of very hot milk (not frothed milk) and serve it alongside the coffee. The guest then can add the milk to taste. Part of the charm of this drink is the open-mouthed (bowl-shaped) cup that works well for dipping your brioche or your croissant. This is also nice for warming your hands on a chilly day!
Feeling a little Spanish? Then have a Cafe Con Leche, which is made by brewing up some gourmet coffee and then mixing in some sugar and serving it with a pitcher of heated milk which the guest can add to taste. If you want to follow tradition then also serve some warm, buttered bread with the Cafe Con Leche.
Now if you are a bit fan of straight Espresso shots then you know that you can order your Espresso pulled “long” or “short.”
If you order it long it is known as a Espresso Lungo and is made using about 1.5 ounces of water pulled in the Espresso machine for a longer time than normal, about 32 seconds.
If you order it short it is known as an Espresso Ristretto and is made by using about three-quarters of an ounce of water and pulled it in the Espresso machine for a shorter time than usual, about 19 seconds. Ristretto means “restricted” and refers to the restricted amount of time the water has to go through the coffee, which is also ground finer than usual.
If you cherish the intense flavor of Espresso shots, as Europeans are known to do, then you may like a Espresso Ristretto because it tends to be even sweeter than usual since it extracts just the best qualities of the coffee and avoids any bitter elements.
An Espresso pulled short and brewed with raw sugar is known as an Espresso Cubano.
A unique drink that Espresso lovers may want to try is the Traditional Granita, made by adding sugar to Espresso and then freezing and crushing it. Because of the added sugar the liquid doesn’t fully freeze solid, and thus is somewhat granular. The Granita is usually served in a cup and eaten with a spoon.
Those are the main Espresso drinks that all gourmet Kona coffee lovers should try. Once you have tried them all, then you can choose your favorite – or maybe they are all your favorite. Enjoy!