Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand described the perfect cup of coffee this way near the turn of the 18th century. Whether you like it strong and black or sweet and light, coffee is still the beverage a lot of people can't do without.
The cool thing about coffee is that its enjoyed by everyone from the soldier in boot camp to the finest restaurants in the world, from the campfire to the formal dining room. Regardless of whether its served in a hefty mug or a fine porcelain china cup, coffee can take on the character of any meal and add to any gathering.
How to Serve Coffee
The coffee purist will accept nothing other than high test, meaning you can forget the decaf. Its OK to offer decaffeinated coffee, but be prepared for a request for regular, even if its late in the evening. Many coffee drinkers are able to drink caffeinated coffee well into the evening and wouldnt have it any other way.
For the best pot of coffee, use a good quality coffee bean, Columbian, French roast or Kona. Grind the coffee beans in a coffee grinder just before you make the coffee. Immediately after its brewed, pour the coffee into a preheated insulated coffee server and serve within about 30 minutes.
Check out The Coffee Review for a guide to everything youve always wanted to know about coffee.
Flavored Coffees
There are about as many flavored coffees available as there are flavors. Hazelnut, vanilla bean and chocolate flavors are popular, and you can find flavors as exotic as blueberry cinnamon cobbler, apricot cream and pumpkin spice.
Coffee can also be flavored with syrups, which are cropping up in coffee and tea aisles of most grocery stores. Coffee syrups come in a variety of flavors, including butterscotch, crme de menthe, raspberry, root beer and more. An advantage of coffee syrups is the ability to flavor one cup of coffee at a time.
At Coffee Makers Caf you can find advantages, other uses, and everything else you always wanted to know about coffee syrups.
Lattes, Cappuccinos and Espresso Drinks
Espresso is the true coffee lovers paradise. Add foamy milk and its a cappuccino, add milk and foam and youve got a latte.
The secret to making espresso drinks as good as a Starbucks barista is in the espresso maker.
Before purchasing an espresso machine, read product reviews and buying guides to learn about the different types of espresso makers, how they work, and how they differ. The cheaper espresso makers under $80 are steam driven and dont make espresso with the same power as the more expensive machines. If you see an espresso maker with a price tag that seems too good to be true, it probably isnt worth buying.
Check out 2BaSnob.com for some tips on buying the best espresso maker.
Spiked Coffee Drinks
A dash of amaretto, crme de menthe, Baileys Irish Cream, bourbon or brandy, makes a cup of coffee a cozy after-dinner cocktail.
Irish Coffee is easy to whip up. Heres how to make Irish Coffee: Steam-heat a whiskey goblet. Pour in 1 shot of whiskey. Add 3 sugar cubes. Add black coffee to within 1 inch of the brim, and stir. Fill to the brim with heavy cream thats been slightly aerated.
From Ireland, travel north and try this recipe from the Liquor Snob for Swiss Coffee: Mix together 3 ounces of premium, dark roast, medium ground coffee, and 1 ounce each of kahlua, amaretto, Tia Maria, and dark cream de cacao. Serve topped with whipped cream.
Iced Coffee Drinks
For a summer cool-down, serve an iced coffee drink before, during or after a barbecue or picnic on the porch. All Recipes has recipes for Iced Mochas, Cappuccino Coolers, and more iced coffee drinks, as well as this tip from a reader: I pour my leftover coffee in ice cube trays and keep them on hand all the time.
Coffee Accoutrements
- CoffeeWares.com sells cups, mugs, travel packs and more.
- Crate and Barrel has a beautiful line of coffee accoutrements.
- Serve coffee to guests with a chocolate spoon, which when stirred into a hot cup of coffee, melts into the drink.
