In: drinks.
Personal
I started drinking coffee ☕ after college. Back then, I had no idea how to prepare it and it tasted more like a light tea.
When I met my (back then future wife, currently actual wife) and she told me it’s junk, I started to learn how to brew proper coffee.
Over time I started to appreciate good coffee and I even finished a barista course on SkillShare, but I’m far from being an expert.
Articles
How to make better coffee
https://getpocket.com/collections/how-to-make-better-coffee
A handy guide to upping your coffee game, from weighing different prep methods to troubleshooting your process
Brewing a great cup of coffee depends on chemistry and physics
https://theconversation.com/brewing-a-great-cup-of-coffee-depends-on-chemistry-and-physics-84473
The invisible addiction: is it time to give up caffeine?
By Michael Pollan, posted Tue 6 Jul 2021
https://theguardian.com/food/2021/jul/06/caffeine-coffee-tea-invisible-addiction-is-it-time-to-give-up
Caffeine makes us more energetic, efficient and faster. But we have become so dependent that we need it just to get to our baseline
Massive study finds coffee drinkers will probably outlive the rest of us
By David Nield, posted 30 September 2022
https://sciencealert.com/massive-study-finds-coffee-drinkers-will-probably-outlive-the-rest-of-us
This is most likely fake news, but it would be nice…
How Caffeine has fueled history
90% of the world’s adults consume some form of caffeine everyday, making it the most widely used psychoactive drug on Earth.
Michael Pollan, author of “This Is Your Mind On Plants,” explains why. Michael goes into the history of coffee drinking, breaking down its origins and how it benefits humankind.
https://wired.com/video/watch/wired-news-and-science-how-caffeine-has-fueled-history
Coffee ☕ brewing
Really useful tips:
https://マリウス.com/coffee/
https://マリウス.com/trapped-on-an-island-coffee-with-a-moka-pot/
Coffee Brewing Methods - 7 ways to brew the perfect cup:
https://coffeeofthenorth.org/coffee-brewing-methods
- French press method
- AeroPress method
- Pour over method
- Chemex pour over
- Cold brew method
- Moka pot/ Stovetop
- Siphon method
What Coffee-Brewing Method Makes the Best-Tasting Cup?
https://thekitchn.com/best-coffee-brewing-method-22977756
- AeroPress - 2 min, 10/10
- Pourover - 5 min, 9/10
- Moka Pot - 10 min, 8/10
- French Press - 5 min, 7/10 flavor
- Drip Machine - 8 min, 5/10 flavor
What Coffee-Brewing Method Makes the Best-Tasting Cup?
https://perfectbrew.com/blog/coffee-brewing-method-for-taste
Drip method - pour hot water over ground coffee beans for about 5 minutes
French press
Siphon - vacuum coffee brewing method
Buy freshly roasted and whole beans; you have only 2-3 weeks before your roasted coffee beans start to lose their flavor
Ground coffee starts to lose its flavor and freshness in just 30 minutes after being ground
Types of coffee
I forget what’s the difference between them all the time.
These are the most popular type of coffee:
https://agreatcoffee.com/cappuccino-vs-latte-vs-macchiato-vs-mocha-vs-flat-white
Cappuccino
- 3 primary ingredients - espresso, steamed milk and milk froth. A cappuccino usually follows a 1:1:1 ratio of these ingredients.
- Cappuccinos are regarded as stronger than lattes due to the presence of milk foam over milk itself, with the taste of espresso coming through stronger as it not as diluted with milk, and so it is socially acceptable for a man to drink them in public.
Latte
- steamed milk poured on top of an espresso, with just a small amount milk froth on top. Unlike the 1:1:1 ratio of the cappuccino ingredients, a latte typically follows a 1:4:1 ration of espresso, steamed milk and milk froth.
- Often drank in the morning in France and Italy as an accompaniment to breakfast, it is not unusual to see croissants dipped into a latte and eaten.
- Due to the overwhelming presence of steamed milk, it is not a strong coffee, and so it has proven to be popular the world around – especially with old ladies who can’t handle a real coffee.
Macchiato
- Traditional macchiatos are simply a shot of espresso finished off with a dollop of milk froth. Macchiato is Italian for “stained milk”, implying the milk is stained by the presence of the espresso, which is quite different to the chain-store monstrosities that we see dominating Instagram.
- The high espresso to milk ratio means this is a strong drink.
Mocha
- Quite simply, a mocha is a monster. A Frankenstein, if you will; a hybrid of coffee and chocolate that should never have been given life in the first place, and should be chased out of town by angry townspeoplebaring pitchforks and flaming torches.
- Once the espresso is in the glass, hot chocolate powder or syrup is added and mixed, before steamed milk is added.
Flat White
- The Flat White is the current darling of the coffee world, now adorning menus around the world; the chosen drink of the hipster, yet confusion reigns supreme with regards to what it is.
- Some people regard it as a small latte, others as a small cappuccino, whilst most baristas are content just to give you a latte regardless and charge more for the privilege.
- They were correct about one thing - size. It is typically smaller than a latte and a cappuccino, yet larger than a macchiato. As well as being small, it also contains “micro foam”, which is a more velvety version of the cappuccino and latte’s froth. The texture of the milk is different, due to a different steaming method, and is folded into a double shot of espresso, making it a strong drink than the cappuccino or latte.
- The hipsters are onto something good - it’s a silky, strong coffee, and a contender to the latte’s crown as King of the Coffees.
https://coffeedorks.com/latte-vs-latte-macchiato-vs-flat-white
https://foodrepublic.com/2014/10/24/so-you-know-the-difference-between-a-macchiato-cappuccino-and-flat-white
Latte/ Café Latte
Use the following espresso to milk ratio:
- A single shot of espresso
- 6 ounces of milk
- 1 cm of foam on top
Latte Macchiato
- Any aspiring barista should know that, even though latte macchiato has the same ingredients as a regular café latte, they actually differ greatly in preparation.
- Also known as a layered drink, latte macchiato is most often made with half a shot of espresso that is added to the milk. Therefore, beginning to form a different layer. The foam is then added to the top, forming the final layer of the beverage.
- In simple terms, in latte macchiato, the emphasis is on milk, rather than coffee.
Flat White
- A flat white is not a small latte. It is also not a cappuccino with less froth. My ears burn every time I hear baristas or coffee house customers bring up these arguments.
- Flat white is made with a double shot of espresso. So, a flat white should always be stronger than a latte, when made using the same coffee ground. Also, the former should be served in a cup no larger than 160ml (6oz), while lattes can be served in 240ml (8.11oz).
Latte vs Flat white
- The texturing of the milk.
- The amount of espresso (single shot for a latte and double shot for a flat white).
- Aesthetics - a flat white is topped by a thin layer of microfoam, while a latte has up to 1cm of steamed milk on top.
