No professional coffee machine at home? No problem! Alternative brewing methods offer several practical ways to make your coffee. Let us forget about coffee machines for a moment and focus on the equipment and methods that can replace them effectively and inexpensively. Let us get started!
Espresso is an art in itself and the essence of everything coffee can be. It is true #coffeeporn: an aromatic liquid with the consistency of cream, a colour as dark as Jack the Ripper’s past and a flavour as deep as the philosophy of the German neo-Romantics. Simply put, everything that is best about coffee, held in a tiny cup with room for just 50 ml.
Despite what the name might suggest, a barista's job has little to do with working in a bar and serving cocktails. A barista does serve drinks, but they are coffees — in 1,001 forms, dozens or hundreds of times a day. It is a profession that demands a lot: you need to understand coffee, the equipment used to brew it and, just as importantly, people. A barista is rather like a bartender, except that they serve caffeine instead of alcohol, and work not late at night but at an almost inhumanly early hour. A barista's smile at 7 a.m. is a shot of optimism, and the coffee they hand over is often the best cure for a Monday. So what does the job actually involve?
Are you feeling those holiday vibes yet? Packing for a weekend — or, you lucky things, a whole week — at a lake, in the mountains or anywhere far from civilisation? Great, we are happy for you! But remember: being on holiday does not excuse us from making good coffee with a proper dose of caffeine. How can you prepare a perfectly balanced little black coffee far from the electronic scales, water filter and espresso machine you left at home? Read on to discover how to brew the perfect cup in even the most extreme holiday conditions...
There are many additions to coffee, from dairy or plant-based milk through sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and rum to flavoured syrups. Of course, the list of ingredients that pair beautifully with coffee is much longer, but today we want to focus on those syrups! If you enjoy experimenting and your usual coffee has become boring, it is time to take an interest in natural flavoured coffee syrups. Why? What should every coffee lover know about these products? Read on.
Have you long dreamed of becoming a professional barista? Is coffee your whole world? Besides extensive knowledge, a true barista needs the right accessories to prepare delicious, aromatic coffee. Let us discover the tools that make a barista's work possible!
Have you ever tried coffee with alcohol? The flavours can work wonderfully together. Both coffee and alcohol call for moderation, and these drinks are best treated as occasional adult indulgences. Join us for a short history of the combination and several tried-and-tested recipes.
Coffee with milk or without? Which do you prefer? Many of us can hardly imagine coffee in any form other than caffè latte, macchiato or cappuccino. Even habitual black-coffee drinkers enjoy a milky version occasionally. But cow's milk is not the only option on shop shelves: plant-based alternatives are increasingly popular. Which works better in coffee?
Do you recognise those distinctive silver stovetop coffee pots? Have you ever brewed coffee in one and been surprised by how good it tasted? There is a reason moka pots are loved by coffee drinkers around the world. What makes these little pressure brewers such enduring favourites, and what should you know about them? Let us get straight to it.
Do you drink your coffee the same way every day? How about a new flavour and a fresh take on your daily cup? Combine pleasure with useful ingredients by serving yourself and your loved ones coffee with a few carefully chosen additions. If sugar and flavoured syrups are the only extras you know, it is time to explore some alternatives.
Every coffee lover has probably heard the term “latte art”. In short, it means patterns drawn in coffee with milk: hearts, rosettas, flowers, leaves, butterflies, swans and more. Does that brief description ring a bell? Perhaps you have already enjoyed both the flavour and the appearance of such a cup. If you dream of serving one to family and friends at home, let us explore the subject.
For a true coffee enthusiast, an aromatic cup is essential not only in the morning but throughout the day. Whether whole-bean or ground, the coffee must be high quality. A pack from the nearest grocery shop or supermarket does not always meet an enthusiast's expectations. But what about brewing accessories? What belongs in a coffee lover's home? Let us find out.
For many enthusiasts, espresso is the finest way to enjoy coffee. It is aromatic, concentrated and invigorating. Learning a little more about this distinctive drink can make you appreciate it even more.
Coffee has enjoyed lasting popularity for many years. Machines are becoming more sophisticated, making it quicker to prepare a cup, while shop shelves offer all kinds of products designed to suit our tastes. It is no surprise that a profession has developed around preparing coffee expertly: the barista.
Many of us cannot imagine starting the day without an invigorating coffee. We often settle for black coffee, coffee with milk, espresso or cappuccino. Yet there are countless ways to prepare the drink, and just as many spices that can vary its aroma. Let us explore what you can add to give your coffee an unexpected flavour.
Many of us are used to the simplest way of making coffee: put grounds in a mug, add hot water and it is ready. Yet a little care can reveal much more of coffee's rich flavour and aroma. An espresso machine is one option, but not everyone has access to one. Can you explore a deeper flavour without professional equipment? Yes — try a French press.
What is the best coffee for an espresso machine? How should it be prepared, roasted and ground? Why does grind size matter so much, and how does it help reveal the best in the beans? Here are some practical pointers for preparing coffee to brew.
Strong coffee with chocolate, whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon or cocoa: that is Viennese-style coffee in a nutshell. There are many versions of the recipe. What might you be served in a Viennese café, and how is the drink prepared in Poland?
Turkish coffee is attracting more and more interest. Contrary to a common belief in Poland, it is not simply ground coffee covered with hot water in a cup. How is it really brewed, and what gives it its distinctive flavour? Here is a guide to preparing and serving it.
Cardamom, often called the queen of spices, has many traditional uses in cooking and is especially well known as a coffee addition. It brings a distinctive flavour and a rich, spicy aroma. Coffee with cardamom is gently sweet in character, warming and invigorating. How can you make the most of this combination?
Textured milk is an important part of many coffee drinks, including cappuccino and caffè latte. Apart from the steam wand on an espresso machine, what can you use to create milk foam? And what should you remember if you want a smooth, pleasing result?
Hot cinnamon, caramel, ginger or vanilla coffee: which sounds most inviting on a cold autumn morning? Flavoured coffees are popular not only in cafés but also at home and in the office. What could be better than combining your favourite coffee with an appealing aroma? How are flavoured coffees made, and what are the ways to prepare them?
A quick milky coffee in a mug, or an espresso savoured from a delicate porcelain cup? We all have our little rituals. But what are the general conventions for serving coffee? Here is a short guide to choosing vessels for latte, espresso and cappuccino, along with a few points to remember for hot and iced drinks.
Flavoured coffees are becoming increasingly popular. It is easy to see why: a favourite aroma can be a lovely companion to good coffee. Vanilla is one of the most familiar choices. How can you prepare it, and how does a flavoured-bean coffee differ from one made with real vanilla?
Which coffee best clears the mind? As a Turkish saying has it, coffee should be black as hell, strong as death and sweet as love. But what do we mean by a truly strong coffee? Besides espresso, have you tried ristretto, Red Eye, Black Eye or Dead Eye?
Silky and gentle in flavour, yet strong and richly milky: these apparent opposites meet in a flat white. Where did it come from? How can you prepare one, and what should this café favourite taste like?
Invigorating and refreshing in the heat, frappé can be enjoyed all year round and prepared with all kinds of additions. Think cold coffee, chilled milk, ice and a little sweetness. Here is a recipe for a refreshing coffee drink with an inviting foam.
It sounds simple: what could be difficult about combining coffee and milk? Yet creating a neatly layered drink takes a little practice. What makes a satisfying latte, and which beans should you choose for it? Here is our recipe for a layered milk coffee.
For every person who opposes sweetening coffee, there is someone who enjoys a sweet cup. How can you sweeten coffee while keeping an eye on health and calories? Is brown sugar a good alternative to white sugar? How do you choose a sweetener? And is fructose or stevia worth trying?
The enormous choice of coffee machines can feel overwhelming. Which one should you choose for a really good cup? Which specifications matter, and what should you look for? Here is a quick guide to home coffee makers.