The American author Edward Abbey once said that ‘’our culture runs on coffee and gasoline, the first often tasting like the second’’. Here in the UK, switch the word ‘gasoline’ with ‘petrol’, and that statement rings pretty true, too.
Whilst some countries across the globe take their coffee very seriously indeed, it seems like us Brits have often been happy to settle on something less delicious and, let’s be honest here, more instant.
But times are changing. Recently, the Confederation of British Industry reported that although we were once known as primarily a nation of teal lovers, ‘’the United Kingdom has become one of the largest coffee consuming countries in Europe in recent years’’.
They go on to remark that our preference for quality coffee is rising, too, suggesting that ‘’Although in-home coffee consumption is still largely dominated by the sale of instant coffee, coffee pods and ground coffee are gaining in popularity.’’
Interesting stuff. Suddenly, a hastily assembled cup of Kenco may not be enough to have friends and family cooing over your coffee credentials. Instead, here are 5 ways to impress your guests with a simple cup of coffee.
Global Beans & Blends
It’s not just the brewing of coffee that’s important; choosing coffee beans is an art form in itself. You want the perfect mix of rich earthy flavours, maybe with some chocolate undertones or a little bitterness or fruit on the palate. Increasingly, you can find exciting global beans and blends in your local supermarket, but what’s really going to impress your clients is careful sourcing of the finest coffee from afar.
Some of the best coffee blends in the world are slightly above what you might want to pay but you are getting quality with every sip. Some of our favourite blends are Trung Nguyen from Vietnam, which blends Arabica and Robusta to a chocolatey, rich finish, Blue Mountain from Jamaica, and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, from the birthplace of coffee. Of course, it’s all subjective; find what suits you and dive in.
Perhaps our favourite right now, though, is Kopi Luwak, a coffee speciality originating in Indonesia, and one that is so rich and complex that it’s bound to impress your guests. This coffee is actually made from partially digested coffee cherries, extracted from the droppings of civet cats (not actually cats, and more closely related to a mongoose). Interestingly, you’ll see a similar coffee advertised in Vietnam and Thailand, referred to as ‘weasel coffee’.
Fortunately, you don’t have to travel to South East Asia to get your hands on the stuff. You can order it online easily and impress your guests not only with its deep earthy caramel undertones but also with an anecdote about this coffee’s unique production process.
Read: 7 IDEAL ways to brew perfect cups of coffee from around the world
Frothed To Perfection
Milk plays a major role in some of the best types of coffee the world over, and if your guests enjoy a milky cup, then you need to make sure you are hitting those golden ratios of froth and milk to coffee if you’re going to impress them.
Actually, this one’s pretty formulaic. A latte tends to follow the 1:4:1 ratio, which is 1 part coffee to 4 parts milk and 1 part froth. But of course, this changes for a cappuccino, flat white, macchiato and many other coffees that are based around the textural intrigue that milk brings. By investing in a simple handheld milk frother (you can find them on Amazon for a tenner) and learning the ratios required, you’ll wow guests with your barista skills from the comfort of your home.
Providing various kinds of plant milk is essential these days, too, and using coconut milk or almond milk can even add that extra bit of flavour to a coffee.
Latte Art
Now that you know the perfect milk to froth ratio for your lattes, it’s time to add some excitement to your cup. If you’re truly keen to take your at-home coffee game to the next level, then presentation is key. ‘We drink with our eyes first’, after all.
Producing some fine latte art is always impressive. Start simple with the classic heart or leaf and once you have those mastered those, try experimenting some more.
To take things up another notch still, why not serve your java in a personalised coffee cup? Now that’s another level of art!
Interesting Additions
Adding sugar, cream, or milk is not the only way to change the composition of your coffee’s flavour profile. You did want to take things up a notch, right? Well, coffee culture extends far beyond the beans and the grind, we think.
Adding different flavours that are unique to your coffee can really change how it tastes and channel that coffee shop ‘je ne sais quoi’. Cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, chocolate, and even salt can be used to great effect to really pull different flavours out from your homebrew.
Vanilla extract enhances the sweetness but without added sugar, fat, or lactose, and salt can cut the bitterness of black coffee like a dream. There are all sorts of ingredients and add-ins that you can find around your kitchen that can make small but noticeable differences to your homemade coffee; find your favourite, but do use it sparingly…you wouldn’t want that magic dust to lose its sparkle.
Read: 10 unusual ingredients to add to your morning coffee
Up Your Coffee Knowledge
Did you know that coffee was originally used as a concentration aide to stop people from dozing off during lengthy religious observances? Or, that coffee houses were once referred to as “penny universities” due to the cheap price of the coffee in such places, and the invigorating debates that occurred here? By regaling your guests with a few choice facts and stories, they will enjoy their coffee experience even further.
Anyway, all this talk of coffee has made us thirsty. Care to put the kettle on?