Who does not feel ahhhh……
When they smell a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
I did not grow up in a coffee-drinking home; however, my grandparents daily stirred instant coffee into boiling water. As a child, the coffee smelled bitter and I had no interest in tasting.
Many years later, I learned to appreciate coffee enhanced chocolate brownies (thanks to the Barefoot Contessa), a small cup of espresso with a chocolate croissant (thanks to CIA in Hyde Park, NY), and a Starbucks creation (thanks to My Friend A).
Inspired by my coffee-loving sister-in-law, V, today I ground coffee beans!
Visiting Niece A in St Louis, we strolled through her neighborhood market – Soulard Farmers Market (visit this market if you are in the area!!!). Our first stop was the Soulard Spice Shop, a local business since 1914. As I walked through the coffee section (buying beans for Brother R) and absorbed the aromas, I knew I had to try brewing the coffee.
The baker in me wants to measure everything!
ONE CUP OF COFFEE OR CAPPUCCINO
Ingredients:
- 15 grams Chocolate Fudge coffee beans from Soulard Spice Shop, Soulard Farmers Market, St Louis, MO, freshly ground; medium grind
- 200 grams of 200 degree F water, not allowed to boil
- 1/3 cup of 2% milk, heated and frothed
- 1/8 teaspoon cacao nibs, optional (as they sink to the bottom of the cup, they will flavor the drink)
- sprinkle of cocoa, optional
- 3 chocolate covered espresso beans (surely you don’t want these to be optional!)
Mixing:
- Moisten paper filter and fit inside top of 2-cup drip coffee pot
- Heat water to almost boiling
- Add ground coffee to moist filter
- Pour 50 grams water over coffee grounds and allow to bloom for one minute
- Pour remaining 150 grams of water over grounds and allow to steep for about a minute
- ENJOY!
- Or…….
- Heat 1/3 cup 2% milk and froth with Nespresso Aeroccino machine, whisk or hand held mixer.
- Pour hot milk into freshly brewed coffee
- Sprinkle with cacao nibs
- Dust with cocoa
- Serve with chocolate covered espresso beans on the side
It all seems rather simple, and actually it is. But, I had a few ‘trial and error’ moments
moisten the filter:
coffee beans
water at 200 degrees fahrenheit
medium grind
freshly ground coffee beans
bloom ground coffee one minute
add remainder of water
coffee!
(Leave the coffee grounds sitting on the counter for a while; the aroma will drift through your kitchen!)
cappuccino & cacao nibs
(iPhone 4 photos)
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