When summer approaches, the classic coffee may not be as inviting anymore. But fear not, for there’s a refreshing solution that guarantees an energy boost. By blending the worlds of coffee and bartending, delightful and aromatic recipes come to life, perfect for enjoying even on the hottest days.
Espresso tonic
Simple, quick and with very few ingredients to keep on hand at all times, espresso tonic is a refreshing non-alcoholic great at any time of the day. Officially it was invented in a Swedish coffee shop and roastery in 2007, but it has since spread quickly around the world, in part due to videos shared on social media that highlight the scenic effect of coffee swirls mingling with tonic.
Ingredients
- ice
- about 150 ml of tonic water
- one espresso
- sugar
Prepare the coffee, add sugar if you like, and let it cool. Meanwhile, prepare the glass with ice and add tonic water until the cubes are covered. Let it sit for a couple of minutes so that it has time to cool. Pour the coffee slowly to achieve a frothy effect.
The recipe does not stipulate precise quantities: the two basic ingredients can be mixed according to your taste, with less or more coffee depending on the result you want to achieve. It is important to know your coffee well to balance sweetness and acidity.
Coffee affogato
Somewhere between drink and dessert, coffee affogato is a perfect after-dinner treat that is very popular in Italy. In the 1950s, the number of ice cream parlors grew thanks to the spread of modern cooling machines. The Italian method of making ice cream became an icon of the Dolce Vita and bars became accustomed to sweetening and cooling espresso with a scoop of cream or vanilla. Here’s what you need to add it to your menu.
Ingredients
- 1 espresso
- 1 o 2 gelato scoops (traditionally vanilla-flavored)
- whipped cream (optional)
Nothing complicated: prepare a cup or glass with ice cream and pour coffee on top. Those who want can add a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of coffee or cocoa to decorate. Should you stir or wait? Everyone can enjoy it any way they like, but it should definitely be served with a teaspoon for those who want to mix the two flavors as well as possible.
Cold brew
Some coffee pros believe that cold brew is the only method to prepare iced coffee. While all other recipes involve making classic coffee to be cooled, cold brew is an extraction method that involves brewing coffee beans, coarsely ground, in cold water for about twelve hours.
There are homemade methods you can follow, but if you want to offer it in your coffee shop, you must equip yourself with the special machine – named Toddy after its inventor – that adjusts the percolation from the water one drop at a time, at the rate of 8 drops every 10 seconds. Cold brewing results in a coffee that is less acidic and suitable for storage in the refrigerator for several days.
This process yields a concentrated beverage that can be drunk either pure or diluted with water or milk or used as a base to be flavored, as in the case of the Cold Brew Lemonade.
Ingredients
- 30 ml of lemon juice
- 20 ml of sugar syrup
- 120 ml of mineral water
- 120 ml of Cold Brew Coffee
- ice
First prepare the lemonade by mixing lemon juice, sugar syrup and water in a glass. Then fill with ice and finally slowly pour in the Cold Brew Coffe. Decorate with a lemon twist and a few mint leaves.
