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Black as hell, strong as death...
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New flavours have given coffee a new taste
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CUPPA THAT CHEERS Fresher the beans, better the coffee
To a coffee gourmet, who takes pride in his treasured blend of roasted coffee beans with which he brews the most exquisite espressos and cappuccinos, the very concept of adding flavours to this strong, scented drink seems contemptible. Yet, recent trends show that flavoured coffee has changed the taste buds of even staunch coffee aficionados.
Flavouring coffee is actually an ancient custom. It is traditional to add cardamom to coffee, while the practice of adding cinnamon is widespread in Mexico since many years. But, by far the most important flavouring added to coffee, the world over is milk.
One popular misconception about flavoured coffee is that you don't need to start with high-quality coffee beans. On the contrary, the fresher the bean, the better the coffee, be it a hot or cold drink. Adding a flavour does not diminish the quality of the coffee; it merely enhances the coffee with a specific flavour. Some drinkers enjoy a distinctive flavour, chocolate is a common additive that is either sprinkled on top or added to the coffee to imitate the taste of mocha. Other flavourings include spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom or Italian syrups. Sometimes, however, the coffee beans themselves can also be flavoured.
Caffeine shot
Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and as sweet as love, goes a Turkish proverb. The rising reputation of flavoured coffee cannot be underestimated. A new wave of `café culture' has spawned the growth of trendy café outlets and chic coffee shops worldwide, changing the way people drink their favourite cuppa. Today, coffee means big business. The plethora of coffee houses mushrooming all over the country testifies to the fact that the industry is flourishing, though the tradition of serving coffee is a much older phenomenon than most would imagine. The kind of coffee you drink depends on what time of day you are having it. While one is very unlikely to opt for a flavoured iced beverage as soon as he wakes up, that is likely to be the natural choice during the latter part of the day. Winter sees an upsurge in hot coffees of all flavours. A wonderful savour by itself, coffee also acts well as a base for many other flavours, be it with milk and whipped cream, a tip-off of spice or a dash of chocolate. Indispensable machines
Going to a café where a trained barista or barman can brew the perfect cuppa is the easiest way of tasting coffee at its best, but there are many options for those who want to master the art of making coffee. Coffee machines have also become a vital part of office furnishing. The coffee lover has the last word.
JESSINA ABOOBACKER
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