Learn how to use syrups correctly in coffee cocktails
If during the summer, you exploited your creativity with the delicious coffee cocktail recipes that you found on the Internet, welcome to the coffeelovers club! Since we have no doubt that you were able to surprise more than one palate, after making an incredible mixture to which we may or may not include liquor, coffee and the one that cannot be missed, syrup. Despite being little laborious preparations, we usually make mistakes, for example, when using correctly the syrups in cocktails.
Whether you have a coffee shop or you like to surprise your loved ones with coffee cocktails, it is important to keep one thing in mind: Carefully choose the syrup that accompanies your drink. As incredible as it may seem, this will influence the final result of the cocktail.
Surely you are wondering what are those errors? When using simple syrups, we can make mistakes from the moment we select the flavor to the quantities we add. That is why the team of experts at Incapto Coffee, will help you avoid these very common mistakes and make your drink totally incredible, with three key points that we will detail shortly.
What are coffee cocktails?
Before getting into the subject, we want to point out that coffee cocktails are refreshing and exquisite drinks, designed not only for the summer, there are also some recipes that fit like a glove for the winter season. But what makes them so special? If you have had the opportunity to enjoy one, you will know that these preparations do not only have a base espresso and ice. In addition to having a strong espresso as a base, it also includes ingredients such as liquor (there are some that do not contain) and syrups.
When we are in front of a good cocktail, we can perceive that it is a balanced, delicious drink where coffee does not lose its prominence. It definitely implies a different and pleasant experience.
Among the most popular coffee cocktails are: Espresso Martini, Mocha latte, Shakerato, among others. To learn more coffee-based preparations, we invite you to read our publications: 'The best coffee recipes for summer' and 'We present the different coffee preparations'.
Tips to learn how to use syrups
Recreating a coffee cocktail is not complicated at all, however, the trick is to make an amazing drink, that once you take the first sip you cannot stop delighting. But unfortunately, there are those who call a preparation that is just coffee with syrup a cocktail, completely destroying the recipe.
The good news is that below, we will reveal to you what are those common mistakes that we usually make when including syrups in cocktails, and that definitely endanger the reputation of the drink and ours as baristas, professionals or amateurs.
Flavor
It is undoubtedly one of the main points to take into account, because we imagine the flavor of our drink even long before we start taking out the ingredients. As the saying goes: “if you dream it, you make it come true.” Our group of experts, recommend experimenting For example, we can use seasonal fruits, herbs, edible flowers, in fact you can use sweeter flavors like caramel, to give that innovative touch to the cocktail. Apple syrups are also an excellent option and can be found in specialized stores.
We know, your head is about to explode from so much information, but don't worry. Try starting with the coffee tasting notes, in case you're using a specific syrup flavor for a particular drink. The key to success is to get that syrup that complements or enhances the flavors of the coffee, in order to finish consecrating your recipe.
It should be noted that the flavoring factor can be excellent not only by including syrups in coffee cocktails, we can also add sugars. For example, for clear syrups, it works to combine it with white sugar. If you want a more complex flavor with a hint of molasses, we recommend using whole sugar or any of its variants. But if you're just looking to give it a floral touch, you should only include honey. Seeing all these options will probably make you feel intimidated, so to get a safe 10 just melt caramel in water and that's it.
Get better consistency
In case you didn't know, weight is essential when preparing coffee, this also applies when we are going to make the syrup. You may think that it is not important, but the truth is that, if we want to achieve good consistency, it is advisable to weigh the ingredients every time that are necessary. The importance of this is that, when the coffee or sugar is granulated, they disintegrate unevenly. Being able to measure the weight in the same dosing article would give different results.
You should also keep in mind that consistency is not only based on weighing the ingredients before starting. The way you cook is another influencing factor. One recommendation we give you is to never bring the water to a boiling point. Doing so will cause it to evaporate and produce an imbalance in the amount of water and sugar.
But if you don't want to get involved with the kitchen fire because it's not your thing, don't worry, it is possible to make syrups with cold water. Well yes, as you read it, the only difference in applying this method is that the sugar will melt faster and more consistently than with hot water. For this reason, we advise you to set your kettle so that it reaches 205°F/ 96°C.
Balance
A difficult and very important fact that we must know is when to use simple syrups, as well as knowing what flavors we can recreate. If you have a cafeteria, it is essential that you know your clientele, to discover what type of mixtures they like. If they are one of those who prefer the sweetest ones, then you should only focus on that. But if the opposite is the case, the ideal is not to overdo it when including syrups in cocktails. With this now clear, the time has come to get to work.
The key to all this goes hand in hand with balance, something that we must apply when designing specialty drinks. In case you didn't know, syrups are that powerful touch of flavor in any preparation, even rarely using more than 30 ml. The normal thing is to add 15 ml. You also can't overlook the size of the drink, in this case the cocktail.
It is essential that you review what other ingredients you are using in your preparations. For example, if you are using a bitter, it is very likely that you should use something sweet so that there can be a good balance between both flavors.
In order to master all of this perfectly, we will achieve it through practice. Since Incapto Coffee, we invite you to make many classic coffee cocktail recipes at home, in order to learn more about the famous trial and error method. Something that we do not doubt will be of great help.
Remember to take these three factors into account, so that you can include syrups in your cocktails successfully and not die trying. So the time has come to start creating your drinks that will be destined for success.
Source:
