With or Without Sugar?

by **Paragon** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:27 pm

...like 3-4 years ago I was at a coffee thing in Rimini (SCAE) and what the wise told us was that a little bit of sugar - because it brings out the sugars in the coffee (espresso)........

a little bit of sugar in espresso

by **Aadje** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:28 pm

that's quite obvious . . . sugar bringing out the sugar

by **Mitch** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:33 am

Sugar? No way, same goes for milk i'm afraid.

by **Beanie** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:06 am

Hmmm... thought I voted before... guess not :roll:

I used to have to load up ANY coffee-based drink with a least 2 sugars :shock:

but since properly preparing my coffee at home, I don't anymore

Sometimes my capps get a nice sweet liquor, like Kahlua or my ice capps for summer get Grand Marnier. Espresso & ristretto, 98% of the time, I don't add sugar. For the other 2%, I always taste a few sips without sugar to make sure my shot is not 'under par' and then I'll add a pinch of sugar as it really changes the drink and how much easier it may become to identify 'hazy' flavours (especially when you can't decide whether it's caramel or toffee). It was on a 'tour' of Kees vd Westen's workshop and him recommending that I add sugar to one of the double ristretto shots that makes me do this every now and then

by **Skippy** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:50 am

Black coffee has no sugar, black coffee needs no sugar!

hmmm that quote worked better in my head....

by **johnny** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:35 pm

why would I want to ruin the by product of a £750 espresso machine, £250 grinder £50 a month fresh coffee, filtered water, £30 tamper etc etc etc etc etc ..... by putting sugar in it ?

If I wanted to blat out the taste I would rather cover it in cold milk and ice and blend it with syrup, cookies a banana, chocolate chips and cover it in can whipped cream ?????

by **Walter** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:35 pm

No sugar, except in a corretto...

Regarding milk ... well ... a cappa is not really the same without milk ...

by **johnny** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 1:15 pm

Walter wrote:Regarding milk ... well ... a cappa is not really the same without milk ...

I tried this, this morning

1/3 espresso
1/3 air
1/3 more air

To be fair it was a very strong cappa .... more like an espresso in a too bigger cup.

The chocolate sprinkles sat well on the crema though, that pleased me, good strong crema !

by **calum** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:15 am

are we talking fine Caribbean cane sugar, or Bury St. Edmonds sugar beet sugar?

for me, no sugar; tiniest dab of milk just to colour things, e.g .macchiato. Probably psychological.

when I go to espresso bars in northern Italy - where people go for their stand-up, no-talking, no-messing-about, morning shots - it seems that most everyone adds sugar.

by **Walter** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:11 am

johnny wrote:
Walter wrote:Regarding milk ... well ... a cappa is not really the same without milk ...

I tried this, this morning

1/3 espresso
1/3 air
1/3 more air

To be fair it was a very strong cappa .... more like an espresso in a too bigger cup.

The chocolate sprinkles sat well on the crema though, that pleased me, good strong crema !

Did you take your air frothed or not? :lol:

----

calum wrote:when I go to espresso bars in northern Italy - where people go for their stand-up, no-talking, no-messing-about, morning shots - it seems that most everyone adds sugar.

Espresso in Italy is an entirely different story, I have yet to find a superb one and in most cases it is hard to bear without some sugar, milk or grappa. I wish they'd clean their groupheads and portafilters a little more often...

by **calum** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:19 am

Walter wrote:Espresso in Italy is an entirely different story, I have yet to find a superb one and in most cases it is hard to bear without some sugar, milk or grappa. I wish they'd clean their groupheads and portafilters a little more often...

yup, I've been disappointed there, too. Had expected much better, from the "home" of espresso.

by **johnny** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:53 pm

Walter wrote:Did you take your air frothed or not?

Please .. I am a coffee snob .. I did it by the book, I filled my Motta with nice fresh air from out side. I purged the steam wand of any water, then I put the want into the jug, and slowely turned on the steam,

I kept the tip of the wand just under the fresh air until I had stetched it enough, for cappas, I stretch 25% ..... then I plunged the wand deep into the air to get it to temp ... as soon as I couldnt touch the side of the jug for longer than a second, I stopped steaming ... dont want to scald that air.

I got a got steam I thought ... it all depends on the air, but the west country air certainly has more protien in it than midlands air !

not managed latte art though with steamed air .... guess I am not churning it enough, but the air just sits ontop of the espresso

by **bruceb** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:47 pm

johnny wrote:
Walter wrote:Did you take your air frothed or not?

Please .. I am a coffee snob .. I did it by the book, I filled my Motta with nice fresh air from out side. I purged the steam wand of any water, then I put the want into the jug, and slowely turned on the steam,

I kept the tip of the wand just under the fresh air until I had stetched it enough, for cappas, I stretch 25% ..... then I plunged the wand deep into the air to get it to temp ... as soon as I couldnt touch the side of the jug for longer than a second, I stopped steaming ... dont want to scald that air.

I got a got steam I thought ... it all depends on the air, but the west country air certainly has more protien in it than midlands air !

not managed latte art though with steamed air .... guess I am not churning it enough, but the air just sits ontop of the espresso

This is what happens to people who don't put milk in their coffee. :shock:

by **Walter** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:48 am

johnny wrote:
Walter wrote:Did you take your air frothed or not?

Please .. I am a coffee snob .. I did it by the book, I filled my Motta with nice fresh air from out side. I purged the steam wand of any water, then I put the want into the jug, and slowely turned on the steam,

I kept the tip of the wand just under the fresh air until I had stetched it enough, for cappas, I stretch 25% ..... then I plunged the wand deep into the air to get it to temp ... as soon as I couldnt touch the side of the jug for longer than a second, I stopped steaming ... dont want to scald that air.

I got a got steam I thought ... it all depends on the air, but the west country air certainly has more protien in it than midlands air !

not managed latte art though with steamed air .... guess I am not churning it enough, but the air just sits ontop of the espresso

Hmmm...

May I suggest you repost this on one of the major american home barista forums. That way the method will be "trademarked" under your name and eventually they will come up with some utterly meaningful scientifical or statistical research regarding the taste of frothed air cappuccini...

by **wil** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:54 pm

Good coffee ought to contain one sugar and some cream - evaporated milk if there's no cream.
I know this to be true as I have sampled many a cup of coffee, without the above added, and always find the coffee to be lacking sugar and cream/E.M. :wink:

If you thinks otherwise, then you should train your palate slowly; adding small amounts of cream & sugar until you hit "the spot"! :lol:

Yours tastefully
G. Ramsay :evil:

..lol

With or Without Sugar?

Do you drink you coffee with or without sugar?

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