Boas Comidas

Glossário Culinário

Coffee

Ingrediente

Origem
from Ethiopian cooking, spread by the Arabs
Também chamado de
roast coffee, brewed coffee, espresso

Coffee is the drink obtained by brewing the roasted and ground beans of the coffee plant, of the genus Coffea, and one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen. Beyond the everyday cup, it goes into desserts, sauces, marinades and drinks, adding bitterness, roasted aroma and depth of flavor.

Characteristics

The most used varieties in Brazil are:

  • Arabica: more aromatic and delicate, with balanced acidity, preferred for drip coffee and espresso.
  • Robusta (conilon): fuller-bodied and intense, common in blends and instant coffee.
  • Roast and ground: the traditional powder for drip brewers, with fine or medium grind.
  • Instant: practical and fast-dissolving, widely used in sweet recipes.
  • Whole bean: keeps aroma better and is ground fresh for espresso and filtered methods.

Flavor varies with the roast: light roasts highlight acidity and fruity notes, while dark roasts bring bitterness and notes of chocolate and caramel.

Uses in the kitchen

In baking, coffee is essential in tiramisu, coffee cakes, mousses, ice creams, gourmet brigadeiros and syrups for moistening chocolate cakes, which gain intensity without an explicit coffee taste. In savory cooking, it appears in marinades and rubs for meats, especially beef and pork, and in sweet-and-sour sauces. In drinks, besides drip coffee and espresso, it is the base of cappuccinos, frappés, homemade liqueurs and creamy cocktails.

Substitutions

In sweets, strong brewed coffee can be swapped for espresso or instant coffee dissolved in a little hot water, adjusting the strength. For a caffeine-free version, use decaffeinated coffee while keeping the flavor. Those who do not drink coffee can use instant barley or malt extract in syrups and dark cakes, knowing the aromatic profile changes.

Fun facts

Brazil is one of the world’s largest coffee producers, and the drink is part of the national hospitality ritual. In the kitchen, a practical tip is to brew the coffee for the recipe a bit stronger than drinking coffee: the sugar and fat in sweets soften the flavor. Store the powder in a tightly closed jar, away from light and moisture, and avoid the refrigerator, where it absorbs odors from other foods.

Recipes with coffee

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