Have you ever thought of drinking coffee together with liquorice? If you are a fan of the classic espresso, the mere idea of this unusual combination might rightly turn your nose up at it. Nevertheless, what we have just described is none other than the recipe for the famous Calabrian coffee.
We, who know a thing or two about coffee, are the first to admit that we were a little surprised to discover the existence of this peculiar beverage, but we were completely won over just by tasting it! That’s why we decided to share its secrets with you by revealing the recipe to prepare it.
As you will soon discover, the ingredients to prepare it are very few, easy to obtain and form the basis of a recipe within everyone’s reach. Read on to discover it in detail!
Why should you prepare Calabrian coffee
Coffee and liquorice are both characterised by having a very strong flavour. Mixed together, they create a particularly energising beverage that is not only great for aiding digestion, but also for giving us a boost of life when we feel tired and exhausted.
This property makes Calabrian coffee an excellent ally for all those who suffer from low blood pressure and who, by taking this drink, can experience a pleasant sense of well-being. Liquorice, after all, is rich in glycyrrhizin: a substance that acts on the hormone that regulates blood pressure, helping to regularise its values. But that’s not all: thanks to the molecules it contains, it promotes healing from ulcers and gastritis, protecting the stomach’s internal walls.
The other ingredient in Caffè Calabrese, without which it cannot be prepared, is obviously espresso. As we will see later, this is not necessarily the only format of coffee allowed but, if you are an incurable traditionalist, you can safely use your beloved espresso as the basis for preparing this drink.
The important thing is to use a blend that blends well with the rest of the ingredients, has an intense aroma and can bring out the full flavour of Calabrian coffee. Hence the importance of preparing it with an instrument that is up to the task, since it is universally known that if you want to drink good coffee, you have to do it with the right machine.
This is why we at Pontevecchio have specialised in lever machines: the only ones capable of ensuring you a coffee with an intense aroma and rich in nutritional properties. In this regard, discover the right coffee machine for you by peeking at our catalogue, and use it to prepare an excellent espresso to be used as a base for your exquisite Calabrian coffee, the recipe for which we are about to reveal.
Calabrian coffee: ingredients and recipe
Now that you have an idea of what the ingredients of Calabrian coffee are, let’s find out together the exact quantities you need to get. To prepare it, you will need:
- 4 cups of espresso coffee or the equivalent of ground coffee;
- 6 tablespoons of brown sugar;
- 1 dl of cognac;
- liquorice roots to taste.
First, carefully chop the liquorice roots, reducing them almost to a powder. Mix them with the espresso coffee you have previously prepared or, alternatively, with ground coffee beans that have also been pulverised. Once this is done, prepare a second mixture by combining cognac and sugar, which you have to boil until half of the liquid has evaporated.
When ready, pour the mixture into the four cups together with the coffee and liquorice, stirring well. If you like, flavour it with more liquorice and the Calabrian coffee will be ready to be served to your guests!
As you can guess, this is a very simple recipe, but one that will give you a real burst of energy. The advice, therefore, is to savour it at times when you feel tired, or when you feel the need to start the day in a particularly gritty way. Absolutely avoid it before going to sleep, as Calabrian coffee is not at all designed to help you sleep!
Conclusion
If the idea of savouring this peculiar strong coffee is starting to make its way into your mind, don’t stop it. As the coffee lover that you surely are, you should not limit yourself to the traditional espresso, which, although indispensable, is only one of the infinite ways in which coffee can be prepared.
So why not have fun discovering them all, savouring them one after the other? Perhaps starting with Calabrian coffee! As you can see for yourself, the ingredients you need to prepare it are few and simple and, by making espresso with one of our fantastic lever machines, you will have the chance to experience a flavour that is unique to say the least.
So, what are you waiting for? Browse our catalogue and find the perfect machine for you: the one that will allow you to experiment with many different recipes, starting with Calabrian coffee.