What A Cup of Coffee!
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COFFEE CUES

How do you like your coffee? Strong, weak or in between? With milk and sugar or deep, rich and black? And the pot - drip, automatic, vacuum, percolator? No matter what your preferences are, you'll bring folks back for a second cup if you keep the following hints in mind.

Be sure the coffee maker is clean. After each use, wash it with a soft cloth or sponge and a light-duty detergent and hot water; occasionally use one of the special commercial cleaners. Then rinse thoroughly, until the water runs clean. Never scour. For automatic coffee makers, follow the manufacturer's directions carefully.

Always use fresh coffee and fresh cold water. Never use hot water, especially in automatic coffee makers; it changes percolating time.

Most people like medium-strength coffee: 2 level tablespoons of ground coffee for each 3/4 cup of cold water. For weaker coffee, use 1 level tablespoon of coffee; for a stronger brew, use 3 tablespoons.

Most coffee makers perform best when used at full capacity. For this reason, many coffee lovers use a large pot for company and a small pot for every day.

Time is of the essence for perfect coffee. Each grind has its own best brewing time: usually 6 to 8 minutes for regular or percolator grind, 4 to 6 minutes for drip and 1 to 4 minutes for fine or vacuum grind.

After brewing is finished, remove the grounds and pour the coffee - the sooner coffee is served, the better it tastes. If necessary, hold the coffee at serving temperature over very low heat, but not longer than an hour.

Every brand of coffee has its own distinct flavor - experiment with a variety until you find the blend you like best. But whatever brand you try, be sure to buy the grind that is right for your type of coffee maker.

Once opened, store coffee (whether ground or instant) in the refrigerator in a tightly covered container.

Preparation Methods

Automatic - Follow manufacturer's directions for selecting grind of coffee (special ones are available), measuring and brewing the coffee and holding the coffee at serving temperature.

Drip - Measure cold water into kettle and heat to boiling. Meanwhile, preheat coffeepot by rinsing with very hot water. Measure drip-grind coffee into filter section of coffeepot, depending on the type of drip pot used. Pour measured fresh boiling water into upper container; cover. When dripping is completed, remove upper container and filter section and serve coffee.

Vacuum - Measure fresh cold water into lower bowl and heat to boiling. Place filter in upper bowl; add fine or drip-grind coffee. Remove boiling water from heat; reduce heat. Insert upper bowl with a slight twist. Return to heat. Let water rise into upper bowl; stir. Remove from heat. Coffee should return to lower bowl within 2 minutes. Remove upper bowl and serve coffee.

Coffee Italian-Style - Espresso, a strong, dark Italian coffee, is very popular as an after-dinner beverage both at home and in coffee shops. It is traditionally served in demitasse cups with sugar but never with cream. Espresso is made with a special dark roasted Italian coffee that has been roasted to a much deeper color and ground much more finely than regular American coffee. Espresso and instant espresso are available at specialty food stores and many supermarkets. Prepare the instant espresso according to package directions.

True espresso is made with steam pressure in special espresso coffee makers. Italian coffee can also be made in a macchinetta, an Italian drip coffee maker. If neither of these is available, prepare Italian coffee in a regular drip or percolator coffee maker, or use freshly brewed strong black coffee.

Easy Coffee Fix-ups

California Coffee - For each serving, place 2 tablespoons brandy in a mug. Fill 2/3 full with hot strong coffee. Top with a scoop of chocolate ice cream.

Coffee Float - For each serving, fill a tall glass 2/3 full with strong iced coffee; top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Mocha Espresso - For each serving, stir 1 tablespoon instant cocoa mix and 2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee into 1 cup hot milk. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

Dessert Coffee Mix

Place 1/4 cup freeze-dried coffee, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup cocoa in blender container. Cover and blend on high speed 15 seconds; stir. Cover and blend on high speed 15 seconds longer. Store in tightly covered container.

For each serving, place 2 teaspoons mix in cup. Fill with boiling water. For 6 servings, about 2/3 cup each, place 1/4 cup milk in heatproof container; add 4 cups boiling water.

Makes about 1 cup mix

Variations

Cafe au Lait Coffee Mix - Substitute nonfat dry milk for the cocoa. About 2/3 cup mix.

Cardamom Coffee Mix - Omit cocoa. Add 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom and 1/4 teaspoon ground mace to ingredients in blender container. About 1/2 cup mix.

Lemon Coffee Mix - Omit cocoa. Increase coffee to 1/2 cup. Add 1 (3-ounce) package lemon-flavored gelatin to ingredients in blender container. About 1/2 cup mix.

Spice Coffee Mix - Omit cocoa. Add 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice to ingredients in blender container. About 1/2 cup mix.