Coffee

Cold brew coffee is made by slowly steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in room temperature water for at least six hours (it can be as much as up to 24, but it depends on how strong you want your cold brew to be, many choose to do it overnight). When the beans are steeped like this, it creates a strong coffee concentrate that just needs to be mixed with water & milk to taste. As the grounds aren't exposed to hot temperatures, cold brew coffee has a more flavorful, sweeter & less bitter/acidic taste. In a recent study, cold brew coffee was found to be between 50-60% less acidic than the average cup of coffee. It's a common misbelief that cold brew has to be cold, in actual fact it can be served piping hot too! If you want it cold, simply add cold water, ice & milk (to taste); for hot you just need to boil water or add hot milk (some will even pop it in the microwave if they're in a rush).

Espresso is delicious, concentrated form of coffee, served in shots & is often the coffee base of many other beverages, such as cappuccino, latte, Americano & macchiato. Espresso is intense & bold, but nonetheless delicious & the espresso is usually served in small demitasse-style cups for this reason.

Americano is just hot water & espresso. It'll either be served 1/2 & 1/2 or 1/3 espresso to 2/3 water, depending on how you've chosen to brew it. There is dispute about whether the espresso or the water should be added first, but in the case of the Americano, espresso should always be added first as the crema mixes in an creates a more mellow, even taste. Be some people may add it depending on their personal preference. Most other espresso-based coffee drinks include milk, such as the cappuccino or latte, the Americano stands out amongst them.

Irish coffee has four main ingredients: coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar & cream. But there are many variations of this classic coffee drink. When making an Irish coffee, it's important to ensure the coffee is strong & the whiskey is Irish, as it's simply not an Irish coffee if you use Scotch whiskey. The coffee drink is drunk through its creamy head. To ensure the cream floats on top of the coffee & doesn't sink, you can whip or blend the cream before layering it on top of the coffee with a spoon.