How To Use Coffee In Recipes

Believe it or not, coffee is not only a tasty drink with a caffeine punch. Coffee, in a variety of forms, is used in recipes. In fact if you have ever watched any of the many gourmet cooking shows that are broadcast on some of the newer cable television channels, you may have noticed that using coffee in recipes from anything to desserts to main courses is not all that unusual. With the influx of a large variety of coffees grown around the world, the possibilities of adding coffee to gourmet recipes is endless.

For many of us who have experienced coffee as only a beverage, usually hot but sometimes iced, we have for the most part, overlooked the usefulness and versatility of coffee. But from this point forward, you are invited to use a bit of creativity and experiment with coffee in an array of desserts as well as beverages. If you are fortunate enough to have a gourmet coffee shop in your local area, stop by and become acquainted with some of the world's finest coffees. If there are no establishments that specialize in gourmet coffee in your area, then search for gourmet coffees online. Or visit a bookstore or library and look through some of the numerous gourmet coo books for recipes that use coffee as an ingredient. No matter which avenue you choose to learn more about the use of coffee in cooking, I believe that you will be pleasantly surprised with the endless possibilities.

Cooking with coffee, in some respects, is like cooking with chocolate. What I mean is that if a recipe calls for a specific type of coffee, try and use what is recommended because just like cooking with chocolate, the role of a specified blend or type of coffee is often to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients in the recipe. If a dessert recipe lists a specific ground coffee that is brewed, and you substitute a brewed whole bean coffee instead, the desired results may not taste the same. So remember to always use the type of coffee recommended until you feel that you have enough experience with various types and flavors of coffees to make any substitutions in the recipe.

If you are attempting a recipe that calls for brewed coffee, always remember to pay particular attention to the brew strength. A recipe could taste totally different, if you make a strong brew and the recipe only requires a regular brewed coffee.

It is not uncommon for many recipes, particularly dessert recipes, to list an ingredient as "Instant Coffee Crystals" to be used in the dry or granular form. What they are indicating is an instant coffee, such as Folgers Instant Coffee Crystals or any of the other brands that bottle their instant coffee as granules. Please do not substitute regular coffee grounds, even though they are "dry," as the recipe indicates. Instant coffee crystals are not the same as regular coffee grounds.

As you continue learning how to use coffee in recipes, you'll find a world of variety, from the choice of coffee to the addition of liqueurs and fancy toppings. And who knows, you may become experienced enough to use your imagination to transform some of your favorite recipes into the ultimate coffee experiences. 

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