Breve coffee is a type of espresso made with half as much water as regular espresso, and it’s often served in a demitasse cup.
In addition to being delicious, breve coffee has some health benefits too! It can be easier on your stomach because less water means more solids stay dissolved in the drink. Breve also has less caffeine than regular espresso so you don’t have to worry about over-caffeinating yourself throughout the day. The lower amount of caffeine also means that breve is an excellent choice for those who need to cut back on their intake or want to replace high-sugar caffeinated drinks like soda with something healthier. So how do you make this tasty beverage? There are many different ways to make breve coffee, but here are two methods to try at home.
1. The Traditional Method To Make Breve Coffee
This is the traditional method for making breve coffee that you can find in recipes across the internet and in many different languages. It’s slightly different than how regular espresso is made because you will need to use less water when preparing it.
Ingredients:
Milk (Whole or 2% milk works best when frothing)
Coffee beans
Coarsely ground sugar
Ice cubes
Equipment:
Espresso machine with steaming wand
Burr grinder
Electric kettle
Yields about 4 cups of breve.
Step 1
Grind the beans coarsely so they grind evenly when using an automatic burr grinder or hand mill. You want your coffee to be on the finer side of coarse. Keep in mind that you will only need half as much ground coffee, as usual, so measure accordingly: for every 2 tbsp of ground coffee use 1 tbsp of sugar and ½ cup (118 ml) of water.
Step 2
Place the grounds into your portafilter and distribute them evenly around by tapping it on the counter a few times. Take your tamper and push down on the grounds until they’re firm but not packed; there should still be some space between each bean. Go ahead and place your portafilter on top of your machine now.
Step 3
Before turning on your machine, heat up about ¾ cup (177 ml) worth of milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently to avoid burning the milk, and once it comes to a simmer remove it from the heat.
Step 4
Turn on your espresso machine and wait until it’s reached the correct temperature (usually about 9 bars of pressure). If you’re using a stovetop model, place it on the burner and wait until the flame is blue. Once the machine is hot and ready, insert your portafilter and start brewing.
Step 5
Allow the espresso to flow for about 18-20 seconds, then quickly remove the portafilter from the machine. This will stop the brewing process. Step 6 Pour the hot milk into your cup. You can use an electric kettle like this one to make sure your milk is consistently hot, or you can microwave it for a short time if you prefer.
Step 7
Finally, add your coffee and sugar. Stir to combine and enjoy!
2. The Frothing Method For Breve Coffee
This method is a little bit more hands-on but it results in a richer, creamier breve than the traditional method. It’s also perfect for those who don’t have an espresso machine or who want to make larger batches of breve.
Ingredients:
Milk (Whole or 2% milk works best when frothing)
Coffee beans
Coarsely ground sugar
Glass jar with lid
Ice cubes
Equipment:
Blender
Frothing pitcher
Measuring spoons
Yields about 4 cups of breve
Step 1
Grind the beans coarsely so they grind evenly when using an automatic burr grinder or hand mill. You want your coffee to be on the finer side of coarse. Keep in mind that you will only need half as much ground coffee, as usual, so measure accordingly: for every 2 tbsp of ground coffee use 1 tbsp of sugar and ½ cup (118 ml) of water.
Step 2
Put your lid on the jar and shake well until the grounds and sugar are fully combined.
Step 3
Now place a filter inside your frothing pitcher (it’s also possible to use a measuring cup instead) and twist it into place. Sift out excess grounds from the mixture then pour it into your pitcher.
Step 4
Pour cold milk into the blender then add about 12 oz. (343 ml) worth of ice cubes. You can adjust the amount of milk you use depending on how much breve you want to make, but try not to exceed more than 16 oz. (473 ml).
Step 5
Now blend your concoction until all the ingredients are incorporated together.
Step 6
Pour the mixture back into your pitcher and start frothing.
Conclusion
The Breve Coffee is a variation of the coffee that was created in Italy. When made, it will have two shots of espresso topped with foamed milk and served in an 8-ounce glass. The breve coffee stands out because it includes more foam than what you would find on other types of coffees. This means there are no dry grounds left at the bottom when drinking your beverage which leads to less bitterness while also making for a sweeter taste overall due to the higher fat content from all this added foam. So if you’re looking for something different or want another option to serve guests, try trying some breve coffee!
