COFFEE IS NOT JUST COFFEE –
THE RIGHT CUP MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Latte or café au lait? Cappuccino or latte macchiato? Espresso or mocha? Since coffee has become the world’s favourite drink it seems to come in an infinite number of variations. A simple old-fashioned cup of filter coffee has almost become a rarity. Coffee machines and cafetières have made way for sophisticated espresso and cappuccino makers. And, instead of sitting down for a coffee and a chat with friends, we now just grab a quick take-out coffee as we rush to our next appointment.
Coffee culture – “just so”
So, how about a nice relaxed cup of coffee at home, instead of the paper cup on the go? Of course, for the perfect cup of coffee you need more than good-quality coffee beans or special blends and soft water: the right kind of cup also matters. Just as with wine glasses, you need different shapes and sizes of cup, depending on what kind of coffee you’re making.
Espresso, mocha or cortado are brewed at 92ºC and should be sipped as hot as possible. A small, narrow cup is ideal for these types of short coffees, to keep them at their perfect temperature. Once you add milk to the coffee, thereby increasing its volume, you need a bigger cup. This is where the traditional coffee cup or breakfast mug comes into its own. Milky coffees with rich, frothy tops need a taller cup to keep the froth in shape. And a latte macchiato, with its attractive layers of milk, espresso and milk froth, wants to be served in a special heatproof glass, complete with a long-handled spoon. Ideally, the glass should also have a handle – the NewWave Caffè range includes a nice example – so you can enjoy your latte without burning your fingers on the hot glass.
As you like it…
As well as a wide range of funky cups for all those different types of coffee, the NewWave Caffè collection also brings you the “Party Plate”: a generously sized saucer, with extra room for small cakes or cookies – just like at the coffee shop.
In addition to the pure white range, NewWave Caffè is also available in a colourful decor. For a touch of fun and celebration the NewWave “Colors of Brazil” range is just the ticket: vivid, carnival-inspired designs and vibrant colours evoke the ultimate coffee country and bring Latin-American spirit and joie de vivre to your table.
The Caffè Club series, too, includes all the right cups to bring out the best in any coffee – whatever your preference. All the cups are designed to fit the latest espresso makers in size and dimensions, and the decors can be combined with each other in infinite ways. For infinite coffee enjoyment.
Here’s our gourmet tip for the perfect frothy coffee: a rich layer of froth is lovely – but not if it’s just lots of bubbles. To keep froth creamy and smooth, the milk should not expand by more than half during frothing. Always use cold milk to start with. Higher fat content means creamier froth. So, for once, full-fat milk (at least 3.5%) is the better option.