Some people have got into the habit of ordering their coffees ‘extra hot’. Not only does this make your drinks stay hot for longer, it can also help to warm you up during the colder months.
However, a barista has issued a warning to everyone who asks for their hot drinks to be scorching in temperature. It can actually impact how tasty your drink is.
We spoke to Tahsin Ahmed, of Baristas Lounge in Whitechapel, to find out why boiling drinks aren’t always the best idea. Tahsin told us there’s “no way” he’d ever serve a customer “extra hot” coffee.
Even when customers ask, some baristas will decline the request. Not only can “extra hot” water burn the coffee beans, it may also negatively impact the consistency of your drink.
Tahsin explained that pumping extra steam into milk pitchers can make the texture less creamy. He said: “When you make the milk so hot, the coffee is definitely getting watery.”
To demonstrate his point, the barista explained that it’s just like when you melt butter. He said: “When you warm it a little you see it getting softer but when you heat the butter too much, it gets watery – it’s the same thing with hot milk”.
While some may choose to use thermometers to get the heat perfect, Tahsin’s team members intuitively know when they’ve achieved this. They can tell by placing their hands on the pitchers and also taking a look at the consistency.
Tahsin revealed: “When the milk is made properly it is a silky milk creating that foam on top and creating such a nice texture so when you serve it, it looks very shiny on top and looks beautiful.”
When it comes to the early stages of coffee making and espresso extraction itself, temperature is also paramount. If you’re careless, you risk making the flavour too bitter.
Most machines have a single boiler, but Tahsin’s four-boiler machine is even more effective in regulating temperature. It’s a lot easier to balance the acidity, bitterness and overall flavour of the espresso shots that he’s serving.
So next time you pop into a cafe for a coffee, don’t ask for it to be extra hot. Not only do you run the risk of annoying your barista, you could also be handed a drink that doesn’t taste its best.