How to create the perfect cup of coffee
Top tips from expert baristas in the Middle East
Raed Ibrahim, barista, Aspen by Kempinski, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
Top tip for a perfect cup of coffee:
It’s all about the coffee machine; if you have an average machine, even with the best coffee beans, your coffee will be average.
A common mistake baristas make:
Especially for lattes and cappuccinos, the milk is usually either too hot or fluid or too foamy. The milk needs to be a créme.
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Prasanna Kumara, barista, Lime Tree Café
Top tip for a perfect cup of coffee:
Quality, fresh coffee beans are the starting point to a good quality coffee. Using pure filtered water is also key — at the Lime Tree Café we only use organic fair trade coffee and have our own blend roasted for us by Raw.
A common mistake baristas make:
Overheating milk will leave a burnt taste. The incorrect grind will give a sour or watery taste.
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Dylan Moore, barista, Tom & Serg
Top tip for a perfect cup of coffee:
A good balance of flavours, coffee to milk ratio, and crucially, the temperature of the milk are all important for a good cup. We serve our coffee at 65°C maximum — this preserves the sweetness of the milk.
A common mistake baristas make:
Frying the milk is a common mistake — and it ruins everything.
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Joao Serio, barista, Reform Social & Grill
Top tip for a perfect cup of coffee:
Make sure the coffee beans are fresh and you are using good quality water; spring water is the best. The minerals in good water are essential.
A common mistake baristas make:
Often baristas prepare coffee based on their own preference. It’s important to talk with your customer, find out what he or she prefers and deliver the perfect coffee the way they like.
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Rolwin Carpio, barista, Pantry Café
Top tip for a perfect cup of coffee:
If it is a milk-based coffee, always make sure that the milk reaches the right temperature. Also make sure that the right dosage of coffee is used and that the extraction time is correct.
A common mistake baristas make:
Using a cold cup to serve a hot coffee drink as this will effectively lower the temperature of the coffee immediately.
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Rolljoy Decallas Papiona, barista, Polo Bar, Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa
Top tip for a perfect cup of coffee:
Set the water boiler of the machine at 91°C consistently. Never switch off the machine overnight. The blend should be 80% Arabica, 20% Robusta; 7g is the perfect quantity for a portion.
A common mistake baristas make:
The water is often boiled at the wrong temperature or not heated consistently.