To a female teenager living in Mumbai, it is nearly illegal to not like the rains. But there you go. I said it. I’m an exception to this norm. My favorite part of the monsoons does not lie in the stormy showers outside but rather lies indoors. My favorite part of the rains is the food. And if I were writing about food, it would be criminal to not start with the classic gem of “Coffee”.
Here's the thing. There are few things on this planet which I love more than food, and coffee even tops that list. So, when my mother taught me her secrets about baking, cooking and seasoning food, I was sure to pick up her best coffee tips as well.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am no coffee connoisseur. Frankly, I can't tell the difference between different instant coffee brands, let alone the fine features of decoctions, filter coffees and percolators. But, the one thing I do know by now is that coffee is the most versatile drink. Many of you may not agree with me here, but hear me out when I say it can be molded like clay!
With a little bit of practice, you can ensure that your coffee suits your mood perfectly every day. And trust me when I say, if you're a teenager, you'll want a different cuppa every day – to suit your many moods of course!
My favorite coffee is the steeping hot "filter kaapi" which is served at numerous South Indian joints in Matunga. If you ever get the chance to have it, please don't miss it – even if you aren't a coffee person!
Here's the thing. There are few things on this planet which I love more than food, and coffee even tops that list. So, when my mother taught me her secrets about baking, cooking and seasoning food, I was sure to pick up her best coffee tips as well.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am no coffee connoisseur. Frankly, I can't tell the difference between different instant coffee brands, let alone the fine features of decoctions, filter coffees and percolators. But, the one thing I do know by now is that coffee is the most versatile drink. Many of you may not agree with me here, but hear me out when I say it can be molded like clay!
With a little bit of practice, you can ensure that your coffee suits your mood perfectly every day. And trust me when I say, if you're a teenager, you'll want a different cuppa every day – to suit your many moods of course!
My favorite coffee is the steeping hot "filter kaapi" which is served at numerous South Indian joints in Matunga. If you ever get the chance to have it, please don't miss it – even if you aren't a coffee person!
The way I have my coffee at home, is like good old Bournvita – mix in a little instant coffee, some sugar and milk and voila! But you'll be surprised at the number of variations you can create even with this simple recipe.
So here are some tweaks you might want to make to your daily dose of caffeine. I can't really explain why these are the best variations for different moods, but they're just something I've discovered through trial and (lots of) error. Feel free to mix around, make changes and create your own recipes!
• For the early morning dose:- Try to keep the milk less than boiling hot, and stir in a little more than the usual amount of sugar. Perfect way to rush off to college!
• For the it's-raining-outside cup:- Keep the milk hot, reduce the sugar and increase the portion! You might want to add a dash of liquid chocolate here, or maybe even a pinch of cinnamon for more interesting results.
• For the back-home recovery dose:- This is the cup over which you catch up about the day's events with your family. Reduce the milk, and try not to take more than a spoonful of sugar in your mug.
• For the late, pre-submission/test/exam study session:- If you can't afford to go back to bed for another two hours, this is the "drastic measure" you're looking for. No milk, no sugar. *BWAHAHAHA*
Let me get a word of advice right here, and say that it is not a good idea to have all of these different kinds of coffee in one single day! I usually just have one or two, and I suggest you try to keep it that way too.
The thing with instant coffee is it can just as easily become the hero of several other dishes. Blend one teaspoon of instant coffee in your whipping cream, and frost your cake with this mixture. The color on the frosting with the aroma of coffee is irresistible, and I promise that your cake will become the highlight of the meal! (This tip is especially useful for covering up ruined cakes!). Or you could add some coffee to a chocolate mousse mix. Or even sprinkle some on a tiramisu.
So here are some tweaks you might want to make to your daily dose of caffeine. I can't really explain why these are the best variations for different moods, but they're just something I've discovered through trial and (lots of) error. Feel free to mix around, make changes and create your own recipes!
• For the early morning dose:- Try to keep the milk less than boiling hot, and stir in a little more than the usual amount of sugar. Perfect way to rush off to college!
• For the it's-raining-outside cup:- Keep the milk hot, reduce the sugar and increase the portion! You might want to add a dash of liquid chocolate here, or maybe even a pinch of cinnamon for more interesting results.
• For the back-home recovery dose:- This is the cup over which you catch up about the day's events with your family. Reduce the milk, and try not to take more than a spoonful of sugar in your mug.
• For the late, pre-submission/test/exam study session:- If you can't afford to go back to bed for another two hours, this is the "drastic measure" you're looking for. No milk, no sugar. *BWAHAHAHA*
Let me get a word of advice right here, and say that it is not a good idea to have all of these different kinds of coffee in one single day! I usually just have one or two, and I suggest you try to keep it that way too.
The thing with instant coffee is it can just as easily become the hero of several other dishes. Blend one teaspoon of instant coffee in your whipping cream, and frost your cake with this mixture. The color on the frosting with the aroma of coffee is irresistible, and I promise that your cake will become the highlight of the meal! (This tip is especially useful for covering up ruined cakes!). Or you could add some coffee to a chocolate mousse mix. Or even sprinkle some on a tiramisu.
Just keep in mind, when all else fails, coffee continues loves you. It is the simplest, and the most difficult to mess up path to happiness. Every time I have a glass of filter coffee in front of me in Matunga's Sharada Bhavan, I can't help but wonder: “Why would anyone drink Coke when you can have good old coffee?”
-Saniya, Guest Writer
-Saniya, Guest Writer