In light of the US Presidential Elections, we've decided to dive into a new challenge. We asked ourselves, "Can citrus and coffee truly coexist in harmony?" We were determined to find out. And, through it, we've created the Orange Americano.
Straight up, the Recipe
Ingredients
- Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed, ideally. (We'll get to the pulp discussion later!)
- Espresso: Double shot of our First Tide blend (15g in, 30g out)
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish (optional, but makes it fancy, like a toupe)
Steps
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Gather Your Supplies: First off, head to the grocery store for your orange juice. (Seriously, that's it for the special ingredients!
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Brew Espresso: Prepare a double shot of espresso using our First Tide blend. We chose this blend for its very chocolatey notes, hoping they'd beautifully complement the orange juice. Aim for 15 grams of beans for an output of 30 grams of espresso.
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Assemble: Grab a glass and fill it with ice. Pour in your ice-cold orange juice.
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Add Espresso: Carefully drop in the freshly pulled espresso. Watch as the colors mingle!
- Garnish (Optional): Finish it off with a fresh orange slice to make it look extra fancy!
The Great Orange-Coffee Experiment: Our Take
Honestly, it wasn't too bad, but it certainly didn't blow us away. The initial taste was distinctly orange juice, followed by a noticeable coffee aftertaste. It was... interesting.
We definitely have some ideas for improvement for next time. We think adding a little bit of water to dilute the orange juice and balance out the flavors more would be key. Also, our lovely Alto wasn't a fan of the texture due to the pulp, so opting for pulpless orange juice would be a definite change for our next attempt!
Bonus Round: Orange Pour-Over
As a little bonus experiment, Alto also wanted to try making an Orange Pour-over. This involved pouring hot water over coffee grounds infused with orange peel. The result? The bitter taste of the orange peel was a bit too overpowering. However, with some careful tweaking – perhaps using just a hint of zest or a different brewing method – this concept could definitely have some potential. It's all about finding that perfect balance!
The Court's Verdict
This orange-coffee adventure was a fascinating start to our recipe-testing journey! While the Orange Americano needs a bit more refinement, it showed us the possibilities. We're always learning and tweaking these recipes as we prepare for our future café. We tried once, twice, but maybe we just need to try one more time, eh? Third times the charm!
So, try this recipe for yourself using your favorite Allo Coffee Roasters beans and let us know what you think! And don't forget to follow for more recipe experiments and behind-the-scenes peeks at our coffee shop journey! Who know what we'll run for next...
