Using Espresso to Supercharge Your Cooking

-Photo Credit: Aphlogist - www.aphlogist.com-

 

Coffee, espresso, Java, Java, JAVA!

It’s what keeps me going some long days, especially when I have experienced a long night working on Confectionalism. I know I am one among millions of other Coffee addicts out there. While espresso is an amazing boost for those days you feel your feet dragging, your eyes sagging, and maybe it’s a way to cure that headache you’re getting from caffeine withdrawals, it’s also a great way to kick your recipes up a notch.

However, I’m not talking about just using espresso for coffee flavored treats like my Cappuccino Meringue Cookies or my Cappuccino Brownies. You are about to thank me, I promise.

Let me get to the point before you rush to your corner coffee shop, especially if you’re craving a Macchiato like I am right now. Espresso is a wonderful way to bring richness to your dishes and treats. In small increments it makes other flavors shine and pop. Lets take Chocolate for instance. Adding a shot of espresso, or a 1/2 a teaspoon of instant espresso to you chocolate buttercream, or chocolate cake batter can help to enhance the chocolate flavor. In small increments the espresso isn’t even spotted among the wonderful flavors on your palate. It just helps to make the chocolate flavor shine.

 

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What else can espresso enhance? Any recipe that has a roasty or robust flavor profile can benefit, as long as you don’t go overboard of course. Chilli is a dish I find can definitely benefit from espresso. Adding a shot gives the wonderful fall favorite a more intense smoky flavor. It also helps the peppers to come full stage. Pot Roast is another great dish that the addition of a tad espresso can make things really POP.

Grilled and roasted meats also can benefit from this secret ingredient powerhouse. Adding a bit of instant espresso to your steak rub, Rib seasoning, or even your Barbecue sauce can take your cooking up a notch. Play around with it, have fun and see what you like. If you find instant espresso scares you, and you don’t want to overdo it, first try using some instant coffee on your next prime rib roast. Instant coffee isn’t as strong, so you won’t get as much of the roasted flavor from instant espresso but it could be a nice stepping stone before you go all out.

When choosing espresso powders- I suggest  . It’s my go to. While there are other great one’s out there I find this one to be great quality and affordable.

Go impress your friends, share this caffeine supercharged tip, or keep it to yourself… It’ll be our little secret.

 

- If you love it as much as I do…You can purchase a gorgeous print of the featured photography of the Espresso shot from the creator Aphlogist on their Etsy Store-

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