To Crema or Not to Cream: Is Coffee Crema Actually good ?

Let's talk about crema—the frothy layer that tops your espresso and often serves as a symbol of quality coffee. Interestingly, while many people see a rich crema as a sign of good coffee, coffee enthusiasts or connoisseurs might be spotted scraping it off. So, what's the deal with crema?

Crema is essentially CO2 trapped inside coffee beans during the roasting process. When your espresso machine applies high pressure to your coffee, this CO2 dissolves and bursts into a creamy layer on top of your drink. It's like opening a bottle of sparkling water, and all the CO2 rushes to the surface. Some folks enjoy the texture of crema, but here's the twist—crema captures most of the oils and bitterness of your espresso.

If you haven't tried it yet, next time you brew an espresso, take a spoon and scrape off a bit of the crema. Give it a taste and see if you like it. Some coffee enthusiasts prefer to scrape it off to experience the full flavour of their coffee, while others mix it in to add a bold taste to their espresso. Crema: a small layer with big implications for your coffee experience!

🔎 Cafe In The Spotlight

Malabarista Cafe

📍R. Maria 66B, 1170-213 Lisboa, Portugal

Cute little café located in Lisbon, focusing on specialty coffee and some cakes and pastries. If you want to enjoy great coffee in Lisbon, I highly recommend this place to try it out. However, be prepared not to arrive with empty stomachs as they don’t have many food options.

👨‍🍳 Recipe of the week

Affogato

There is nothing better than the combination of two delicious things on a hot summer day: ice cream and coffee.

Here is how you make it:

1. Brew hot espresso using your coffee-making appliance of choice. That’s 30 ml/1 ounce for a single shot.

2. Put a scoop or two of ice cream in a glass. 

3. Pour over hot coffee. Enjoy watching the ice cream swirls melting into the hot coffee!

4. If using liquor, pour that over next. Eat!

⚙️ My Coffee Gear

Coffee Machine:  Breville Barista Pro

Dosing Cup: Crema Dosing Cup

WDT Tool: Cheap WDT Tool

Coffee Scale: Hario v60 Drip

Aeropress: Aeropress Brewer

Hario V60: Hario V60 Dripper

Kettle: Brewista Kettel

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