HOW TO SERVE COFFEE PROPERLY
Etiquette is not only about arranging cutlery and sweets. If the waiter makes a mistake at least at one of the stages, the impression of the place where you decided to treat yourself to our product will be completely different, regardless of the quality of the drink brewed by the barista.
The first and indisputable rule is to cook from freshly ground grains. You can choose finely ground beans, like our Bongiorno Black, or medium, like Sirocco and Lima, but the main thing is that they are ground before serving, then the coffee bouquet will be fully revealed, you will feel all the charm and taste.
Submission is also not an easy task; every point is important here. It is customary to serve coffee in the container in which it was brewed. You can perfectly brew everyone a cup in a coffee maker (geyser, drip), pour over or coffee machine, then put them on a saucer and take them out on a tray or table, as is customary in companies during business negotiations. Remember that before placing the cup on the saucer, you need to wipe the bottom with a napkin, and only then offer it to a visitor or client.
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You can also brew the elixir of vigor in a Turk, then it will be easier for you to pour the liquid at the table directly from it; by the way, it will be a nice addition to the feast. What is the best way to cook, what are the differences, we wrote in this article.
When it comes to coffee utensils, there are some nuances here. Traditional tableware is porcelain. It holds heat perfectly, preserving its aromatic qualities.
Various cups are also required. Classic espresso is served in a cup with rounded edges, thick walls, such dishes should have a conical shape, and a volume of at least 60 ml, most often drunk from Dmitas - a special glassware, just for our invigorating product. There is an unspoken rule - the stronger the drink, the smaller the cup should be. Other cocktails like macchiato and romano are also served in such containers, because the amount of additives in them is minimized.
As for coffee with milk, latte or cappuccino, you can easily drink these desserts from a large bowl. As a rule, in coffee shops they already have milk or cream added to them, but at home for guests or in the office for management, you should definitely put a milk jug on the table.
For irish and glace, use a tall glass with a stem, and add an ice cream scoop to the glace. There is also a special frappe glass for cold coffee.
Perhaps there is only one type that can be prepared as easily as possible, without requiring any special equipment. This is Americano. Practicality is a distinctive feature of Americans, so they prefer a lot of coffee in a fairly large cup. As a rule, it is trapezoidal or square in shape. It can be plain or with patterns, also made of dense material that retains heat. The height is greater than dmitas also because the Americano produces a nice chiffchaff, so that it does not run away during cooking, they use convenient dishes.
The most important point for any drink is quality grains, try Bongiorno.
In addition to the creamer, sugar, preferably refined sugar, is always served at the coffee table. If you have granulated sugar, then you need to put a spoon there, and if you have lump sugar, then you can take tweezers or such sugar with your hands. But in no case with a spoon that has already been in coffee. In establishments this issue is solved more easily - they offer bagged sand. Also, in many establishments they may offer you a small compliment - a piece of candy or a small cookie to make the taste sweeter. And, of course, a glass of water. Why it is served, we wrote in our article. By the way, we advise you to also take a sip of water before drinking in order to clear the receptors of previous food and fully enjoy our product.
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Tea and coffee for office visitors
For someone who works as an office manager in a reputable company, it is important to know how to properly serve tea, coffee and other drinks to visitors. The rules of etiquette clearly regulate all the nuances of this issue, from the optimal tableware to the preparation of coffee and tea.
Let's first pay attention to the dishes. Services must have strict forms. It is better if they are white, devoid of any patterns. The fact is that white color is universal, so it will look organic in any interior. In addition, tea and coffee on a white background is not only impressive, but also appetizing.
The shape of the cups must also comply with certain rules. A cup for black coffee should have the classic shape of a tulip opening up. It’s good if it has thick walls, the coffee will stay hot in such a cup longer.
If your management and its guests prefer elite varieties of loose leaf tea, you need to ensure that you have several teapots. The design of the spout should not allow tea leaves to pour out into the cup along with the drink. A sugar bowl, a candy bowl, sugar tongs, a milk jug, spoons, and napkin holders should look harmonious with the service.
Tea etiquette involves offering guests a choice of several types of tea. It is important to know how to brew tea correctly. As a rule, most varieties need to infuse for three to five minutes. It is necessary to warm the kettle with boiling water, add tea leaves at the rate of 1 spoon for each cup and on top of that 1 more spoon. Leave to brew until the color and aroma characteristic of this variety appear. If you have no idea about the guest’s preferences, you should serve a drink of medium strength.
If your company uses bagged tea, the brewing procedure is greatly simplified. Before serving tea to guests, do not forget to remove the tea bags from the cups.
Coffee should be served in the container in which it was prepared. If for some reason this is not possible, you need to pour the drink into a special coffee pot. Cezve is used to serve Turkish coffee. Coffee can be served immediately in a cup if the office practices making coffee in a coffee machine.
If you are required to pour coffee from a coffee pot into cups, you should do this on a separate table. Each cup is served separately, on a saucer or with a napkin placed under it. You should not prepare coffee in advance, since the heated drink no longer has the original taste and aroma - sophisticated connoisseurs will immediately notice this.
HOW TO DRINK COFFEE CORRECTLY
Coffee drinking is just as important as serving. If you order an Americano in an establishment, everything is brought to you, placed on the table in perfect order, and you start drinking without following some rules, you can be considered an ignoramus, and abroad even become persona non grata in some places. For example, Italians are very sensitive to this etiquette; they will never understand if you order a cappuccino in the morning and drink an Americano while sitting on the terrace in the afternoon. In this country, it is customary to drink the drink while standing, many times throughout the day, but in small portions, adding practically nothing to it. But since we are not in Italy, we can make a small digression if we want to treat ourselves to something delicious. However, it is worth knowing the rules that apply to all coffee desserts.
Take notes during a conversation
Sitting at a table or bar, take out a pen and notepad. If during a conversation you promised your interlocutor something to do in the near future, write it down (“I’ll send you my resume / portfolio / my grandmother’s cookie recipe”). If he promises you something, note that too. It is also convenient to write down all useful names, addresses and phone numbers in a notepad.
As soon as you return to the office or home to your computer, prepare everything you promised to do. It is not necessary to send this right away (you are also a business and busy person), but in no case do not forget to do this within the next couple of days. Accompany your letter with a reminder of what your interlocutor promised to do.
For example:
Good afternoon, Evgeniy.
Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, I appreciate your time. This is what I promised you:
— a case of one of our events
— a list of establishments that we rent for events
— link to a cookie recipe exactly like my grandmother’s
During the meeting, you said that you have good friends in company A. I would really like to talk with them - please let me know how we can organize our meeting.
Thanks again,
Basil.
HOW TO HOLD A CUP CORRECTLY
When you drink Bongiorno Espresso, the saucer must be lifted from the table along with the cup. In your left hand you hold a saucer, and with your right hand you drink in small sips. This applies to espresso, doppio, macchiato.
If you prefer cappuccino or latte, then you can safely leave the saucer on the table when you bring the drink to your mouth.
But don’t forget the main thing: never put the bowl on the table, only back on the saucer, otherwise this will completely kill the good opinion of you as a coffee lover. It is also very important to drink without haste; this is an unspoken rule that is followed throughout the world.
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HOW TO POSITION A SPOON CORRECTLY
For those who prefer to drink without sugar, you can safely skip this point. However, the vast majority of us are sweeter lovers, so the position of the spoon is as important to us as the utensils or freshly ground Bongiorno Nord.
So, let's serve a spoon. As you remember, first we place a saucer in front of the guest, then we place a napkin on the right. It is on this that the sugar spoon is placed. Remember that the spoon should be on the same side as the handle of the coffee utensil. After stirring the sugar, do it slowly, without knocking on the walls; you should not leave the spoon in the drink - this is a sign of bad taste. Putting it on a saucer nearby, you can safely drink it.
Drinking at home
Drinking coffee at home, of course, allows you to not be so strict about etiquette. However, if you are having a big celebration, then some rules will still be useful.
So, the drink is served at the end of the feast. They remove all plates and food on trays, leaving the table clean. Serve from the coffee maker in a coffee set - preferably a porcelain one. The napkin is not placed under the saucer, as you remember, we make a nice triangle and place it next to it. If your drink comes from a coffee maker, then a separate cup is brewed for each guest (carob) or choose a volume for several guests at once (drip). Coffee is prepared immediately before serving and should be drunk immediately after preparation. Don’t forget to preheat the dishes to at least 40 degrees so that the drink retains its taste, aroma, and warmth longer. The sweets are placed first, followed by the cutlery. Then the coffee pot is brought out. If, in addition to sweets, there are also snacks in the form of small sandwiches, then a knife is also placed nearby.
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The owner walks around the guests from right to left, while he stops on the right hand next to each guest. The owner serves guests in the following way: he holds the saucer with his left hand, and pours coffee with his right hand. The cup is filled 2/3 full so that guests can add milk or cream if desired, which is served warm.
Of course, it’s much easier to brew a lot of coffee at once and put everything out on a tray, but the service on the table looks very nice. However, it depends on your preferences. Don't forget to check when serving cappuccino or espresso from a coffee machine whether you should add something to taste: milk, cream, cinnamon, cocoa. Either way, you should put them on the table so everyone can add what they want. The cups are removed from the left side of the person sitting. Remember also about water, which is best chilled; even at home, many will pay attention to this nuance, noting that you know everything about coffee etiquette.
What you should not do under any circumstances: you should not dip sweets into hot liquid, you should not wash down unchewed food with hot food, or knock loudly with a spoon while stirring the sugar. Everything should be smooth, measured, and should be enjoyable.
Atmosphere
For a special mood when serving, you should pay attention to some details. This is especially true for coffee shops; it will also come in handy at home. The table is usually covered with a soft tablecloth in pastel colors to match the drinks. You can also add a cute touch with a vase of flowers. There is no need to invent huge compositions or order expensive bouquets. You can easily collect a bouquet of wildflowers, placing them in a tall vase on the side of the table, placing several small candles nearby, believe me, this will be quite enough. Your guests will notice that you did not want to splurge on luxury, but only wanted to achieve the main thing - a pleasant atmosphere so that everyone can enjoy a cup of Bongiorno.
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What to serve with coffee
Whether to serve something with coffee or not, and if served, what exactly depends on the accepted etiquette and the essence of the event at which guests are served coffee.
In Arab countries, Turkey and the Caucasus, it is customary to serve only cold water and fruits (grapes, figs, dates) with coffee.
Sugar and spices are added during the cooking process at the request of the guest. Milk, cream, liqueurs, sweets and other snacks are not served with coffee.
In some cases, coffee is served with hookah, but this is rather an exception.
In India, coffee is served with various sweets, except those with a lot of rich cream, as well as milk and cheese balls. It is not customary to serve fruit with coffee here. Although the coffee itself can be with the addition of fruit.
In Asian and African countries, anything can be served with coffee - from meat dishes to sweets. Actually, they drink coffee here at the end of the meal and as the beginning of the meal. Therefore, the range of dishes can vary greatly.
In Australia, coffee is served with cream or milk, a glass of acidified water and baked goods without cream (doughnut, cookies, biscuits).
In Germany these would be sweet little cookies with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and ginger.
But Austrians prefer a juicier snack for coffee - rolls, cakes, muffins.
In Switzerland and Belgium, chocolate is always served with coffee if it is not included in the drink itself.
In addition to chocolate, liquor and juice, cakes, honey and omelettes can be served.
The French prefer fresh croissants and baguettes with coffee (for spreading marmalade, cheese or in the form of toast), as well as juice.
In Italy they do without juice.
At coffee receptions they serve canapés, rolls, muffins, sandwiches, omelettes - with a wide variety of fillings, the main thing is that they are small in size (for 1 - 2 bites).
Salads are served as salad cocktails in glasses with high stems.
In addition, they serve mineral water, juices, liqueurs, cognac, and balms.
Drinks require special utensils - wine glasses and glasses (alcoholic drinks are drunk mixed with coffee, rather than poured into a cup).
In a less formal setting, coffee is served with salted and sweet nuts, sandwiches, sandwiches, toast, cheese, tuna baskets, and white meat chicken.
In some cases, a cigar or very good cigarettes are served with coffee. In this case, these must be really good cigars and cigarettes. Because the taste of tobacco smoke can give a special flavor to the taste of coffee or completely kill it.
In any case, it is advisable to serve several types of snacks with coffee so that guests have the opportunity to choose and enjoy their coffee drinking.
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