How to make raff coffee at home

What is raf coffee? A brief history of the creation of the raf coffee recipe

Strictly speaking, raf coffee is not coffee as such. This is a coffee cocktail drink, initially consisting of espresso, cream and vanilla sugar. Although raf can hardly be considered coffee. The most delicate sweet drink is much closer to desserts.

The Moscow coffee shop “Coffee Bean” is considered to be the birthplace of the raff coffee recipe. The drink got its name in honor of a regular customer nicknamed Raf (or Rafael), who first asked to make this coffee cocktail for him. This event took place in 1996, and since then this simple coffee recipe has won several prizes in various coffee competitions. And also the love of all coffee lovers.

Is raf coffee a Russian cappuccino or a Russian latte?

The answer is negative; it is a mistake to equate raff coffee with a latte or cappuccino.

Milk is added to lattes and cappuccinos, and cream along with vanilla sugar is added to raf. A different product creates a completely different taste.

In addition, the cooking technology is fundamentally different.

Rules for preparing raf coffee

The new drink was invented in Russia in the 90s. It differs from the usual version of preparing coffee with cream and other additives in that the components are mixed at the very beginning and whipped in the pitcher of the espresso machine.

If you don't have a coffee machine at hand, you can make espresso in a coffee maker, French press or Turk, and then beat the ingredients using a blender or whisk. Before mixing coffee with other ingredients, it should be strained. No matter how the orange raffe is prepared, it should be remembered that a prerequisite for a properly prepared drink is the formation of an airy foam as a result of whipping.

Classic raf, in addition to espresso, includes cream and vanilla sugar. Usually chilled 11% cream is used. Sugar and cinnamon are traditionally added to the drink.

Many people liked alternative options for preparing raff drinks: experiments with adding different ingredients led to the creation of many successful recipes for coffee drinks. Coffee with orange juice has a pleasant taste and refined aroma. It is not difficult to prepare, and the use of various additional ingredients will not allow you to get bored with your favorite drink.

To make raffe coffee truly delicious, you should follow the correct sequence of actions when creating the drink:

Making espresso - It's best to use an espresso machine, but a coffee maker or coffee pot will also work.
Pour espresso, cream, orange juice into a pitcher or blender and add other ingredients according to the recipe.
Beat the mixture until an airy foam forms.
Pour the drink, garnish it with orange slices, grated chocolate or otherwise and serve.

To make the drink tasty, you need to take into account some nuances. Water for coffee must be of high quality. An off-taste when using tap water can ruin the pleasure of a delicious drink.

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Coffee must be of good quality. In order not to lose the brightness of the taste and aroma of the product, it should be stored correctly. Elite coffee is usually sold in special packaging, which allows the properties of the product to be retained for a long time even after opening.

When preparing Turkish coffee, you should remember that the drink cannot be boiled. You need to wait for the foam to appear, and when it starts to rise, set aside the Turk. Then put the coffee back on the fire, and after a new head of foam has formed, remove the Turk again. Repeat again.

Composition and sequence of preparation of the drink

Ingredients for preparing raffe coffee per 150-160 ml of drink:

espresso -25ml;
vanilla sugar – 5g (one teaspoon);
10-15% cream – 100ml;
sugar – 5g (one teaspoon).

To comply with the cooking technology, a pitcher is used.

Reference: a pitcher is a special vessel for frothing milk to obtain milk froth.

The cream is preheated using steam or some other method (some even recommend using a microwave). Then pour into the pitcher along with espresso coffee, sugar and vanilla sugar. Using the steam vent nozzle, everything is whipped until the most delicate foam appears.

We will tell you further about how to prepare raff coffee at home.

The appearance of a new coffee drink, raf, in Russia gave rise to a lot of experiments to find the most successful recipes and combinations of ingredients.

This is how variations arose at first:

for the base - choice of standard or double espresso
for serving method - in a small cup or in a large glass
sweetener – vanilla sugar only or both vanilla and regular sugar
according to the preparation technology - classic with heated cream and whipping with a steam vent, or without whipping with cold cream simply poured into the coffee.

However, the boundless imagination of coffee making professionals and amateurs has created not only unique raf recipes. Variations of the technology have been tested and found to be quite acceptable, making it possible to prepare the drink at home.

How to Serve Coffee Drinks with Orange Juice

Rough coffee is traditionally served in porcelain cups, similar to cappuccino. The cups are preheated. Rough coffee can also be poured into large transparent glasses, like a latte macchiato. This way the drink will look especially appetizing thanks to the creamy, airy foam.

A coffee drink with orange slices, juice or zest can be prepared in another way. For example, cream is not mixed with other ingredients, but added at the end, forming a beautiful air cap on top of the drink.

It is better to garnish coffee with orange slices. You can sprinkle cinnamon on top of the airy foam: this will give the drink an appetizing look and add a special tart note to its aroma. Orange iced coffee poured into glasses looks beautiful.

Various recipes for raff coffee with orange

Traditional ingredients of orange raff coffee:

espresso 50 ml,
cream 11% 100ml,
vanilla sugar 5 g,
sugar 5 g,
orange juice - 2 teaspoons.

To prepare the drink, it is better to take freshly squeezed juice. All ingredients are added to the pitcher and whipped. If you need to make a larger volume of coffee, you can take 2 espresso shots.

Coffee drink with orange and hot chocolate

The recipe for coffee with orange and hot chocolate is one of the popular drink options. The ingredients are the same as in the previous version, plus 100 ml of chocolate and a pinch of cinnamon.

There are 2 drink options. In the first case, all the ingredients are whipped together, as it should be when creating raff coffee. In the second option, instead of juice, an orange slice is taken and placed at the bottom of the cup, then chocolate and coffee are added and, finally, whipped cream with a pinch of cinnamon is added.

Coffee with orange liqueur

Orange liqueur and coffee go well together in this drink. The recipe contains ingredients for 4 servings. This coffee drink will come in handy on a winter evening in a cozy company of friends:

strong coffee - about 500 ml,
orange liqueur 150 ml,
a pinch of orange peel powder,
whipped cream 100 ml,
one orange slice per serving.

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According to this recipe, coffee is mixed with liqueur, and cream whipped with zest is placed on top. The composition is completed with an orange slice. The beautiful design of drinks is very important: the amazing taste and aroma of coffee with citrus notes will give a real holiday, and an exquisite presentation at the table will add charm to the moment.

Coffee with cinnamon and orange

Many recipes that combine coffee and orange juice also contain cinnamon. This spice with its tart aroma complements the drink very well, and coffee with orange and cinnamon is always popular.

Orange Cinnamon Coffee for Two is prepared using the following ingredients:

coffee 500 ml,
orange,
ground cinnamon - teaspoon,
sugar 30 g,
chocolate,
cream 200 ml.

Coffee is brewed for 20 minutes along with cinnamon and orange, cut into slices. Half the sugar is added to the coffee a couple of minutes before it is ready, the rest of the sugar is whipped with cream.

Coffee is poured into glasses, cream is added, and grated chocolate is sprinkled on top. In order to easily grate a chocolate bar, it must be cooled first.

Coffee with spices and orange zest

When preparing coffee drinks with orange, you can improvise. Any recipes, including the very idea of raff coffee and other options for drinks with coffee, are the result of creative searches, culinary tests and experiments. You don’t have to limit yourself to just one spice; the recipe for coffee with orange zest includes cinnamon, vanilla, and cloves.

This coffee contains the following ingredients:

ground coffee - 4 teaspoons,
water 150 ml,
orange zest - half a teaspoon,
cinnamon - a quarter teaspoon,
a little vanilla and cloves.

All ingredients are mixed and coffee is prepared in a Turk or coffee maker. The drink poured into cups is decorated with whipped cream and orange slices.

If desired, and taking into account personal preferences, one of the spices can be replaced. Cardamom, nutmeg, and ginger go harmoniously with coffee. But when adding spices to a drink, you should always remember moderation: they should only enrich the aroma of coffee, and not replace it.

Classic cooking raf in the version of its authors

First of all, espresso coffee is prepared at the rate of 25 ml per 150 ml serving of drink. Then you need to add vanilla sugar to the cream and heat it. Mix the espresso with the hot creamy vanilla mixture and whisk everything well until foamy. It is best to whip with a cappuccino maker, but if you don’t have one, you can beat with a blender or just a whisk. In the latter option, you will have to beat for quite a long time. However, we need to achieve a light, airy foam, because it is this that gives the drink its vanilla-creamy taste and delicious coffee aroma. Rough coffee is served in a large cup or in a clear latte glass.

Making raf at home

If you don’t have a coffee machine at home, you can make coffee in a Turkish coffee pot and then strain it. Heat the cream in the microwave for two minutes, to which vanilla sugar is first added. Whisk all prepared ingredients thoroughly using a blender or whisk until foam forms. The result is a drink with a creamy vanilla taste and coffee aroma.

Lavender raf

Ingredients for 1 cup:

100 grams of cold clean water;
0.5 teaspoon of lavender flowers;
2 tablespoons of ground coffee;
1 teaspoon sugar;
100 grams of cream.

Preparation:

Coffee is poured into a pot, filled with water and brought to a boil, but not boiled.
Sugar is ground together with lavender and added to coffee.
Add cream, then heat the drink for two minutes on the stove.
Beat the drink with a blender until a strong foam forms.
Pour coffee into a cup and serve.

Rough coffee citrus

Ingredients:

50 grams of espresso;
5 grams of vanilla sugar;
100 grams of cream;
5 grams of orange sugar.

Preparation:

This drink is prepared according to the classic recipe, but orange sugar is also added. The finished coffee is poured into a cup and garnished with a slice of lemon or lime.

Rough coffee in 2021

In recent years, a large number of varieties of rough have appeared. It can be with syrup or banana, lemon or even cheese. In addition to espresso, it is often prepared from Turkish coffee, instant coffee, or brewed in a French press. Instead of vanilla sugar, vanillin and granulated sugar can be used separately; gourmets often add their own secret ingredients. It is even served in private business jets and VIP terminals!

Today raf is the winner of many awards in various competitions, its popularity is growing every year.

How to cook at home

Over time, many varieties of raf coffee have appeared. For example, it is possible to take not only espresso as a basis, but also Turkish coffee, coffee prepared in a French press, in a coffee maker, or even instant coffee. Cream can be replaced with full-fat milk, and instead of vanilla sugar, cane and ground vanilla or vanillin can be added separately.

Making raff coffee is quite possible at home. In this case, you need to brew espresso in a coffee machine, coffee maker or coffee pot, and then mix it with the rest of the ingredients in the pitcher. Even in the absence of modern coffee machines, you should not refuse this cocktail. You can use a coffee pot and a regular whisk.

Strain the brewed coffee until the foam appears. Together with slightly warmed cream and other ingredients, beat in a blender until foam appears.

Is it possible to make raf coffee at home?

The recipe can be prepared at home even without a coffee machine.

What will be needed?

Strong coffee brewed in a cezve or brewed in a French press – 50 ml.
Heated cream, the fat content of which does not exceed 15%.
Sugar – regular and vanilla if you are preparing traditional raf.
Honey, if you are going to drink honey raf.

How to cook?

Brew coffee and strain it through a strainer so that particles of grounds do not get into the drink. The sediment will interfere with the quality of the frothing and will spoil the taste and structure of the coffee.
Heat the cream.
Mix coffee, cream and sugar (honey).
Beat with a whisk or blender.

Most likely, the foam will not be as thick as a drink from a professional barista, but the taste will be close to unique.

Are raf and diet compatible?

According to expert calculations, the calorie content of a serving of the drink is close to 100 kcal per 100 ml.

That is, a 150 ml portion will give an increase of 150 kcal.

Of course, this is an estimate. Although cream makes up 2/3 of the volume of the drink, its fat content can vary significantly. After all, the difference between cream 10% fat and 15% fat is significant. The high energy value of the drink is also explained by the presence of sugar in the recipe. However, this opinion, in our opinion, is correct only if several servings of the cocktail are consumed per day. One serving, sweetened according to the recipe, is quite acceptable for a regular diet.

But raf coffee is certainly not a dietary dish.

Secrets and tricks

Serving utensils for raf coffee must be heated and only after that the drink is poured for serving.
Serve the cocktail immediately before the foam settles.
Control the dose of vanilla sugar when calculating the increased quantity of products for several servings. Otherwise, the taste of the drink may be spoiled.
To dissolve vanilla sugar, mix it with cream before heating.
For whipping, give preference to a mechanical cappuccino maker.
The density and stability of the foam depends on the quality of whipping.

Video recipe as icing on the cake

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