Water after coffee: why drink coffee with water?

Who came up with the idea of serving a glass of water with coffee and why?

There are many versions of why water is served with coffee.
There is no consensus and there is no single correct answer to this question, but there are many versions. First, Arab coffee shops offered water in addition to the drink to help guests stay hydrated. Coffee provokes fluid loss from the body, which can be dangerous in hot countries.

The second version concerns security. As you know, hot drinks can increase temperature and blood pressure, so in hot countries they began to supplement strong black coffee with cold water so that the drinker could cool down a little and reduce the strength of the drink.

Finally, the third option. In the 16th century, in the palaces of Arab nobles, a tradition arose of washing down every sip of coffee with water, which made it possible to perceive the taste more clearly.

There is an opinion that drinking water with a tart drink allows you to experience all the facets of taste.

Coffee with water in the traditions of different cultures

In Turkey and Greece, the most popular method of preparing coffee is brewed in a cezve. According to tradition, each new sip of this wonderful drink is preceded by a small portion of water. This refreshes the receptors, allowing you to experience all the flavor nuances in a new way every time.

In Italy, the tradition of combining coffee with water is not so clear. And if in the south of this country washing down the espresso beloved by Italians with water will be considered either bad manners or an undoubted reproach to the barista (the guest is trying to wash away the unpleasant aftertaste), then in the north they will be much more tolerant of this method. In Sicily and Naples, a sip of espresso will definitely be preceded by a large sip of water, but in Milan or Rome it is not at all a fact that water will be offered.

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In Spain, cortado (coffee with milk) surpasses black coffee in popularity. And they don't serve water to the cortado. If a Spaniard prefers black, he will drink water first, and then a sip of coffee.

French customs require having a jug of water on the table, regardless of where the meal takes place, everyone is free to fill their glass according to their taste. If you order black coffee, they will definitely bring you a glass of water. And French coffee lovers usually agree that it is appropriate to drink water before coffee.

Germany is quite democratic on this issue. The only caveat here is that you will most likely be offered sparkling water with your coffee, but how you drink it will not be the subject of careful analysis.

The Scandinavians also distinguished themselves: here, instead of cold water, they will bring you boiling water. You can use it to dilute your coffee if you wish, and it will not be perceived with condemnation.

Obviously, not every drink made with ground coffee comes with water. You should not expect water for coffee-based cocktails or iced coffee, even if the latter is black.

But water goes well with the following types of coffee:

Any variety of espresso (whether lungo or Americano);
hot brewed black coffee;
macchiato;
Viennese coffee;
black coffee with yolks.

What drinks are served with water and when to drink it?

Following the recommendations on how to drink coffee will allow you to fully enjoy your favorite drink without harm to your health.
In the modern world, in cafes, restaurants and coffee shops there is a tradition of bringing water to such types of drinks as:

different types of espresso (for example, ristretto or coretto);
oriental coffee.

There are no clear rules on how to drink coffee; usually water is consumed in one of two ways:

take a few sips before, preparing the receptors, and drink the remaining liquid after;
alternate each sip of coffee with a sip of water; drink it in small sips, holding it in the mouth for a few seconds, thus cleansing and preparing the receptors for a new portion, which allows you to more fully appreciate the taste.

Why is the idea about the dangers of drinking untenable?

As we wrote above, the theory behind this common statement is that drinking liquid during meals has a bad effect on the concentration of digestive juices, as a result of which the proper breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients is impaired.

To make such statements, you need to understand very well (not only in theory, but also in practice) the principles of how our body works. Unfortunately, very often malicious ideas are based on a distorted understanding of these mechanisms and a lack of information.

According to American nutritionist Tamara Duker Freiman, who wrote the best-selling book on digestion “The Bloated Belly Whisperer,” in fact, neither water, nor tea, nor coffee can significantly reduce the acidity of gastric juice. Yes, everything we consume (food or drink) makes the stomach environment a little less acidic for a short time, but after a few seconds the stomach responds by producing as much acid as is necessary to digest the food, because that is its job. This fact was scientifically confirmed by Canadian researchers in 2004.

Thus, contrary to popular myth, modern scientists have proven that drinking water, tea or coffee during meals does not harm our digestion.

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Moreover, the liquid in the stomach makes food particles less dense, and therefore more accessible to enzymes that are involved in the breakdown process. And that's good too. It's important to note that all of these facts work the same for most drinks we include in our diet - water, tea, coffee, juices and even soda. Another thing is that some of them are “burdened down” with extra calories, and are not always able to fully quench their thirst.

Plus for health

Drinking coffee and water at the same time minimizes harm to both the cardiovascular system and teeth.
The habit of drinking coffee with water allows you to not only enjoy every cup of your favorite drink to the fullest, but also brings benefits. Each serving of this natural drink contains caffeine and theobromine. Caffeine has an invigorating effect that is felt immediately after entering the human body and lasts up to 25 minutes; it dilates the blood vessels of the heart, brain and kidneys. Theobromine begins to act later, when the effect of caffeine has already worn off and can have a soporific effect. A few sips of water after coffee can neutralize the effects of theobromine.

In addition, it is believed that:

a portion of clean water allows you to reduce the mass fraction of caffeine, thus preventing high blood pressure;
A sip of water will help protect your teeth from the characteristic yellowish plaque.

Why do you need to drink water after coffee?

It is no secret that the traditions of coffee etiquette and the use of this drink were formed several centuries ago. Therefore, for us, people living in the modern era, many coffee rituals may be incomprehensible, and some of them may well bring a smile of bewilderment on our faces.

Today we will talk about a fairly popular ritual. Why is it necessary to drink water after drinking a cup of aromatic and invigorating drink? Is this necessary and how to do it correctly?

In good coffee shops, a bar or a cozy restaurant, you may be offered a glass of regular, still water with your ordered cup of standard, strong espresso, but in general, in any establishment you can ask for water, it’s free.

Where did this tradition come from and what is the meaning of such a presentation?

If we look at the history of coffee, we will learn that serving the drink along with water began at the courts of the Arabian sheikhs. It is not known for certain why they did it this way. There is an opinion that this is due to the fact that in those “gray times” both coffee and water were real luxuries. It was precisely this duet that was considered a high-class treat.

It is also believed that water was served along with coffee in order to relieve the bitterness of the drink itself. There is another version - the oral cavity was washed with water in order to experience the coffee bouquet of taste even better.

Already with the advent of the world's first coffee shops, a tradition arose of serving a glass of still water with hot coffee. After all, the scalding drink led to a slight increase in body temperature, so in order to freshen up, they washed it down with water. Also, a number of researchers are inclined to believe that such a ritual allowed lovers of this aromatic drink to restore the water balance in the body, because when drinking coffee, the body loses precious moisture even faster. There is also an opinion that drinking a glass of liquid helped soften the bitterness that remained in the mouth after drinking coffee. After all, sweets and honey were an expensive pleasure at that time, so not everyone could afford to indulge in the characteristic bitterness of the drink.
The tradition of serving coffee with water was taken over by the Turks. After preparing the aromatic liquid in the cezve, the Turks drank the hot drink, and then quenched their thirst and removed the bitterness with a few sips of water. By the way, this is where the following method originated: first you need to drink a few sips of water, then start drinking coffee, and after drinking coffee, drink the remaining liquid from the glass.

Combining water and coffee: tradition or necessity?

There are practical reasons for drinking water with your coffee. This allows:

Water helps reduce caffeine concentrations. It is recommended to alternate sips of water and tea if you want to avoid the consequences of drinking too strong coffee. In this case, it is recommended to use the Turkish recipe - drink a few sips before drinking coffee, and the rest of the water after.
This ritual is also very useful for teeth. By drinking water, you can get rid of coffee residue on your teeth. True, for this it is better not to take a few sips, but to rinse your mouth thoroughly. But such an opportunity does not always exist. Therefore, in such cases, try to at least put water in your mouth and hold it for a while before swallowing.
Drinking water allows you to quench your thirst and restore hydrobalance in the body. But if you don’t feel the need, then drinking water after coffee is not at all necessary.
Drinking will allow you to clear your taste buds for the flavor of the drink. This is especially true after a heavy lunch.

So, let's summarize. Why is it necessary to drink water after coffee?

There are the following reasons for this:

To get rid of aftertaste in the mouth (especially for strong espresso).
To reduce the amount of caffeine.
In order to quench your thirst (do not forget that coffee in large doses and without proper drinking habits causes dehydration.
To make the taste of coffee softer and more pleasant.
To cleanse your mouth and prevent caffeine from affecting the quality of your teeth and enamel.

Why do you need to drink water after coffee?

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What is the best water to serve with coffee?

Cafes and restaurants serve clean non-carbonated water at an acceptable temperature.
In decent establishments, clean water for coffee is served - bottled or non-carbonated drinking water. It should be pleasantly cool: not too warm, but not scalding cold.

Acceptable water temperature is 7-10 degrees.

Water is brought in a tall transparent glass, filling it halfway. In specialized coffee shops or original cuisine restaurants, it is allowed to add a couple of slices of apple or citrus fruits - lemon/lime, or a couple of fresh mint leaves to the glass, but no sweeteners or dyes.

Why is it important to drink coffee?

Based on historical examples based on human intuition, it becomes clear why water is served with coffee. There are other reasons based on recent research that confirm ancient observations. Let's list them in order:

Caffeine has an interesting effect on the human body. It constricts blood vessels throughout the human body, except the kidneys. In the kidneys, the vessels dilate and this helps remove fluid from the body. Caffeine has a diuretic effect, so you must drink water in combination with caffeine. It is important to maintain the necessary moisture balance in the body and prevent it from overheating. Coffee lovers drink half a glass of water after eating to experience the beauty of freshly brewed ground beans.

This method increases the sensitivity of taste buds and helps them “work” with greater accuracy to determine their favorite aroma and taste. People suffering from high blood pressure or other vascular diseases should be careful about the effects of caffeine. Drinking cool liquid will reduce pressure surges and normalize the heartbeat. Dentists say that the additional moisture seems to wash away the dark plaque on the teeth without giving it time to absorb. It is recommended to wash off the deposits after each sip of coffee. Prolongation of the invigorating effect and neutralization of the soporific effect.

Recent scientific research has shown another reason for adding water to espresso coffee and its other varieties. Scientists have found that the upper shell of the grain contains a large amount of caffeine, which excites the nervous system. The inner main part of the coffee bean contains theobromine, which has a soporific effect on humans. Drinking more will prolong the effects of the energizing caffeine and counteract the calming effects of theobromine. In other words, the two components of the grains, when they enter the body, smoothly and measuredly affect the human condition under the beneficial influence of water. Therefore, the fifth reason is based on a scientific discovery.

In any case, doctors strongly recommend drinking a glass of water 20 minutes after the coffee ceremony. This is a classic method for those who are unsure about the proper hydration method.

How the tradition began

Start and spread

The Arabian Peninsula is considered the birthplace of this tradition. Written sources mention that a cup of coffee was served after the meal. We drank cold water first to dull the taste of dishes with spices and herbs. Drinking slowly restored the sense of taste and prepared for a change of dishes.

At the end of the 16th century, a similar coffee ceremony became firmly established in Greece and Turkey. The slowness of the inhabitants of these regions set the mood for long conversations and measured drinking of the drink.

Traditional Turkish coffee is prepared in hot sand in a copper cezve, as described in the article “How to properly brew coffee on sand.” The drink is served immediately and hot. Drinking cold liquids is associated with the need to cool down in a hot climate. Drink water first to make the transition after eating, or together, in small sips.

Custom in Europe

In Europe, the tradition spread at the end of the 19th century. Austria is considered the founder of fashion. Local ladies, supporters of strict etiquette, could not decide what to do with a small coffee spoon after stirring. The solution was a glass of clear water in which to rinse it.

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Gradually the use of water changed. Men who spent days in coffee shops reading newspapers and discussing news could not consume the bitter drink in large quantities. They ordered one cup and a glass of water, thereby extending their stay without an additional order. At the same time we enjoyed the taste and brightness of the coffee.

Residents of other countries later adopted the tradition, adding their own flavor.

The situation in Italy and Spain

Italy is a country of espresso lovers. In the south, it has become common to drink a glass of spring water before changing dishes.

If in Naples or Sicily a visitor drinks water after coffee, it will be taken as an insult. This means that he was dissatisfied with the taste and quality, and wants to mask the unpleasant aftertaste. There is no such tradition in Rome and Milan.

The Spaniards also prefer to drink a glass of water before starting the bitter and aromatic drink. In this country they prefer to make coffee with milk - cortado. Usually nothing is served with it.

Other countries

In French restaurants and cafes, a jug of clean water is brought to the table. If you order espresso, the barista will add a glass of cold water. It is considered good practice to drink water before coffee.

In Germany, they are not so categorical in choosing when and how to combine these two drinks. The cafe serves sparkling water with coffee.

In Scandinavian countries, boiling water is served so that, if desired, the visitor can dilute the strength and richness.