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Cafezinho
Small strong sweet coffee
Cafezinho: small, strong, sweet Brazilian coffee filtered through cloth, offered to every visitor
A tiny cup of black coffee is the first thing a Brazilian host offers, in a São Paulo office, a Minas farmhouse or a Recife shop, and saying no is almost impolite. Cafezinho is filtered rather than espresso: finely ground coffee goes into a cloth filter (coador de pano) and hot water runs through it, giving a strong, smooth, slightly thick brew served in small cups. Traditionally the sugar is dissolved in the water before brewing, so it arrives already sweet; leave it out if you prefer. A paper filter in a cone works if you have no cloth. Boiling the water with the coffee is the mistake to avoid, as it scorches the grounds and the cup turns bitter. Chef's tip: take the pan off the heat when the first bubbles break the surface and wait 30 seconds; water just off the boil, around 92–95 °C, gives the sweetest cup.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 4 tbsp sugaror to taste; leave out for an unsweetened cafezinho
- 1 ⅜ oz finely ground coffeemedium-dark roast, ground for filter
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 2 cups water and 4 tbsp sugar in a small pan and heat over a medium heat, stirring once, until the first small bubbles appear, about 5 minutes. Take off the heat for 30 seconds.
5 minStep 2: Put 1 ⅜ oz finely ground coffee in a cloth filter or a paper filter in a cone over a warmed jug or thermos.
Step 3: Pour over a little of the hot water to wet the grounds and wait 30 seconds, until they swell. Then pour the rest slowly in a circle, letting it drip through, about 2 minutes.
2 minStep 4: Serve at once in small cups, about 80 ml each.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 35 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cafezinho take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 7 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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