baristaman

So much has been said about the negative impact milk has on coffee. How it takes away from the true nuances, how it makes a great beverage average. If that is so, why do so many people like milk with their coffee? Why is it that 95% of coffee in Australia, and probably a very high percentage around the world, are supplemented with milk? What is it about us that made us get coffee so wrong? Or right?

Lets look at the history pages a little. It is believed that in 1675 The Turkish Army surrounded Vienna. Franz Georg Kolschitzky, a Viennese who had lived in Turkey, sliped through the enemy lines to lead relief forces to the city. The fleeing Turks leave behind sacks of “dry black fodder” that Kolschitzky recognizes as coffee. He claims it as his reward and opens central Europe’s first coffee house. He also establishes the habit of refining the brew by filtering out the grounds, sweetening it, and adding a dash of milk.

Was Kolschitzky on to something. Or did he get it all wrong? It’s a proven fact that milk in coffee doesn’t affect antioxidants but it also believed that it slows the effects of caffeine in the system too, not that we really care.

What I want to know is people’s impression of milk in coffee. Let’s face it, most people just care about the taste. I think that milk certainly has its place. Each year a bunch of baristas and roasters create blends specifically to go with milk as a cappuccino for barista comps or competitions like ‘Golden Bean’ and really, these are great tasting coffees with milk. You look for a blend that is going to balance out with the body of the milk, create some sweetness and maybe some toasty overtones. When it’s right, its right!

The of course there is latte art. Without the milk, we would have none of this and may make for some boring visuals. There is a whole world championship based around the addition of milk to coffee. This can’t be wrong. Saying this, put a drop of milk anywhere near my Yirgercheffe filter and I will hurt you! I know there are even some people out there that don’t believe milk should go anywhere near coffee.
The truth is, I drink more coffee without milk than I do with milk at the moment. It’s what I have started to really love. It helps that I’ve had some great filter and siphon brews lately, with coffee that doesn’t belong anywhere near milk.

I do have a soft spot for the cappuccino though!

I think there is a place for both, but please comment below. Are you a pro milk, anti milk, fence sitter or what? I am interested in hearing it.