For many, coffee is a must first thing in the morning, with some early birds reaching for the instant stuff for a quick caffeine fix.
But an espresso guru has explained the secret to making a delicious instant coffee, as one error can make for a bitter cup. Known as "the coffee guy" on social media, the connoisseur demonstrated in a video how to make one "correctly", as many coffee fans are doing it wrong.
In a viral video that's racked up over 12 million views, TikToker @ethanrodecoffee said that missing one crucial step can leave instant coffee tasting burnt and bitter. To make a smooth, flavourful instant coffee, he said the powder must be first mixed with cold water before pouring the boiled kettle.
As reported by the Mirror, he said: "Instant coffee is underrated and not a lot of people know how to make it correctly. Instant coffee is going to taste bitter if you burn it."
Luckily, the TikToker then went on to share the solution, which is to add cold water "to dissolve the instant coffee" before topping up with hot water.
Keen to share his love of coffee, Ethan also revealed two of his favourite recipes, which his followers were quick to praise. First up, he turned his attention to a shaken espresso.
"We'll add one teaspoon of instant coffee, one teaspoon of brown sugar and two teaspoons of water to a shaker," he instructed while demonstrating. "I like to give it a quick mix until it's all dissolved then we'll add some ice, some cinnamon, and then shake it aggressively to get a nice layer of foam."
"Normally, you'd need to go buy an espresso machine or go to Starbucks to get one of these drinks, but this gives you the exact same texture and all you've got to do is top it off with some milk."
For the second drink, he created a blended coffee, otherwise known as coffee milkshake using a recipe list provided in the video.
"Put it into a blender and blend it together. If you wanted to add a flavouring, something like salted caramel, I recommend adding one tablespoon of that syrup to this mixture. You could be a boring person and drink it plain, but I recommend it with some caramel drizzle," he concluded.
In response, viewers were quick to thank Ethan for the recommendations. One person replied: "The shaken espresso has changed my life, so gooooood."
A second agreed: "The shaken espresso is one way I enjoy my instant coffee and it's heaven. Another added: "Made the last one this morning. Perfect for summer days."
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