The chill is in the air. Your body may feel colder and you need to warm up. This is time for a good cup of coffee brewed with a pour over maker, accompanied by a nice slice of coffee cake. As you begin the coffee process and cut a piece of cake, sit back in your comfy chair, turn on your favorite podcast and enjoy.
There is an art for coffee brewed with pour over; this method is an old traditional way of making coffee. It uses a filter with fresh grind coffee grounds in it and pouring the water directly over the filter to let it steep as you pour. When brewed with a pour over, the water is fresh. This brings enhanced aroma and flavors of the coffee to your mug.
Traditional British Coffee Cake
Once the coffee brewed with the pour over method is ready, it is time to look for a piece of coffee cake. Many people think that this is any cake that is eaten while drinking coffee, however traditionally coffee cake is a British sponge baked in a circular shape with two layers separated by butter icing and covered in walnuts and cinnamon. This style of cake enhances the flavor of the cake and the coffee. The cinnamon brings out the aroma and the taste of the coffee as well. Combing the coffee with the spice of the cake makes a delicious way to relax.
Traditional German Coffee Cake
Many people will give credit to the Germans for bringing the coffee cake to North America. The tradition of coffee and cake dates back to the 17th century in Germany. It is not clear if they used the coffee brewed with a pour over method or not, but they did eat cake alongside their coffee. It should be noted that the Germans do not use a specific style of cake but that they traditional use a fruit cake or loaf. This is then topped with cinnamon. Germans may be the reason for the coffee break that we enjoy today centuries later.
North American Coffee Cake
The coffee brewed with a poured over method may remain the same in North America as it is in Britain, but the coffee cake is slightly different. In North America, the coffee cake is often sweeter. This coffee cake is often a single layer of cake leavened with baking soda or yeast, giving it more of a traditional cake texture. It is then covered in fruit, but cinnamon can be added. Although this is a different style of cake, the flavors of the fruit and mixed with the spices will augment the flavor of both the coffee and the coffee cake.
There is question about the name of a coffee cake and if this means that they are made with coffee. Traditionally they are not made with coffee. There are recipes that include coffee as an ingredient for some sponges, however it is not needed in order to be considered a coffee cake.
Whatever style of coffee cake you like, enjoy it with coffee brewed with a poured over so you can truly enjoy the aroma and the flavors.
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