To Make Essence of Coffee

Origin: London, England

Source: Isabella Beeton, 1861

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Let the coffee be freshly ground, and, if possible, freshly roasted;
  2. put it into a percolater, or filter, with the chicory, and pour _slowly_ over it the above proportion of boiling water.
  3. When it has all filtered through, warm the coffee sufficiently to bring it to the simmering-point, but do not allow it to boil;
  4. then filter it a second time, put it into a clean and dry bottle, cork it well, and it will remain good for several days.
  5. Two tablespoonfuls of this essence are quite sufficient for a breakfast-cupful of hot milk.
  6. This essence will be found particularly useful to those persons who have to rise extremely early; and having only the milk to make boiling, is very easily and quickly prepared.
  7. When the essence is bottled, pour another 3 tea-cupfuls of _boiling_ water slowly on the grounds, which, when filtered through, will be a very weak coffee.
  8. The next time there is essence to be prepared, make this weak coffee boiling, and pour it on the ground coffee instead of plain water: by this means a better coffee will be obtained.
  9. Never throw away the grounds without having made use of them in this manner; and always cork the bottle well that contains this preparation, until the day that it is wanted for making the fresh essence.

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