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Kapeng barako
Kapeng barako: bold Batangas Liberica coffee boiled in a pot and sweetened with dark muscovado
In Lipa and the hill towns of Batangas, mornings start with kapeng barako boiled in a dented aluminium kaldero and poured into enamel mugs, often next to pandesal, a slab of tapang Taal or a plate of suman. Barako is Liberica, a large-beaned coffee that grows on tall trees around Mount Malarayat, and the word itself means a strong, rough-mannered man. The cup is heavy and earthy with notes of jackfruit, dark chocolate and smoke, and it is sweetened with sticky muscovado from Negros or Antique, never with white sugar. It carries plenty of caffeine, so go easy if you are sensitive and keep it away from children. The usual mistake is keeping the pot at a rolling boil once the coffee is in: the grounds stew and the drink turns sour and harsh. Bring the water to the boil, then take it off the heat before adding the coffee. The brew is ready when the crust of grounds sinks after the splash of cold water and the liquid underneath is a clear, deep mahogany. Chef's tip: grind it coarse, like raw sugar, so it settles cleanly in the pot.
- Total time
- 11 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the coffee
- 3 ¼ cups water
- 1 ⅜ oz kapeng barako (Liberica coffee)coarsely ground; a dark-roast robusta is the nearest substitute
- 2 tbsp cold waterto settle the grounds
- 4 tbsp muscovado sugarto taste
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 3 ¼ cups water to a full boil in a small pot over high heat.
5 minStep 2: Take the pot off the heat, stir in 1 ⅜ oz kapeng barako (Liberica coffee) and leave it to steep for 4 minutes. A brown crust will float on top and the smell turns deep and earthy.
4 minStep 3: Sprinkle 2 tbsp cold water over the surface and wait 1 minute; the crust breaks and the grounds sink to the bottom.
1 minStep 4: Put a spoonful of 4 tbsp muscovado sugar in each mug and slowly pour the coffee over it, leaving the last sludge of grounds in the pot (or pour through a cloth or paper filter). Stir until the sugar melts and drink hot.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 50 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 13 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kapeng barako take?
- About 11 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 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 muscovado sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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