What's the Best Iced Coffee for Summer? How to Make Coconut Americano, Coconut Latte, and Thick Coconut Milk Latte? What's the Recipe for Coconut Dirty?

Due to the Earth's rotation and revolution, climates are ever-changing, allowing us to experience four distinct and colorful seasons throughout the 365 days of the year. Each season has its unique characteristics, and seasonal coffee products are always present. Among the most suitable coffee products for summer is undoubtedly the refreshing iced coffee! And among various iced coffees, one particular series stands out. Yes, not just one product, but an entire series! Every year, one contender from this series becomes incredibly popular, becoming the mainstream product of the summer! They are—the "Coconut Coffee Series."

While the title might be somewhat clickbait, coconut water Americano, coconut milk latte, and thick coconut milk latte from the coconut coffee series can indeed be considered phenomenal products in recent summers. Initially, there was only the coconut water Americano, but after a major chain brand's coconut milk latte became wildly popular, the coconut series developed uncontrollably. This year, they even launched a coconut king latte. So some friends might ask, "FrontStreet Coffee, isn't it just coconut? Why are there so many variations?"

That's not quite accurate. Although coconuts may seem ordinary, they have extremely versatile uses, with specific applications varying according to their maturity stage. Today, FrontStreet Coffee will share the differences between coconuts at various maturity stages and what types of coffee they're best suited for!

The Coconut Tree

Coconut, scientifically known as "Cocos nucifera L.", also called "cocoanut," is a palm family plant native to Indonesia and the Pacific Islands, as well as southeastern regions of Asia. Because coconuts mainly grow by the sea, they have always had an inseparable connection with the ocean. Mentioning coconuts brings the sea to mind, and visiting the beach makes one crave the delicious taste of coconut.

And coconuts certainly live up to expectations, providing not only sweet and thirst-quenching coconut water but also satisfying and filling coconut meat. Additionally, they can be used for oil extraction. For example, in the bulletproof coffee we introduced earlier, the MCT (Medium-Chain Triglyceride) used primarily comes from coconut oil (due to its abundant content). China's Hainan Province is also rich in coconut production. Besides Hainan Robusta, Hainan coconuts are equally renowned. There's also a rather terrifying legend about Hainan coconuts, which FrontStreet Coffee won't elaborate on here. Interested friends can research it themselves!

As FrontStreet Coffee mentioned earlier, coconuts have different values depending on their maturity stage. For example, our coconut water Americano uses young coconuts with the lowest maturity, the "youngest" coconuts. Because of their green appearance, people generally call them young coconuts or "coconut green." (Below is a peeled one)

Young Coconut: Perfect for Coconut Water Americano

Young coconuts contain an abundance of coconut water, rich in various amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Compared to coconuts at other stages, the water from young coconuts is sweeter and more palatable when combined with coffee. That's why people use coconut water to make coffee, and this coffee made with coconut water is named—"Coconut Water Americano."

Mature Coconut: The Versatile Option

As they age, young coconuts grow into mature coconuts, also known as hairy coconuts, which are covered in fuzzy coconut husk fibers. Compared to young coconuts, mature coconuts have less abundant coconut water with slightly less sweetness. However, their meat is more fragrant and sweet. So hairy coconuts are somewhat dual-purpose—you can enjoy both good coconut juice and good coconut meat.

Coconut King: The Sweetest of All

Finally, there's the coconut king! The coconut king is a fully mature coconut with the least amount of coconut water, but its meat is the sweetest. Most coconut meat products on the market are made from coconut king meat. For transportation convenience, people usually polish the coconut king to a smooth surface, and depending on the variety, it comes in coffee and milky white colors.

Coconut Milk vs. Coconut Water

Earlier we mentioned making coconut water Americano, now let's talk about coconut milk latte. Coconut milk is the juice extracted from coconut meat. Because of its abundant protein content, it appears milky white, hence people call it coconut milk. But since it's juice extracted from coconut meat, it also has the alias of coconut juice. Therefore, coconut juice and coconut milk on the market actually refer to the same product, just with different names. The same applies to coconut milk latte and coconut juice latte.

Whether it's coconut water Americano or coconut milk latte, their preparation methods aren't significantly different from regular lattes or Americanos, except that water and milk are replaced with coconut-derived ingredients. However, due to their slight acidity, they're not very suitable for hot beverages but have a significant advantage when made into cold drinks, making them more refreshing. Therefore, most coconut coffee products on the market are currently served cold (some stores might make hot versions, but they're rare).

Thick Coconut Milk: The Premium Version

Coconut milk also has an advanced version—thick coconut milk! As the name suggests, it's coconut milk with higher concentration. Thick coconut milk is like ice milk in regular milk, with higher concentration and sweetness, making the coffee produced more flavorful, but the price is also relatively higher. Therefore, a more affordable version of thick coconut milk has appeared on the market—homemade thick coconut milk. By mixing coconut cream with milk, one can create the effect of thick coconut milk. Coconut cream is one of the most common products in our daily lives. For example, the coconut milk in dessert shops is basically made by diluting coconut cream!

Because it's a highly concentrated product, it's not suitable for direct consumption. And since it contains no sugar, we need to add syrup separately. Like the thick coconut milk mentioned above, coconut meat products (such as shredded coconut, coconut flakes, etc.) all need sugar added during production. Now, FrontStreet Coffee will demonstrate how to make the affordable version of thick coconut milk latte! First, let's open the can!

Wait... it seems I forgot to buy a can opener...

No worries, where there's a will, there's a way!

(For dramatic effect, please don't imitate) After opening the can, we mix coconut cream and milk in a 1:2 ratio (1 part coconut cream, 2 parts milk) to make thick coconut milk. For the sugar to be added, we can adjust according to personal preference. Here at FrontStreet Coffee, we add 5ml of syrup per 150ml of coconut milk.

Next, we prepare a glass, add 100g of ice cubes, then pour in 200ml of the prepared thick coconut milk, and finally, make a shot of espresso to pour over. Before drinking, remember to stir well so that the coffee and coconut milk can blend better.

And because thick coconut milk has a high enough concentration, it also performs excellently when used to make coconut milk Dirty. The specific method is the same as regular Dirty, so FrontStreet Coffee won't elaborate here. Everyone can try it at home~~

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Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473