Brewing and serving coffee beans is no mean feat. Oh, it is, my dears, an art. It did not come from nowhere and it is not going anywhere. Just as people did not come out of nowhere in this world with their civilisations. Each of us stands on the shoulders of our ancestors. But where are we going? Who knows? But it is always worth contributing to the world's cultural heritage. Is roasted coffee beans in Warsaw is it likely to appear on the UNESCO list?
Why the different methods of brewing coffee beans?
From multiculturalism, of course. Until the 20th century, coffee came to Europe with raw beans from Africa and South America. The beans were roasted locally and then the coffee was ground in a grinder and then boiled with water in a coffee pot.
The 20th century also brought a revolution in the way coffee was prepared. Today, the whole world is most likely to drink coffee prepared with pressure, the Italian way'. But after all, in Italy methods of brewing coffee beans do not end.
According to UNESCO "intangible heritage is customs, oral transmission, knowledge and skills, and the cultural objects and space associated with them, which are recognised as part of one's heritage by a community, group or individuals.
This type of heritage is passed on from one generation to the next and continuously recreated by communities and groups in relation to their environment, history and relationship to nature. For a community, intangible heritage is a source of a sense of identity and continuity". The list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity includes three coffee heritages.
Viennese style coffee beans
On the list since 2011. Tradition has it that coffee appeared in Vienna thanks to the victory of John III Sobieski. The sacks of coffee captured were given to Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki, who opened the café "Under the Blue Bottle" for his merits in the battle. In the case of Viennese-style coffee not only the drink itself (coffee with chocolate, milk and whipped cream) is important, but also the drinking ceremony itself in a suitably elegant café. And to accompany the coffee, a walnut tart, apple strudel, but above all, Sacher cake is a must!
Turkish style coffee beans
On the list since 2013. For this brewing method type of coffee bean does not matter, it must, however, be ground very finely after roasting. It is prepared in a jizera, a small pot with a long handle. Cold water is mixed with coffee and sugar in the pot and boiled three times, stopping the process when the concoction starts to boil. After the third time, one waits for the grounds to settle and pours the brew into small cups. Coffee prepared in this way is supposed to be hot, strong and sweet. The coffee prepared in this way is often seasoned and served with rachatlukum, sweet, jelly-like sweets with fruit and nuts (to make sure they are not too sweet, it is a good idea to coat them in icing sugar) and water to drink (to rinse out any remaining ground coffee beans).
Arabica coffee beans
On the list since 2015. Cooking habits coffee in arabic are a symbol of hospitality in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. It is a traditional Arab custom and ceremony to prepare and brew coffee. Coffee beans From an obviously Arabian crop. Roasted over a fire in a pan. Then pounded in a copper mortar and brewed, over an open fire in a large copper jug. Then poured into small cups from another jug. The whole ceremony of preparation on view, in front of the guests. The coffee is strong, bitter, often served with spices (cardamom, cloves, saffron) and dates.
What about coffee bean roasters in Warsaw?
So far roasted coffees and steamed in Warsaw They are unlikely to appear on the World Heritage List. After all, even the Italians feel a little sorry for them, as they have been trying to get on UNESCO's list since 2012 with their espresso, or coffee from an espresso machine, created in 1906 by Desidero Pavonieo, based on a patent by Luiggi Bezzera. And they can't get it right... And where are we if we have to reinvent everything after years of communism, which has a tradition of roasting and brewing coffee beans in Polish, it has unfortunately been mercilessly beaten by its sloppiness.
Author: Igor Maćkowski