Hot Coffee | Beaten Coffee (Cafe Style)

Hot Coffee recipe is a café-style drink made with instant coffee, sugar, milk and water. It has a creamy, frothy texture and takes less than 15 minutes to prepare at home without a coffee machine.

About Hot Coffee Recipe

This easy Hot Coffee recipe is also known as Beaten Coffee in India. Instant coffee, sugar and a little hot water are beaten together until the mixture becomes light, creamy and frothy.

Hot milk is then added to make a smooth coffee with a layer of foam on top. You do not need an espresso machine or any special coffee equipment for this method.

I generally prefer tea, but this is the coffee I make when I want a warm and comforting drink. The recipe makes one medium-sized cup and can easily be halved or doubled.

You can also use this basic method to make homemade cappuccino-style coffee or a latte by adjusting the quantity of milk and foam.

If you enjoy coffee, you may also like these recipes:

• Cold Coffee – Café-style chilled coffee
• Filter Coffee – South Indian-style coffee
• Coffee Milkshake – Thick and creamy coffee shake made with ice cream
• Dalgona Coffee – Korean whipped coffee
• Affogato – Italian coffee and ice cream dessert

Ingredients & Equipment

1. Instant Coffee: Use instant coffee powder or granules. I have used Nescafé Classic, but Bru Instant Coffee or any other preferred brand will also work. You can use decaffeinated instant coffee if needed. Do not use ground coffee or Filter Coffee decoction, as they will not become creamy when beaten with sugar and water.
2. Milk: Whole milk gives the Hot Coffee a richer taste and usually creates better foam. You can also use low-fat milk or your preferred plant-based milk. Heat the milk until hot but avoid boiling it for too long. Plant-based milk only needs to be warmed to your preferred temperature.
3. Sugar: I use raw sugar, but regular white sugar also works well. Brown sugar or powdered jaggery will add a mild caramel-like flavor. You can adjust the sweetness according to your taste, but the sugar also helps the coffee mixture become creamy when beaten.
4. Hot Water: Use boiling or very hot water to dissolve the instant coffee and sugar. Add only the amount listed in the recipe, as too much water will make the coffee mixture thin.
5. Spoon: Use a spoon to beat the instant coffee, sugar and hot water briskly until the mixture becomes pale, creamy and frothy.
6. Jar with a Tight-Fitting Lid: Pour the hot milk into a heatproof jar, close the lid securely and shake it carefully to create foam. Do not fill the jar completely, as the milk needs space to froth. Hold the jar with a kitchen towel if it feels hot. You can use a handheld milk frother instead of the spoon and jar for a quicker method.

How To Make Hot Coffee (Stepwise)

1. In a cup, take 1½ teaspoons of instant coffee and 1½ tablespoons sugar (or add as per taste).

2. Add 3 tablespoons hot boiling water. You can heat water in an electric kettle or in a small pan.

Tip: ¼ cup of water can also be added if you prefer a slightly lighter coffee flavor.

3. First mix the coffee and sugar with water.

4. Then begin to stir briskly and beat coffee for 3 to 4 minutes.

You can take a break after 1 to 2 minutes and then continue if your hands start aching. You can also feel free to use a milk frother here if you prefer.

5. Beat the coffee till its color lightens and you see a frothy layer on top.

6. Then take 1 cup milk in a small but heavy saucepan and boil it on a medium to medium-high heat.

7. Let the milk come to a brief boil.

8. Now pour the milk in a glass jar or a thermos flask.

9. Do not use a plastic bottle or jar. Steel is fine. A glass jar with a handle helps while shaking as the milk is hot.

10. Now shake the jar vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes.

Alternatively, you can also use a handheld frother or blend the milk in a blender.

10. There should be a good layer of frothy foam on the milk.

11. Here’s the coffee brew in the cup with the foam still on top.

12. Pour the foamy milk in the cup.

13. After adding ⅓ or ½ of the milk to the coffee, stir with a spoon.

14. Pour in the remaining milk.

15. Make sure to add the frothy layer to get the real cafe effect.

16. Serve the frothy cafe style hot coffee straightway.

17. Feel free to sprinkle some cinnamon powder or cocoa powder on top for a bit of extra yumminess.

I hope you enjoy this homemade cafe-style hot coffee as much as I do!

Recipe Tips

1. Foaming the milk: If you do not have a glass or steel jar with a tight-fitting lid, froth the hot milk using a handheld milk frother, immersion blender, regular blender or French press. When using a French press, move the plunger quickly up and down until the milk becomes foamy.
2. Use a heatproof jar: Do not pour boiling milk into an ordinary glass jar. Use a heatproof jar and leave enough empty space for the milk to expand while shaking. Hold the jar with a kitchen towel if it feels hot.
3. For stronger coffee: Use instant espresso powder or increase the instant coffee slightly for a deeper coffee flavor in the Hot Coffee drink.
4. For milder coffee: Add a little more hot milk after combining the coffee mixture and milk.
5. Beat until creamy: Beat the instant coffee, sugar and hot water until the mixture becomes frothy and lightens in color.
6. Serve immediately: Pour and serve the Beaten Coffee soon after frothing the milk. The foam will gradually settle if the coffee is left standing.

FAQs

Hot Coffee recipe from the archives was first published on February 2018.