The 1918 Fanny Farmer Cookbook

when taken on an empty stomach; therefore this should be avoided except when used for

medicinal purposes. Coffee must be taken in moderation; its excessive use means palpitation

the heart, tremor, insomnia, and nervous prostration.

Coffee is often adulterated with chiccory, beans, peas, and various cereals, which are

colored,

roasted, and ground. By many, a small amount of chiccory is considered an improvement,

owing

to the bitter principle and volatile oil which it contains. Chiccory is void of caffeine. The

addition

of chiccory may be detected by adding cold water to supposed coffee; if chiccory is present,

the

liquid will be quickly discolored, and chiccory will sink; pure coffee will float.

Buying of Coffee. Coffee should be bought for family use in small quantities, freshly

roasted

and ground; or, if one has a coffee−mill, it may be ground at home as needed. After being

ground, unless kept air tight, it quickly deteriorates. If not bought in air−tight cans, with

tight−fitting cover, or glass jar, it should be emptied into canister as soon as brought from

grocer’s.

Coffee may be served as filtered coffee, infusion of coffee, or decoction of coffee.

Commonly

speaking, boiled coffee is preferred, and is more economical for the consumer. Coffee is

ground

fine, coarse, and medium; and the grinding depends on the way in which it is to be made. For

filtered coffee have it finely ground; for boiled, coarse or medium.

Filtered Coffee

(

French or Percolated)

cup coffee (finely ground)

cups boiling water

Various kinds of coffee−pots are on the market for making filtered coffee. They all contain a

strainer to hold coffee without allowing grounds to mix with infusion. Some have additional

vessel to hold boiling water, upon which coffee−pot may rest. Place coffee in strainer, strainer

coffee−pot, and pot on the range. Add gradually boiling water, and allow it to filter. Cover

between additions of water. If desired stronger, re−filter. Serve at once with cut sugar and

cream.

Put sugar and cream in cup before hot coffee. There will be perceptible difference if cream

Chapter III − BEVERAGES