Amaretto Coffee ? not Your Usual Cup of Bittersweet Memory

Amaretto Coffee is a refreshing mix of coffee which contains liquor made from almond and peaches, lending itself to a distinctive taste of palatable bitterness compounded with dulcet sweetness, akin to dark chocolates.

Ironically, while distinct bitterness is seldom well tolerated by public, bittersweet food has its fair share of devotees. Coffee lovers do not form an exception to this. Once of the most popular bittersweet gourmet coffee is Amaretto Coffee which has its root in Italy.

The main ingredient of this concoction is coffee and Amaretto - a sweet tasting flavored liquor of Italian origin made from a base of almond and apricot seeds. This key ingredient derives its name from the word "amaro" which means bitter in Italian. The word is often mistakenly confused with the words "amor" (Cupid in Roman mythology), and "amour" (synonym for outlawed intimacy) leading to associations of the liquor with love, romance and excitement. Do not confuse Amaretto with Amora which is an entirely different family of liquor.
Historically, the introduction of almonds into various Italian dishes mostly started in Sicily where trade activity was bustling in the Mediterranean between the 9th to 11th centuries. Almonds were brought from neighboring Levant community where almonds were indigenous to their lands. Legend has it that a woman with little means created the first Amaretto Coffee as a gift to Bernardino Luini, the famous artist mentored by Leonardo da Vinci by soaking apricot kernels in brandy. The almond pit provides the acerbic taste while the crushed apricot infuses it with a sugary factor.

This drink has a wide appeal to adventurous coffee lovers who adore the extravagant taste of bitterness compounded with memorable sweetness of praline. As such, it is suitable for people who enjoy dark chocolates with raisins. It is not too difficult to serve a home-made brew of this beverage. To start prepare your own Amaretto Coffee, stir in approximately an ounce of Amaretto almond liquor into a mug full (4-6 ounces) of hot coffee. Add one to two tablespoons of creamer to taste and shake well to let it blend. Then layer off the top with half ounce of brandy and spruce it up with a puff of whipped cream.

Optionally, you can purchase it readymade off the shelves. Amaretto Coffee is often sold in the form of freshly grounded ready-to-brew pre-portioned for a perfect cup of the drink. Disaronno Originale and Lazzaroni Amaretto are among some of the well-known brands widely sold. Although not so common, it can also be found packaged as coffee syrup, which can be used to enhance sweet or savory dishes such as tiramisu and chicken supreme. These recipes are easily accessible on the internet with some research.

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