Some things are better strong, dark and rich

From affogato – Italian for “drowned” and technically a dessert – to zebra mocha, there are dozens of ways to drink coffee.
One of the world’s largest legal agricultural crops, the only commodity more heavily traded is petroleum. It’s been drunk for thousands of years in Arab culture, and once believed by priests to be the drink of the devil, since coffee was embraced by the western world after receiving a papal blessing some 500 years ago we have certainly made up for lost time.
Coffee has become firmly entrenched in our culture – coffee shops, coffee breaks, coffee ceremonies, coffee to wake up in the morning, coffee as a digestif, let’s-get-to-know-each-other coffee…life without it is impossible to imagine.
With so many varieties and techniques of coffee preparation, as well as individual tastes, it can become a bit mind boggling and confusing. To simplify your coffee drinking habits you need look no further than the experienced baristas at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! in Cape Town and Melrose Arch, Jozi.
A barista (from the Italian for "bartender") is the title given to the person who prepares and serves espresso-based coffee drinks. It is not be confused with “barrister”, which is a lawyer.
The coffee of choice at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! is of the highest quality; Lavazza Espresso Crema E Roma is use to make espressos, from which cappuccinos, lattes, café mochas and everything in between are derived. Served with a buttery choc chip biscuit, these sublimely rich hot beverages can be savoured at any time of the day.
And it’s not just about the flavour – latte and cappuccino art has become a method of creative expression for baristas around the world, with intricate designs adorning the milky froth of the drinks. The two most common forms of poured latte art – as opposed to etched art done with a stick after the pour rather than during - are a heart shape and the "rosetta" or "rosette" which resembles a type of flower or fern. It is this technique in which Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! baristas specialise.
More complex patterns are possible, some requiring multiple pours. Beauty in the cup, both for the eyes and the palate, at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! is guaranteed to perk up your day.

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