Cacao Brewing Instructions

Brewing ground cacao, involves a process similar to brewing tea or coffee. Here are step-by-step brewing instructions for ground cacao

Roasting Cacao

- Preheat oven to 265 degrees  
- On a baking sheet covered with foil place enough cacao beans to fill a mason jar
- Place in oven for 25-28 mins
- when finished take out of oven and let cool
- Place cacao beans in mason jar (you can also grind and eat a spoonful of freshly baked cacao for one of earth's greatest pleasures)

- De-husk before grinding cacao beans as the husks can be considered toxic

Ingredients

- Ground cacao (finely ground cacao beans)

- Water

- Optional: Sweetener, milk, or spices to taste

Equipment

- Good Quality Coffee Grinder

- Turkish Ibrik/Cezve

- Heat Source

- Strainer

- Cup

- All above equipment items available for purchase here

Instructions

1. **Measure Ground Cacao:**

   - Using a blender **Not a coffee grinder** to grind the cacao beans(don't grind too fine and leave a bit coarse), grind 30g - 35g of ground cacao for 280ml of water for a 320ml Ibrik.  Adjust based on your taste preferences.

2. **Prepare Ground Cacao:**

   - Place the measured ground cacao into ibrik.  Optional: Add spices such as pinch of salt, cinnamon, cardamom, etc.

3. **Pour Warm Water:**

   - Pour the water over the ground cacao slowly. Use enough water to leave half an inch to an inch space at top of ibrik to allow for foam to rise. 

Optional:  I suggest using coconut milk entirely or at a 1 to 1 ratio with water for a more creamy texture,.

4. **Mix Thoroughly:**

   - Stir the cacao and hot water mixture thoroughly to ensure that the ground cacao is well-dissolved.

5. **Optional Additions:**

   - Add sweeteners like sugar, honey, or agave syrup if desired.

7. **Steeping Time:**

   - Allow the cacao mixture to steep for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your desired strength. You can experiment with steeping times to find the flavor intensity you prefer. 

8. **Strain (Optional):**

   - If you prefer a smoother beverage, you can strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any remaining cacao particles. This step is optional.

9. **Serve:**

   - Pour the brewed cacao into a cup and enjoy. Adjust the sweetness and creaminess to your liking.

10. **Experiment with Flavors (Optional):**

    - Get creative by adding spices such as cinnamon, vanilla extract, or a pinch of chili powder for extra flavor complexity.

11. **Customization:**

    - Feel free to experiment with the cacao-to-water ratio, steeping time, and additional ingredients to tailor the beverage to your taste.

Remember that ground cacao can have a strong and rich flavor, so it's often enjoyed in smaller quantities compared to traditional hot chocolate. Adjust the recipe based on your preferences and enjoy your homemade cacao beverage!