Gibraltar Coffee Recipe - A Unique Coffee Blend

Name: Gibraltar Coffee Recipe - A Unique Coffee Blend
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 shots espresso; 1/4 cup steamed milk

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As a barista, I often get asked about the Gibraltar coffee recipe.

What’s in it? How do you make it? And so on.

So I thought I would put together a blog post with all the information you need to know about this unique coffee blend.

Table of Contents

What Is a Gibraltar Coffee?

A Gibraltar is a latte-style drink made of steamed milk with espresso. It contains steamed milk to a velvety texture and a double espresso with a 1:1 milk-coffee ratio, strictly served in a Gibraltar glass cup.

Some recipes on the internet call it a Cortado, but they are not the same. Nor is a Gibraltar the same as a Flat White. But I’ll get to the differences soon.

Origin of the Drink

Gibraltar is a coffee drink that has become popular in recent years. It was first developed by the owner of Blue Bottle Co. in 2005. After making its debut in San Francisco, it quickly spread to other cities.

It became a staple at specialty coffee shops like New York’s Cafe Grumpy and Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea Company. Today, you can find it in most specialty coffee shops around the country.

How to make Gibraltar coffee?

Gibraltar is the perfect way to enjoy coffee with milk. It is similar to a latte but contains less milk. The authentic recipe calls for two shots of espresso instead of one.

Gibraltar Coffee Recipe – A Unique Coffee Blend

5 from 1 vote

Servings

servings

Calories

kcal

Total time

minutes

There are only 3 steps to making a Gibraltar. Granted, they take skill to perfect. Pulling a perfect shot of espresso and steaming milk takes a little practice. Making beautiful latte art takes a lot of practice.

Ingredients

2 shots 2 espresso
1/4 cup 1/4 steamed milk

Directions

Make espresso
Grind the espresso beans to a fine consistency and place them in the machine’s portafilter.
Tamp down the ground espresso (18-21 grams) using a tamper to compress it evenly.
Place the portafilter in the espresso machine and start the brewing process.
A double-shot espresso will typically take about 25-30 seconds to brew.
Steam milk
Steam the milk until it reaches a temperature of between 150 F and 160 F. You’ll want to use a thermometer if you have one.
In the glass containing the espresso shot, slightly pour your milk using a wiggle motion. Feel the warmth of your coffee cup and enjoy rich sips of your homemade Gibraltar coffee.
Decorate with latte art.

Equipment

Espresso machinesCheck types

Notes

Use a real espresso machine.
Being a specialty coffee beverage, this recipe is best with light-medium roast coffee beans.

What Kind of Cup Should Gibraltar Coffee Be Served In?

A Gibraltar glass should be used for Gibraltar coffee. These unique style glasses create an optical illusion by bulging at the top, making it look like you’re serving more than you are. Buying these for your home bar is smart since Gibraltar glasses have an elegant yet welcoming vibe.

Besides, Gibraltar glass is a classic choice for your coffee, enabling you to taste all the subtle nuances of the espresso. The traditional way to serve this drink is by heating the rock glass with hot water for about 5 minutes and then pouring your espresso shot and milk over it.

Tips for a Perfectly Blended Brew

Fresh milk is the key to perfect milk foam, but I personally prefer whole milk when making Gibraltar. However, low-fat milk will also work if that’s what you have on hand.
Keep in mind that non-dairy milk, like soy milk, tends to burn more quickly, so use lower temperatures and stir more slowly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Making espresso is a simple process that takes only seconds to complete. Here’s how:

Grind the espresso beans to a fine consistency and place them in the machine’s portafilter.
Tamp down the ground espresso (18-21 grams) using a tamper to compress it evenly.
Place the portafilter in the espresso machine and start the brewing process.
A double-shot espresso will typically take about 25-30 seconds to brew.

You can serve your Gibraltar coffee in any small glass you have on hand. But if you want to immerse yourself in the culture entirely, Gibraltar glass is a must! These glasses are 4.5 ounces, with a narrow bottom that makes serving easier.

The coffee shop in San Francisco uses Gibraltar glasses from Libbey. While they may be hard to find, there are some copies out there that are surprisingly authentic in their shape and size.

A Gibraltar is basically a double Cortado.

The difference between a Cortado and Gibraltar is that a Cortado always contains one shot of espresso and one ounce of milk, while a Gibraltar has 2 ounces of espresso as well as milk.

Unmistakably shaped like an old-school espresso cup, you can use the Gibraltar glass to serve authentic Gibraltar. It would be best if you served it in a rock glass with an octagonal and tapered bottom or a short tumbler.

Gibraltar shares many characteristics with a cappuccino, but like Cortado, the serving size, cup style, and also milk texture draw a line between cappuccino and Gibraltar.

While Gibraltar is served in a 4.5-ounce Libbey Gibraltar rock glass, cappuccino comes in a traditional 4.75-ounce ceramic cup.

Also, Gibraltar uses microfoam milk, while cappuccino leaves larger bubbles in the milk froth.

Conclusion

Gibraltar is the perfect cup of coffee. It has the right balance of flavor and aroma that will please even the most sophisticated coffee drinker.

Great to lighten up your mood with its rich texture and intense flavor, but also perfect for entertaining guests!

Browse our other recipes for inspiration, then head to your kitchen and start brewing! I would love to hear your thoughts on Gibraltar coffee – leave a comment below!

Gibraltar Coffee Recipe – A Unique Coffee Blend