Reading Nook
Dry shake ∙ 5 min ∙
The Reading Nook is a non-alcoholic espresso cocktail made with cherry juice, fresh espresso, and orgeat, shaken with egg white and fine-strained into a coupe. A plush, velvety foam blankets a bittersweet, nutty-smooth core, finishing clean with a bright citrus snap from the expressed orange twist.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Cherry juice 45 mlEspresso coffee 45 mlOrgeat (almond) syrup 15 mlEgg white 10 mlSaline solution 2 dashes
- Strain back into the shaker
- Dry shake (without ice) to emulsify
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry on a skewer
Tips
- Pre-chill the coupe before straining so the delicate foam doesn't deflate against a warm glass.
- Brew the espresso fresh and use it hot so it shocks the egg white during the first shake, helping the foam set.
- Dry shake without ice after straining back into the tin — this is what emulsifies the egg white into a stable, creamy cap.
FAQ
How do you make a Reading Nook?
Shake cherry juice, hot espresso, orgeat, egg white, and a touch of saline solution with ice, then strain back into the shaker and dry shake without ice to emulsify. Fine-strain into a chilled coupe, express an orange twist over the top, and garnish with a maraschino cherry on a skewer.
What is in a Reading Nook?
Cherry juice, freshly brewed espresso, orgeat (almond) syrup, pasteurized egg white, and a couple of dashes of saline solution, double-shaken and served up in a coupe with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry.