The coffee foam attains its consistency with the help of a charged siphon. If you don't own one, don't worry—the coffee mixture can also be served, chilled but unfoamed, as a sauce.
Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr
Recipe information
Total Time
1 3/4 hr
Yield
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
For coffee foam
For chocolate ganache cakes
Preparation
Make coffee foam:
Step 1
Toast coffee beans with brown sugar in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring constantly to evenly toast beans, until sugar is melted and beans are color of almond skins, 12 to 15 minutes.
Step 2
Add coconut milk and simmer (mixture will bubble up and steam, and sugar will harden), stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Pour through a sieve into a metal bowl and stir in cream.
Step 3
Set metal bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water to chill, stirring occasionally.
Step 4
Transfer sauce to siphon and screw on top tightly. Unscrew charge holder from head and put in a charger. Reattach charge holder and screw on tightly. Gas will be released into siphon (with a whooshing sound) within a few seconds. Chill filled siphon at least 1 hour to produce a stiffer foam. Remove and discard first charger. (As you unscrew charge holder, you’ll hear a brief hissing sound.) If fitting from holder comes out attached to charger, just remove charger and reattach fitting. Screw on second charger and chill at least 15 minutes (longer if a test of foam is not thick enough).
Make cakes:
Step 5
Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter and flour 8 (4-oz) ramekins, knocking out excess flour, and put on a baking sheet.
Step 6
Whisk together whole eggs, yolks, and sugar until combined well.
Step 7
Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring.
Step 8
Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk egg mixture into it. Sift flour evenly over chocolate mixture and fold in until just combined.
Step 9
Divide among ramekins and bake in middle of oven until cakes begin to puff but centers are not set, 12 to 13 minutes.
Step 10
Shake siphon well, about 1 minute. Turn upside down and press lever to fill a bowl with coffee foam.
Step 11
Serve cakes in ramekins with coffee foam on the side.
