The American breakfast is all about customisation. Whether you crave a sweet stack of pancakes or a savoury scramble, there's something for everyone. For decades, Americans have enjoyed a perfect balance of sweet and savoury to start the day. But what exactly makes breakfast American? Buckle up, because we're taking a delicious dive into the world of fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, and beyond.

Recipe Round-Up

While there are plenty of breakfast alternatives, bacon, eggs, pancakes and hashbrowns are often the go-to when creating an American breakfast. We’ve put together some simple recipes to follow that allow you to create a scrumptious breakfast, worthy of the title “The Most Important Meal of the Day.”

Crispy Bacon:

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
2. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
3. Arrange thick-cut bacon in a single layer.
4. Bake for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, for perfectly crisp bacon.
5. Drain on paper towels to remove excess grease.

Fluffy Scrambled Eggs:

1. Crack your eggs into a bowl and whisk with a splash of milk or cream for added richness.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Use a non-stick pan over medium heat.
4. Add a pat of butter and swirl to coat.
5. Pour in the egg mixture and let it cook undisturbed for a few seconds.
6. Gently nudge the cooked curds from the edge towards the centre with a rubber spatula, allowing the runny liquid to cook.
7. Repeat until the eggs are cooked through to your desired doneness (soft scrambled or with slightly firmer curds).
8. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Warming Waffles:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups/400 grams of flour
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 4 teaspoons of baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1.5 cups of milk
• 6 teaspoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1. Preheat your waffle iron: This is important for even cooking. Most waffle irons have an indicator light that will turn off once it's preheated.
2. Whisk the dry ingredients: In your large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Whisk the wet ingredients: In your smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Use your whisk to gently mix them together until just combined. Do not overmix! A few lumps are okay. Overmixing can lead to tough waffles.
5. Cook the waffles: Pour batter onto your preheated waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions. It's usually about ½ cup to ¾ cup of batter per waffle. Close the lid and cook for the recommended time, which is usually around 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Cooking times can vary depending on your waffle iron, so keep an eye on it!
6. Serve immediately: Once cooked, carefully remove the waffle from the iron and place it on a plate. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the remaining batter.
7. Enjoy! Serve your waffles immediately while they're hot and crispy. Top with your favourite toppings like maple syrup, fresh fruit, whipped cream, or even chocolate chips mixed into the batter before cooking.

Golden Pancakes:

• Ingredients:
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
• 1 ¼ cups milk
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 egg

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients like flour, baking powder, and sugar.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients like milk, eggs, and melted butter.
3. Combine the wet and dry ingredients just until blended (a few lumps are okay!).
4. Heat a lightly greased griddle or non-stick pan over medium heat.
5. Pour batter in scoops for each pancake, leaving space for spreading.
6. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until bubbles appear on the surface and the edges begin to set.
7. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
8. Serve with your favourite toppings like butter, syrup, or fresh fruit.

Hash Browns:

1. Grate potatoes using the coarse side of a grater.
2. Rinse the grated potatoes under cold water to remove excess starch.
3. Squeeze out as much moisture as possible with a clean kitchen towel.
4. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
5. Add the grated potatoes and season with salt and pepper.
6. Press down gently with a spatula to form a compact patty.
7. Cook for 5-7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.

Curated Coffee

Coffee can often make or break a breakfast. American coffee can be polarising to some but its richness pairs perfectly with a sweet breakfast. American coffee is typically made through a filter, commonly referred to as drip coffee. Whether you’re preparing coffee at home for a few people, or on a large scale in a cafe, we have some great tips and even alternatives to achieve that perfect American taste.

Instant Coffee Alternative

1. Measure your coffee: Add 1 teaspoon of instant coffee to your mug for a regular strength, or 2 teaspoons for a stronger brew.
2. Heat the water: Heat water to just below boiling (around 90°C or 195°F) for the best flavour. Boiling water can burn some instant coffees.
3. Add water: Pour the hot water into your mug with the coffee.
4. Stir and enjoy: Give it a good stir to dissolve the coffee, then add sugar, milk, creamer, or any other flavourings you like.

American Coffee Using A Machine

1. Grind your coffee: If you haven't already, grind your coffee beans to a medium grind. This is the optimal coarseness for drip coffee makers. Pre-ground coffee works too, but freshly ground beans will give you the best flavour.
2. Prepare the filter: Place a coffee filter in the filter basket of your coffee machine. If using a paper filter, make sure it's the right size for your machine. Some machines use permanent filters that need rinsing before use.
3. Add coffee grounds: Measure the coffee grounds according to your preference and the machine's instructions. A good starting point is 1-2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces of water. Adjust based on how strongly you like your coffee.

4. Fill the water reservoir: Fill the coffee machine's water reservoir with fresh, cold water. Most machines have markings to indicate the proper water level. Don't exceed the maximum fill line.

5. Brew the coffee: Place the carafe on the warming plate and turn on the coffee machine. It will automatically heat the water and drip it through the coffee grounds, filling the carafe with your brewed coffee.

6. Enjoy! Once brewing is complete, pour yourself a cup of coffee. Add milk, sugar, creamer, or any other flavourings you enjoy.

American Coffee Using A French Press / Cafetiere

1. Grind your beans: Grind your coffee beans to a coarse consistency, similar to sea salt or coarse sand. Pre-ground coffee can work in a pinch, but for the best flavour, freshly ground is the way to go.
2. Heat the water: Fill your kettle with fresh water and heat it to just below boiling. Boiling water can extract bitterness from the coffee grounds.
3. Measure coffee grounds: A good starting point for American coffee is a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio. This means using 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. For a typical 8-cup French press, this translates to roughly 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds (around 10 grams) to 350ml (12 ounces) of water. Adjust the ratio based on your desired strength.
4. Add coffee grounds to the French press: Add the measured coffee grounds to the empty French press.

5. Add remaining water: Gently pour the remaining hot water over the coffee grounds, making sure to saturate all the grounds. Use a spoon to stir gently if needed to ensure even saturation.

6. Steep the coffee: Place the plunger on top of the French press, but don't press down yet. Let the coffee steep for 4 minutes. Using a timer can be helpful for consistent brewing.

7. Press the plunger: Slowly and steadily press the plunger down to the bottom of the French press. This will separate the brewed coffee from the grounds.

8. Serve and enjoy! Pour your coffee into mugs and enjoy. Add milk, sugar, creamer, or any other flavourings you like.

Freshly Squeeze Juice

While coffee is an important addition, don’t forget the apple and orange juice! Using a juicer is the most effective way to extract the maximum amount of juice from your fruits with minimal pulp. Freshly squeezed juice is best enjoyed right away. However, you can store leftover juice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

1. Wash your fruits: Wash both the apples and oranges thoroughly under running water.
2. Prepare the fruits: For apples, cut them into quarters or eighths, removing the core. You can leave the peel on for extra nutrients, but some people prefer to peel them first. For oranges, peel them completely and separate them into segments.
3. Juice: Juice each piece one at a time, and wash between uses to ensure no juice cross over between the apples and oranges. Most juicers are quite fast, so you should have fresh juice in seconds!
4. Serve: Pour the fresh juice into glasses and enjoy immediately.

If you find the apple juice too tart, you can add a little honey or sugar to taste. We also have juicers designed for frequent use, which makes these manual juice machines an ideal choice for busy kitchens that might not have time to hand-juice every fruit.

Plating Up A Masterpiece

There are so many ways to serve your delicious breakfast. We have several options depending on what theme you’re going for, from classic Americana to a more modern, urban feel. Falcon Enamelware creates a timeless and iconic look, reminiscent of decades ago. The dinner plates are perfect for breakfast, with the simple yet antique blue rim.

The Grey Seattle Range is perfect for achieving a sophisticated look. This collection features a sleek Seattle Grey colour palette, enriched with a unique print that adds depth and movement to each piece. The subtle interplay of shades mimics the dynamic, misty cityscapes of Seattle, bringing an atmospheric quality to your table setting that is both modern and timeless. These pieces would be perfect for coffee presentations, especially seeing as Seattle is known for its coffee.

Churchill Stonecast is timeless, making it perfect for breakfast presentations. The Barley White range would provide a versatile backdrop for pancakes, bacon and eggs. The simple colouring allows the food to stand out and really become the star of the show. The Stonecase range can also be mixed and matched with each other, allowing you to create a truly unique tabletop presentation.

Optional Extras

There are endless choices for extras on the breakfast table, from mini jugs for syrups to saucers for coffee cups. Here are a few optional extras that really make a difference and help your presentation to stand out to your customers.

Glass juice jugs (sometimes known as carafes) for freshly juiced beverages add an elegant look to the breakfast. Instead of using plastic or metal jugs, aim for glass bottles. These allow customers to serve themselves, which saves time and also showcases your carefully juiced drinks. Hot drink extras such as stirrers, teaspoons and bowls for sugar are also great extras. These additional products also allow customers to create a perfect cup of coffee all without leaving the comfort of their table.

A butter dish is great for larger tables. It allows the customers at the table to serve themselves butter, while also keeping the butter fresh. Most butter dishes feature non-slip feet as well, ensuring they stays in place when someone is serving themselves butter. Butter is key for American breakfast from waffles to pancakes, so a butter dish adds an extra level of professionalism to the presentation.

Cook With Cooksmill

With the trend of American breakfasts growing and showing no signs of slowing down, now’s the time to jump on it! Shop everything you need with us, from cooking equipment to crockery. Cooksmill also offers free delivery on larger orders over £60 (excluding VAT), so get shopping now for the best deals.