Coffee French Buttercream and Coffee Syrup [opera cake]

We'll use the same coffee 'shots' to flavor the buttercream and the soaking syrup for the sponge.
You'll need:

4 tsp instant coffee
2 tbsp hot water

Mix them together and set aside.  

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This is probably one of the richest buttercream.  like ever.  okay lets get started.

French Buttercream
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup +2tbsp water
2 egg yolks (be sure to use organic eggs)
1/2 cup of butter

Start by measuring out 1/2 cup of butter.  A cup is approximately 230 grams, so 1/2 cup is 115 grams– which I divided it into perfectly.  perfectly.  oh the beauty.   Keep the other half of butter on the counter, we'll use it to make the ganache and the chocolate base later on.

On medium-high heat, combine water and sugar.  Here I'm using caramel sugar to give it a better taste, but you could use caster sugar just fine.  We're going to bring this up to soft ball stage or 238˚F, so be sure to use your thermometer for this. If not, just keep testing by dropping the syrup in ice cold water.  If the syrup is firm and soft - hence soft ball stage, it is ready.

Meanwhile, start whisking the egg yolks.

 Don't worry its not burned.  Its just the color of my sugar.  Once it reaches 238˚F, remove from heat and, with mixer on low, pour the hot syrup in a thin stream.  Not while the mixture is on high.  never when its on high, cause the whisk is gna splatter the sugar and its going to be all over the side of the bowl too.  You don't want web-by sugar strands all over your hair.  Trust me.

 Sugar on the side of the bowl is most annoying.  Anyway whisk until the yolks are pale and thick.  Ribbon stage is ideal.  While you're waiting, you should probably make the coffee syrup(bottom of the post).

 Add half of your coffee syrup, scrape the side of the bowl, whisk a little more, and you're done.  Chill in the fridge.  

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Coffee Syrup

Other half of the coffee

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

Combine the water and sugar in a glass.  Microwave until all sugar is dissolved.  Add in the coffee after.  DON'T do this.  please.  

 all was good here.

 Don't do it like me and use coffee flakes.  Takes forever to come together.  seriously.  The syrup is thick.  its not watery.  The flakes don't melt.  It clumps.  nightmare.