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1
Position oven rack 1/3 up from the bottom of the oven; preheat oven t 325u00b0.
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2
You will need a 10 x 4 inch tube pan; it must NOT be a nonstick pan and it must be the kind made in two pieces-the bottom and tube in one piece and the sides in a separatepiece; do NOT butter the pan.
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3
On a board, with a heavy knife, cut the chocolate into small pieces; aim for pieces 1/4 inch in diameter; do not leave any pieces larger than 1/4 inch, because this is a very light cake and larger pieces might sink to the bottom; set aside.
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4
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, 1 1/4 cup sugar, instant coffee, baking powder, and salt.
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5
With a rubber spatula make a wide well in the middle of the dry ingredients.
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6
Add, in the following order, without mixing, the oil, egg yolks, Kahula, water, and vanilla.
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7
With a large strong wire whisk, beat the ingredients until smooth.
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8
Remove the whisk and with a rubber spatula stir/fold in the chopped chocolate; set aside.
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9
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the whites until foamy, add the cream of tartar, and beat at high speed until the whites hold a soft shape.
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10
Decrease speed to medium and gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar.
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11
Then, on high speed again, beat until the whites hold a straight and stiff peak when the beaters are withdrawn.
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12
For the recipe the whites should be stiffer than for most; when the whites are firm, beat for 1 minute more to be sure.
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13
That should make them just right; more beating than that might make them too dry.
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14
Use a large-size rubber spatula-in three additions, fold about 3/4 of the yolk mixture into the whites, without being too thorough (without being even a bit thorough).
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15
Then fold the whites into the remaining yolk mixture, this time being thorough enough to just barely incorporate the mixtures.
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16
Gently pour the batter into the cake pan and gently smooth the top if necessary.
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17
Bake for 1 hour and 10-15 minutes, until the top springs back when pressed gently with a fingertip; the top will crack during baking-it is ok.
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18
Immediately turn the pan over and hang it upside down over the neck of a narrow bottle (even if your pan has a raised tube in the middle or three little feet on the sides, they probably will not raise the cake enough to keep it off the counter top).
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19
When the cake is completely cool, remove it from the pan as follows-you will need a sharp knife with a firm blade about 6 inches long; insert knife between the cake and the rim in order not to cut into the cake.
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20
With short up and down motions, saw all around the cake, continuing to press the blade against the side of the pan; then cut around the tube.
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21
Remove the sides of the pan by pushing up on the bottom of the pan; then, carefully cut the bottom of the cake away from the pan, still pressing against the pan.
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22
Cover the cake with a wide, flat cake plate, turn the cake and plate over, and lift off the bottom of the pan, leaving the cake upside down.
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23
Sprinkle with powdered sugar through a fine strainer.
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24
Use a serrated knife and a sawing motion to slice the cake without squashing it.
