A Beginner's Guide to Espresso Drinks

Espresso drinks are a special coffee drink that includes the possibility of having one or more shots espresso, which are "pulled" out of the espresso machine.

The most well-known coffee drinks are the Cappuccino (Caffe Latte), Mocha (Caffe Mocha), but there are many others and everybody has a personal preference.

We've created a list that includes some of the most popular kinds of espresso drinks. We've got everything from the classic latte through to the more sophisticated macchiato with an espresso drink mixed in. Perhaps you're in need of to refresh your coffee drink types...but should you decide to make them yourself go to the recipe for more information! The recipes form part of our Barista Series where we teach you how to make coffeehouse-quality drinks at home. Are you ready to start drinking?

Espresso

As the main ingredient for every drink listed below, let's start by defining espresso. The first and most important thing to understand is that Espresso is the method of brewing coffee. It's a way of making coffee, where a small amount of nearly boiling water is pushed through finely ground coffee under pressure.

Coffee is ground to a fine powder and then made into"pucks "puck" before being placed in the espresso maker. The machine takes over and provides water at a very stable temperature using a mechanical pump. The space that is above the flat espresso puck fills with water. The espresso machine uses 9 bars of pressure to force water into the coffee.

An espresso shot that is perfectly balanced is something that you must sip. What's the flavor? Strong, of course--the ratio of 1:1 coffee to water is considerably less dilute than a standard cup of filter coffee (closer to 1:15 ratio). Along with being strong an espresso shot will have a distinct and balanced flavor profile under the shiny crema surface.

Latte

A latte is a coffee drink that contains espresso, steamed milk and an ice cream layer on top. It is made up of 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steaming milk, and a an incredibly thin layer of foam over the top.

A latte needs to have a specific type of foam. The milk should have a texture that is similar to microfoam. It can be difficult to achieve this kind of texture without steamers. We'll explain how to achieve it with different tools available to you.

Americano

A Americano is an espresso beverage made of hot espresso and water, often referred to as Caffe Americano. It is made by using one or two shots of espresso, as well as different proportions of water. The robust espresso roast is blended to produce drip coffee. This could be the reason for the name. The precise origin of the name is a mystery, but it's thought to be a relic of the 1970's. The coffee's strength is closer to that of American-style drip coffees.

Does an Americano include milk? Never. A true Americano does not include milk like a latte, cappuccino, or macchiato. It is possible to add milk if you like, but then it's not the real version of this drink.

Espresso Macchiato

Caffe macchiato, also known as espresso macchiato drink is a shot of espresso that is topped with frothed milk. Italian meaning "stained" macchiato is "stained". It refers to the milk foam that is included in the espresso. There are some reports that the macchiato was created to help drink espresso into the afternoon.

The other type of macchiato is called a latte macchiato. A latte macchiato comprises steaming milk colored with espresso.

Cappuccino

A cappuccino, also known as an espresso drink, is made consisting of steamed milk, foamy milk and espresso. It's very similar to Latte (cafe latte) but the amount of steamed milk differs. Here's a comparison of one of the cappuccinos and a latte.

A cappuccino has equal amounts of espresso, steaming milk and foam ( 1/3 each).

1/3 espresso, 2/3 steamed milk and a thin layer foam comprise the components of a milkshake. Here's a chart that breaks it down!

The differences between the two drinks are fairly subtle, and so is the taste.

According to the Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano, the institution that regulates espresso, the ideal cappuccino cup has an elliptical bottom, with thick walls and is made of porcelain. The bottom of the cup is made of thicker material to improve heat retention. The traditional color of the cup is bright white for aesthetic reasons. The best cappuccino cups, however, are made from either porcelain, or from double wall tempered glass.

Flat White

Flat whites are coffee drinks that include espresso, steaming milk and a layer of foam. It's like a cappuccino and latte but features a thicker layer of foam on top. Modern coffee shops often blur the distinction between these three types of coffee drinks. The most significant differences between flat white and latte are:

Flat White has a 1/4 inch of foam at its top. The milk that is steamed is stretched 20 to 25%.

Medium frothy Latte with 3/8 inches of microfoam on top. It is possible to stretch the milk by 25-35%.

Cappuccino should be frothy but not foamy. It should contain about 1 inch of microfoam on the top. The steamed milk is stretched out the most of all three, with 30 to 50%..

Mocha Latte

A mocha or mocha latte is a drink made with espresso and steamed milk that is flavored by chocolate syrup. The barista is able to make many variations on the definition of a mocha. The drink can be prepared with various levels of espresso shots as well as quantities of steamed milk, and quantities of chocolate syrup. Starbucks culture has seen the mocha become more popular since the 1980s.

Red Eye Coffee

Red eye coffee is a coffee drink that blends drip coffee and two or more shots of espresso. It is most likely that the name refers to experiencing the "red eye flight," an air traveler's flight that is overnight, causing passengers to feel tired and tired eyes.

The number of espresso shots that are included in this drink is determined according to the title: Red eye is one shot. Black Eye has two shots, and Dead Eye or Green Eye has three shots. But if you're ordering from a coffeeshop, you should be able simply to request a "red eye coffee" and specify the amount of espresso shots that you'd like. This coffee includes: drip coffee, one to three espresso shots, based on the desired strength.