Espresso
Based Coffee Drinks
Never
go to Starbucks again without knowing what the different
coffee drinks are. Even better, make the drinks yourself
to impress your friends and save some money. For some it
could be a small fortune!
While
you're at it, why not show off your new barista skills in
these coffee mugs
which can be customized as if you have your own coffeehouse!
Okay
let's get started, in order to make spectacular drinks,
you've got to start with great tasting, fresh coffee. The
only way to ensure your coffee is fresh is to roast it yourself,
or buy it straight from the roaster.
The
internet is a great place to buy
fresh coffee
because they can ship it out within a day or so of the coffee
being roasted! It is not subject to waiting on the shelf
until someone decides to buy it. You will love the difference
in fresh roasted coffee versus what you will get at the
grocery stores.
Here
are the most common espresso based beverages:
Straight
Espresso
A
straight shot of espresso is
not as popular in the U.S. as in Europe. In fact, it is
Italy’s most commonly consumed coffee drink.
Part
of the reason is because the American pallet is not as accustomed
to the strength of straight espresso. In addition, American
roasters frequently over-roast the beans leaving a bitter
taste. To make matters worse, many coffee bars have neglected
to properly train their baristas (the person who extracts
the espresso).
Nevertheless,
here are the variations of the straight shot and remember,
always extract directly into a pre-warmed demitasse (small,
2-3 ounce cup), because the shot will cool extremely fast.
The
Straight Shot:
-
Ristretto
– (or short shot) Meaning restricted, this
is a shot that is stopped at ¾ of an ounce. This restricted
extraction ensures that only the best qualities of the
coffee are extracted and not the bitter elements. This
is the preferred straight shot in Europe.
-
The
Single – Basically a shot extracted to 1 ounce.
-
The
Lungo - (or long shot) a shot extracted to
1.5 ounces.
-
The
Double – A 2 ounce shot using twice as much
coffee in the portafilter.
The
Americano:
An
Americano is a really good way to enjoy a regular strength
cup of coffee. Simply extract a shot of espresso and fill
the rest of the 6 to 8 ounce cup with hot water. This makes
a smooth cup of coffee similar to drip brewed.
The
Espresso Macchiato:
Macchiato
means “marked” in Italian. Therefore this drink is a shot
of espresso marked with a small amount of foamed milk dabbed
on top with a spoon and served in a demitasse.
Espresso
Con Panna:
Con
Panna means “with cream” so basically this drink is the
same as a Macchiato except using a dab of whipped cream
instead of foamed milk.
Cappuccino:
By
far the most difficult coffee drink to prepare properly,
there are misconceptions about the cappuccino in the United
States.
Most
Americans think of a cappuccino as espresso with dry, tasteless
foam spooned on top. When prepared properly, a cappuccino
is made with velvety, wet foam that mixes with the pour
instead of a large bubbled meringue floating on top of the
espresso.
The
secret is discussed on my frothing milk page. But simply stated,
the cappuccino is a shot of espresso with steamed milk poured
in without holding back the foam (like in a latte).
The
Caffe Latte:
The
latte is the coffee drink preferred by most Americans and
is easy to prepare.
Start
with a single shot of espresso for a 6 to 8 ounce drink.
Pour in steamed milk, but hold back the foam with your spoon
until about 70% to 75% full. Then top it off with foam.
For
a larger latte (12 to 16 ounces) use a double shot to maintain
the coffee flavor.
Flavored
Coffee Drinks
When
using flavored syrups, add the syrup directly to the espresso
and then stir thoroughly before adding steamed or cold milk.
This help the syrup dissolve and mix thoroughly.
Also
any of these drinks can be made cold, just use cold milk
(not steamed) and add ice and blend if desired.
The
Caffe Mocha:
The
caffe mocha is a variation of the latte but with chocolate
syrup added before adding the steamed milk. After the milk
is added, an additional stir may be required.
Typically,
mochas are topped with whipped cream and sometimes chocolate
sprinkles.
Flavored
Lattes and Cappuccinos:
There
are many high quality flavored syrups on the market that
can flavor any kind of coffee drink. Some of the more common
flavors are vanilla, hazelnut, Irish crème, caramel, peppermint,
and butter rum.
Even
some fruit flavors do well in coffee. Just add the syrup
to the espresso, stir, and add steamed milk and stir once
more. If you like, top with whipped cream and/or sprinkles.
One
more thing, if you're like me, after a while of drinking
these drinks you may need to check out some weight
loss tips! Just kidding, but those calories really can
sneak up on you.
For
more information, check out my page on coffee
syrups.
For
drinks made from drip brewed coffee, see my coffee
recipes page.
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