With all the different names for coffee drinks out there, it's no wonder that people get a little overwhelmed when they're ordering. Fortunately, with all the different styles of coffee, there's actually usually just a simple variation on a classic drink happening. We'll prep you for a world where hazelnut and pumpkin lattes are confusing you from what's really going on behind the counter.
First up, here are some of the names of average drinks, but this time, instead of not understanding what they mean, you're going to learn what the heck the difference between an Americano and a Latte really is.
Caffe Latte Also referred to as Cafe au Lait, depending on where you're ordering your drink, this is one of the most popular styles of coffee worldwide, and is really just a fancy way of saying espresso with milk. A single shot of espresso is made with steamed milk, and then served with an extra inch of frothed milk (foam) on top.
Americano Americans are known for their version of coffee, which critics say is usually really watered down. But there's a variation that makes everyone happy, and combines styles of coffee to suit everyone's taste. With an Americano, one ounce of strong espresso is combined with some boiling water, usually a cup's worth. Voila. A short drink designed to be taken like a shot now is large enough to be sipped, with not so much added in between.
Cappuccino Probably the most popular drink that people order but have no idea what they're actually getting, the cappuccino is simply one third coffee, one third milk, and one third creamy and thick froth, from milk, too. Rather than being a pompous addition to spice up a simple coffee drink, it's named after the Capuchin, which is the white and brown hood that monks wear.
But half of what makes coffee is actually the style in which it's brewed, not the ingredients added for it to be served to you. Here are a couple of the processes that you might also not know what the heck their names mean:
The French Press This is also known as bodum, cafetiere, and the press pot. Sound confusing? It's a bunch of different names, not styles of coffee. Here, a glass container has a plunger attached, where you add near-boiling water, coffee, and then press the coffee, which is ground coarsely, down with the plunger after a few moments sitting in the boiling water. The system works to filter the coffee and leave a superior-tasting product.
The Fully Automatic Espresso Machine This is what makes the drinks that you pay the money to buy in a cafe. Machines in some spots in Italy are over a hundred years old, and they're worth every penny because here you have something that grinds the beans, places the right amount of ground beans into the brewer, and then highly compressed water is pumped through. Amazing, and incredibly tasty. Much better than drip coffee, any day.
And of course, the at-home espresso maker produces styles of coffee drinks more similar to those in Italy than, say, your Mr. Coffee ever will.
Now that you understand the difference between espresso and drip coffee, you're ready to get out there and start trying some drinks. Remember your word roots, and don't be surprised if you forget to say "cafe" at the beginning of "cafe latte," that a gigantic cup of milk might show up. If so, just take it in stride and do better next time. - 26706
First up, here are some of the names of average drinks, but this time, instead of not understanding what they mean, you're going to learn what the heck the difference between an Americano and a Latte really is.
Caffe Latte Also referred to as Cafe au Lait, depending on where you're ordering your drink, this is one of the most popular styles of coffee worldwide, and is really just a fancy way of saying espresso with milk. A single shot of espresso is made with steamed milk, and then served with an extra inch of frothed milk (foam) on top.
Americano Americans are known for their version of coffee, which critics say is usually really watered down. But there's a variation that makes everyone happy, and combines styles of coffee to suit everyone's taste. With an Americano, one ounce of strong espresso is combined with some boiling water, usually a cup's worth. Voila. A short drink designed to be taken like a shot now is large enough to be sipped, with not so much added in between.
Cappuccino Probably the most popular drink that people order but have no idea what they're actually getting, the cappuccino is simply one third coffee, one third milk, and one third creamy and thick froth, from milk, too. Rather than being a pompous addition to spice up a simple coffee drink, it's named after the Capuchin, which is the white and brown hood that monks wear.
But half of what makes coffee is actually the style in which it's brewed, not the ingredients added for it to be served to you. Here are a couple of the processes that you might also not know what the heck their names mean:
The French Press This is also known as bodum, cafetiere, and the press pot. Sound confusing? It's a bunch of different names, not styles of coffee. Here, a glass container has a plunger attached, where you add near-boiling water, coffee, and then press the coffee, which is ground coarsely, down with the plunger after a few moments sitting in the boiling water. The system works to filter the coffee and leave a superior-tasting product.
The Fully Automatic Espresso Machine This is what makes the drinks that you pay the money to buy in a cafe. Machines in some spots in Italy are over a hundred years old, and they're worth every penny because here you have something that grinds the beans, places the right amount of ground beans into the brewer, and then highly compressed water is pumped through. Amazing, and incredibly tasty. Much better than drip coffee, any day.
And of course, the at-home espresso maker produces styles of coffee drinks more similar to those in Italy than, say, your Mr. Coffee ever will.
Now that you understand the difference between espresso and drip coffee, you're ready to get out there and start trying some drinks. Remember your word roots, and don't be surprised if you forget to say "cafe" at the beginning of "cafe latte," that a gigantic cup of milk might show up. If so, just take it in stride and do better next time. - 26706
About the Author:
Damian Papworth recently purchased a sparkling 2 cup coffee maker, he wrote about it on the One Cup Coffee Makers website.
