The Most Popular Espresso Drinks - A Beginner's Guide

An espresso drink is a special coffee drink that contains the possibility of having one or more shots espresso that are "pulled" from the espresso machine.

The most well-known espresso drinks include the Cappuccino, Latte (Caffe Latte) and Mocha (Caffe Mocha), however there are many others and everybody has their own personal favorite.

We've created a list that includes some of the most popular kinds of espresso drinks. You can choose from the classic latte , the sophisticated macchiato, and even the espresso cocktail. It's possible that you need to refresh your knowledge regarding the various types of coffee drinks. If you're trying to make these at home then click on the recipe below to learn more. They are part of the Barista Series, where you can learn how to make top-quality coffee right at home. Are you ready to begin drinking?

Espresso

Let's start by introducing espresso, the principal ingredient in each drink below. Espresso is the process for brewing coffee. It's a method for making coffee where a small quantity of boiling water is pushed through finely ground coffee under pressure.

To prepare for making coffee, the coffee is grinded into a portafilter basket which is then tamped to form an elongated "puck," and secured in the espresso maker. The machine engages and delivers water at a highly stable temperature through a mechanical pump. The space above the flat espresso puck will be filled with water, and the espresso machine applies 9 bars of pressure to force water through the coffee.

At its core, the perfect shot of espresso is meant to be consumed on its own. The flavor? The flavor? Besides being strong, a shot of espresso will have a distinct and balanced taste profile underneath that glossy crema on the top.

Espresso is served in small cups named demitasses, which holds around 2 -3 fluid ounces, the volume of a double, or a triple espresso shot. The best espresso cups are made from porcelain, or double wall tempered glass. However, double wall tempered glass is a great alternative, that gains more and more popularity.

Cappuccino

A cappuccino is an espresso drink that is made with steamed milk, foamy milk and espresso. Although it's similar to a caffe latte (cafe-latte) but the ratio of steaming milk in a cappuccino is different. Here's the comparison between an espresso and a latte.

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

A latte is 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steaming milk, and then a layer of foam over it. Here's a chart that breaks it down!

The distinctions between these two drinks are pretty subtle, as 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.

Latte

A latte can be described as a coffee drink consisting of espresso, steamed or steamed milk and a layer foam. The latte is made up of 1/3 espresso and 1/3 steamed milk. Additionally, there is the thin layer of foam that is on the top.

The latte you choose should be made with a specific type of foam. You want the milk to reach the point of having a "wet-paint" like texture which baristas refers to as microfoam. It can be difficult to achieve this texture without a steamer. We'll show how to do it using different tools that you might have.

Latte is served in wide cups, which give the barista more space to create the latte art. The wide cup also mitigates the issue with the foamed milk, which is not desirable when creating latte art. The best latte cups for home baristas are made from thick porcelain, or double walled borosilicate glass.

Flat White

A flat white is a drink made with espresso, steam milk and a layer of foam on top. It is similar to cappuccino or latte, however it has a thinner layer over it. Modern coffee shops have very minor differences between these three drinks of coffee in which the lines blur. The major differences between flat white and latte include:

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

Medium-frothy Latte, with 3/8 inch of microfoam on top. The milk that is steamed is stretched 25-35percent.

Cappuccino should be frothy, however, it should not be foamy. It should have approximately 1/2 inch of microfoam the top. The steamed milk is stretched the greatest of all three, with approximately 30-50%..

Americano

An Americano is also known as Caffe Americano, also known as Caffe Americano, is an espresso drink made from hot espresso and hot water. The drink can be made with one or two shots of espresso, as well as varying amounts of water. Diluting the strong dark espresso roast will bring the taste closer to drip coffee which might be where the name originated! While it's unclear what the origins of the word are, it is believed to have been created during the 1970s. The coffee's strength is closer than the strength of drip coffees.

Does an Americano include milk? Never. A true Americano does not include milk like a latte, cappuccino, or macchiato. Although you can add milk, it's not the original flavor of this drink.

Espresso Macchiato

Espresso macchiato or caffe macchiato, is a shot that is made using espresso and served with frothed cream. The term "macchiato" is the word that means "stained" in Italian which means that espresso that is dark is colored due to the foam of milk placed on top. Some sources say the macchiato was created in order to enjoy espresso until the end of the day.

The other macchiato is known as a latte macchiato. A latte macchiato comprises steamed milk stained with a little espresso.

Mocha Latte

A mocha or mocha latte drink is made of espresso and steamed milk that is flavoured with chocolate syrup. There's lots of variation in what constitutes a "mocha": it's up to the barista! This drink can be made with various levels of espresso shots, a variety of milk that has been steamed, and amounts of chocolate syrup. The mocha gained popularity through Starbucks culture starting in the 1980s in America.

Red Eye Coffee

Red eye coffee is a mix of drip coffee with two shots espresso. This is likely to refer to a flight called "red eye," which is an overnight flight with an airline that causes passengers to have tired eyes.

There are several variations to the name of this drink that refer to the quantity of espresso shots. The red eye is 1 shot and black eye has 2 shots as well as dead eye, which is green eye is three shots. If you order at a cafe it is possible to order "red eye coffee" with the option of specifying how many espresso shots want. The coffee is comprised of drip coffee, one to three espresso shots, based on the desired strength.