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Have you ever stood in line at your local coffee shop and listened to what people order? If you are new to the coffee world, it sounds like a foreign language. Even if you are becoming a Barista you may find a number of different drinks a bit daunting. The easy thing to remember is this: they are all espresso-based drinks. The harder part is learning the names and variations to each drink. To get the true taste of the drink you will want to stick to the proportions mentioned. When it comes to espresso and specialty coffee drinks, bigger is not always better.

Espresso Drinks:

Most of us know that espresso is simply pressure brewed coffee. The area that gets confusing is what size the drinks should be. Generally speaking, a single shot of espresso is about 1 to 1.5 ounces. A double, then, would be about 2 to 2.5 ounces. A less familiar shot is called the Ristretto or the “little one”. This is the smallest shot of espresso in the family due to the restricted water flow. The Ristretto will be about 0.75 to 1 ounce. The opposite of the Ristretto is the Lungo. This drink is a long pull, meaning that about twice the amount of water is pulled through. Instead of having a 2 to 2.5 ounce double shot you would have a 5 to 6 ounce double shot. Shots of espresso should take about 20 to 25 seconds. If you find that your shots pull too quickly, too slowly, or taste bitter refer to the Golden Rule for some tips.

Just Give Me A Cup o’ Joe!

Sometimes you just want a cup of coffee. There are two different kinds you can make with an espresso machine: Café Americano or Café Crema. The Café Americano is a single shot of espresso with 6 to 8 ounces of hot water added to it. The Café Crema is also a single shot, but it is a long pull. So, instead of pulling 1.5 ounces of water through the ground coffee you pull 6 to 8 ounces. The Café Americano is a little sweeter tasting because hot water is added to the shot, not ran through the coffee grounds.

If you have your drip coffee machine handy you can make a Hammerhead. You need a single shot of espresso in your coffee cup. Then you fill the rest of the cup with drip coffee. Many people have enjoyed and highly recommend this drink. I haven’t tried it yet, but it does sound interesting.

So, What’s The Difference Between A Cappuccino And A Latte?

Now that we have gone through most of the espresso only drinks it is time to talk about espresso based drinks like cappuccinos and café lattes. The basic difference between these two drinks is that the cappuccino has frothed and steamed milk, whereas the café latte has steamed milk only. Here are some recipes:

Cappuccino:
2 to 2.5 ounces espresso (double shot)
Total 6 ounces milk: half frothed half steamed

A cappuccino has three equal parts of espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk. The espresso is put in the cup, then the steamed milk, then the frothed milk goes on top.

A Dry Cappuccino is a double shot of espresso with little or no steamed milk and frothed milk on top. A Wet Cappuccino is a double shot of espresso with more steamed milk than frothed milk. To “spice” up your cappuccino you can add flavorings like chocolate, hazelnut, or vanilla syrup.

Café Latte:
2 to 2.5 ounces espresso (double shot)
6 ounces milk, steamed

A café latte has no frothed milk, just velvety smooth steamed milk. It is more creamy than a cappuccino. Flavorings can be added.

Café au Lait:
2 to 2.5 ounces DRIP coffee
6 ounces milk, steamed

The Café au Lait is a different sort of specialty coffee drink. The drip coffee goes in the cup and then the steamed milk is added.

Café Macchiato:
2 to 2.5 ounces espresso (double shot)
Dollop of frothed milk

This drink is served in a smaller cup because it is just a shot of espresso with a small amount of frothed milk spooned on top. The ratio of espresso to milk is usually 80:20.

Café Breva:
2 to 2.5 ounces espresso (double shot)
6 ounces half and half-half steamed, half frothed

This is going to look like a Cappuccino. The difference is that half and half is used instead of milk for the frothed and steamed milk. Just a note, it takes practice to get a good froth with half and half but it can be done. Just like the cappuccino, flavorings can be added.

Here are some variations to try:

Café Mocha:
2 to 2.5 ounces espresso (double shot)
6 ounces steamed
.5 ounce chocolate syrup
Whipped cream (optional)
Chocolate sprinkles (optional)

In the cup put the syrup, the espresso, and the steamed milk. Top it off with a little whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. You can always adjust the amount of syrup used to your taste. For a low fat version substitute the whipped cream with frothed milk. Instead of steaming the six ounces of milk you steam half and froth half.

Fruity Iced Latte:
2 to 2.5 ounces espresso (double shot)
3 ounces fruit flavored syrup
Cold milk
Ice

First fill up a 12 ounce glass with ice. Then add in the espresso, syrup, and cold milk. This is a great alternative to hot drinks for summer time. See the “Drinks for Summer” article.

These are just a few different basic drink recipes. Don’t be afraid to experiment by simply adjusting the amount of espresso, steamed milk, frothed milk, or syrup. It’s all about taste!

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