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What Kind of Drinks Can I Make?

A coffee specialty drink by any other name is still espresso. Nearly any caffeinated beverage you sip at the coffee shop or make at home has this one common ingredient, but by varying the ingredients you add to espresso you can produce a latte, cappuccino or your own unique beverage.

The information below will get you started on your coffee-brewing adventure by providing some of the most popular recipes for espresso-based drinks. Also feel free to be inventive and use these ideas to create coffee specialty drinks that fit your special occasion.

Most of us know that espresso is simply pressure-brewed coffee. However there is often confusion over what size an espresso drink should be. Generally speaking, a single shot of espresso is about 1 to 1.5 ounces, while a double shot measures 2 to 2.5 ounces. All shots of espresso should take about 20 to 25 seconds to brew. If you find that your shots pull too quickly, too slowly, or taste bitter refer to the Golden Rule for some trouble-shooting guides.

There are also those coffee connoisseurs who like to vary the size of their shots, brewing a smaller shot known as the Ristretto, or a larger shot called the Lungo.

-The Ristretto or the “little one” is the smallest shot of espresso due to the restricted water flow. The Ristretto will be about 0.75 to 1 ounce.

-The Lungo 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 shot.

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

The basic difference between these two espresso-based drinks is the type of milk used. A cappuccino has frothed and steamed milk, whereas the latte contains steamed milk only. A variety of flavorings can also be added to a cappuccino or a latte. (See our Monin syrups for some tasty ideas.) The recipes for these two drinks are shown below:

VARIATIONS:

-A Dry Cappuccino is a double shot of espresso with little or no steamed milk, but frothed milk on top.

-A Wet Cappuccino is a double shot of espresso with more steamed milk than frothed milk.

Espresso With A Twist

You can also use your espresso machine to make Café Americano and Café Crema.

-Café Americano is a single shot of espresso with 6 to 8 ounces of hot water added to it. It is a little sweeter tasting because hot water is added to the shot, not run through the coffee grounds. Although more water is used to make Café Americano this process still produces a full-bodied cup of coffee.

-Café Crema is a single shot, but it is a long pull. Instead of pulling 1.5 ounces of water through coarsely ground espresso you pull 6 to 8 ounces.

Other Specialty Drinks

Shopping List: 1. Malabar Gold Espresso 2. Bodum Passione Cups 3. Frothing Pitcher

Shopping List: 1. Lavazza Gold Selection Espresso 2. Irish Coffee Mugs 3. Frothing Pitcher 4. Spoons

Shopping List: 1. Java Joe’s Espresso Adoration 2. Bodum Assam Glass Cups 3. Monin Syrup For more summer drink ideas see the “Drinks for Summer” article on our website.

Shopping List: 1. Lavazza Super Crema Espresso 2. Rainbow Cappuccino Cup Set 3. Frothing Pitcher 4. Brew Pitcher

VARIATIONS:

For a low fat version you can use our Monin O’Free syrups, which add extra flavoring but no fat, carbs or calories. You can also substitute the whipped cream with frothed, skim milk, and instead of steaming the entire six ounces of milk you could steam three ounces, and froth the other three ounces.

Be Creative With Drip Coffee

There are also some different coffee drinks you can create by using your traditional drip coffee machine.

Shopping List: 1. J. Martinez Tanzania Peaberry 2. Bodum Porcelain Mug 3. FrothXpress Milk Frother

Shopping List: 1. Illy Whole Bean Espresso 2. Illy Drip Coffee 3. 2oz Shot Glass 4. Hole in One Cups

Do not limit yourself to these basic recipes. These can be used as a springboard to help you create other tasty coffee drinks. You just simply adjust the amount of espresso, steamed milk, frothed milk or syrup. Also take a look at our selection of Monin syrups and our Monin Recipe Explorer for help in choosing flavored syrups to suit your taste. Feel free to experiment and have fun coming up with an original name for your caffeinated concoction.