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The coffee guide

4th April 2020 Coffee

Know your Lattes from you Cappuccinos and a Flat White from an Americano…

Ever heard someone’s coffee order and wondered what it was they were actually asking for? There are so many variations of drinks, coffee beans, milks that it can be a bit of a minefield. Learn the difference between basic coffees with this helpful guide.

ESPRESSO

Originating in Milan, Italy circa 1900, this is a very dark, bitter Italian coffee. Often mispronounced expresso, the name espresso comes from the Italian meaning ‘pressed out’, referring to the process of pushing the freshly, fine-ground bean essence through a special machine using steam and water. This process creates a highly concentrated brew with a thin layer of creamy, dark beige froth on the coffee’s surface. Since it is highly concentrated, espresso contains more caffeine, by volume, than regular coffee. People looking for a boost of energy often refer to drinking a ‘shot’ of it for a pick me up.

Espresso is a coffee-making method where a small amount of nearly boiling water (87- 94˚C) is forced under pressure through finely- ground coffee beans. Espresso can be made with a wide variety of coffee beans and roasts and is enjoyed without milk.

This is the foundation of all of the coffees and the simplest to make. One shot of espresso coffee for a single espresso or two shots for a double espresso.

Main ingredients: Espresso
Place of Origin: Italy
Serving temperature: Hot

AMERICANO

Café Americano is prepared by diluting an espresso with hot water, giving it a similar strength to traditionally brewed coffee but with a different flavour. The strength of an Americano can be varied with the number of shots of espresso and the amount of water added. This drink can be enjoyed black or with either hot or cold milk served on the side.

Main ingredients: Espresso, Hot water
Place of origin: United States
Serving temperature: Hot

FLAT WHITE

A flat white is a coffee consisting of espresso with micro foam. It is comparable to a latte, but smaller in volume and with less micro foam, therefore having a higher proportion of coffee to milk

Main ingredients: Espresso, Steamed milk foam
Place of origin: New Zealand
Serving temperature: Hot

LATTE

Caffe Latte is a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. The word comes from the Italian ‘cafe e latte’ which translates to coffee and milk.

Main ingredient: Espresso, Milk
Place of origin: Italy
Serving temperature: Hot or iced

CAPPUCCINO

A Cappuccino is an espresso-based coffee that originated in Italy. It is traditionally prepared with steamed milk foam and finished with a dusting of chocolate powder.

Main ingredient: Double espresso, Steamed milk foam, Hot milk
Place of origin: Italy
Serving temperature: Hot or iced

MOCHA

The Mocha coffee beans were named after the port of Mocha (AL MOKHA) in Yemen, where the beans were shipped from. This makes mocha, perhaps, an inaccurate name, as it would be less confusing and more accurate to called them Yemen coffee beans. A Mocha is made with one of two shots of espresso topped with hot chocolate that has been made with cocoa powder and textured milk.

Main ingredient: Espresso, Cocoa Powder, Milk
Place of origin: Yemen
Serving temperature: Hot

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