All espresso drinks into 2 categories: black coffee and milk coffee. In black coffee, we will talk about single espresso, double espresso, Americano, lungo, and filter coffee.
In milk coffee, we will talk about macchiato, cortado or piccolo, flat white, cappuccino, and caffe latte. The names vary a lot around the world, and recipes are not set in stone, but this overview should be a good starting point for you. Alright, so today we’ll be talking about coffee. Most of the coffee that is made on this machine is from an espresso machine.
Single Espresso
We’ll start perhaps with the basic, but the most important one—that’s espresso. Single espresso, single shot, or just an espresso is served in a small cup, and as you can see, there are actually 2 espresso shots being produced at a time, each from one spout. The volume is usually around 20 to 30 milliliters or grams because we prefer to weigh coffee. In our case, it’s 21 grams. It’s a very intense, concentrated beverage with a rich taste and smooth structure. Before you drink it, it’s good to stir it so all the layers mix before you taste it.
Double Espresso:
If you want to drink a little more coffee but with the same intensity, just order a double espresso or espresso doppio. It’s the same recipe, the only difference is that the barista uses a bigger cup, usually the one for cappuccino, to capture espresso shots from both spouts. The benefit is that the price is usually better than if you ordered 2 single espressos.
American
An Americano is basically a diluted espresso for those who prefer less intense coffee. You can expect it to be served in a cappuccino cup, the bar is filled with around 100 to 100 ml of water, and then an espresso shot is pulled. Coffee remains the flavor characteristic of espresso, but the intensity is milder.
Longer Espresso
Lungo is a longer espresso, which you can produce by adjusting the grinder and running a longer shot. It’s usually 30 to 40 grams or a standard shot, but some people add extra hot water next to a regular espresso that the customer dilutes to their preferred taste.
Filter Coffee
The last black coffee alternative is filter coffee or drip brew. It doesn’t really fit this topic since it doesn’t come from an espresso machine, but it’s a fine option for someone who wants to drink a big cup of black coffee. The flavor is usually more refined, less intense, and also develops as the coffee cools down.
So now we’ve talked about most of the espresso drinks that are actually black coffee, which you combine only with hot water or drink straight away as it comes from the machine. But I think in most coffee shops, including Baeshiqa, most orders go for milk coffees.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is arguably the most popular coffee drink in the world. It consists of a single shot of espresso and foamed milk. The ratio between these two varies from café to café and depends on the cups of their choice. Usually, cups are around 150 to 200 ml, which creates a nice balance between coffee and milk. Later, the skills of the barista, the precision of their steaming technique, and also how the drink is served can make your day a little bit better.
Macchiato
If you want to taste more coffee, your option is espresso macchiato. It’s served in a small espresso cup where you mix a single shot of espresso with just a little bit of foamed milk. The ratio is usually between 1:1 and 1:2.
Cortado
Cortado, sometimes also called piccolo, is a small milk espresso drink often served in a glass cup. It mixes a single shot of espresso with foamed milk in 100 to 120 ml cups.
Flat White
A very popular espresso milk drink coming from Australia and New Zealand is called flat white. It mixes a double shot of espresso with foamed milk in a cup for cappuccino or even smaller. Flat white gives you a bigger hit from double espresso and also more coffee flavor.
Café Latte
If you want to drink more milk and less coffee, your option is café latte. It’s served in relatively big cups, around 300 milliliters, and mixes a single shot of espresso with foamed milk.
So now we’ve gone through all the espresso-based drinks you can order in a coffee shop.
Summarize Them 10
Summary:
- Espresso is an intense short coffee served in a small espresso cup. In specialty coffee shops, you can expect between 20 to 25 grams per espresso shot.
- Double espresso is basically 2 espressos served in 1 bigger cup. You should know that some coffee shops serve only double espresso.
- Americano is espresso diluted with hot water and served in a bigger cup.
- Lungo is a longer and less intense espresso, often served with hot water on the side so you can dilute it to your preferred taste.
- Filter coffee is a black coffee alternative that is not based on espresso; rather, you brew it by hand or with a batch brewer.
- Espresso macchiato is the smallest milk espresso drink served in an espresso cup. The coffee-to-milk ratio is around 1:2.
- Cortado is a single espresso with warm milk, often served in a glass cup. The coffee-to-milk ratio is around 1:4.
- Flat white is a double espresso with foamed milk. The coffee-to-milk ratio is similar to cortado, around 1:4, but you get more caffeine and a bigger drink.
- Cappuccino is a single espresso with foamed milk. The coffee-to-milk ratio is around 1:6 or 1:7.
- Caffè latte is a single espresso with whole milk served in a big cup. The coffee-to-milk ratio is around 1:14.
Now that you know the basics, do you wonder what’s the most popular coffee drink at Vacherka?
Based on all the orders this year, 32% went to black coffee, and 68% went to milk coffee. The most popular black coffee wasn’t espresso but a batch brew with 16%. It was followed by espresso with just over 7%, and Americano and doppio got around 4% each. When it comes to milk coffees, the clear winner is cappuccino with over 37%, which is actually more than all black coffees combined. It is followed by flat white with 16% and café latte with 11%. Both cortado and macchiato got between 1% to 2%.
I am Sabiq Rasel is an Entrepreneur and broadcaster. I believe that every sip of coffee holds the potential for a moment of inspiration, creativity, and every cup tells a story.
