Coffee: A Guide to Espresso Based Coffees

Time was when coffee came in relatively few forms, with the choice of instant, filter and perhaps a Cappuccino at best. Times have moved on however, most modern coffee bars and coffee shops offer a wide array of coffee based drinks most focusing on an based espresso blend.

What is Espresso?

Espresso is essentially a concentrated form of coffee. Whilst a standard brewed coffee is made by allowing ground coffee beans to brew in a quantity of hot water over time. Espresso on the other hand, sees boiling water forced through a blend of extremely finely ground coffee beans at high pressure.

There is no specific bean or roast used to produce an espresso however, espresso blends typically use a strong flavoured bean and roasting is usually carried out to achieve a dark colour.

Espresso can be drank on its own as a shot however, the strong nature of the drink is off putting to many and such a short drink lacks the usual social benefits of spending time over a long drink. As such, espresso has become a popular base for other coffee based drinks.

Coffees: A guide to Espresso Based Coffee

If going into a coffee house today, the vast majority of the menu will be made up of espresso based coffee. Here are five of the most popular varieties:

• Americano – This is most basic espresso based coffee and simply consists of a number of shots of espresso added to hot water. An Americano may be served black or white.
• Cappuccino – One of the most popular and traditional espresso based coffees. A cappuccino is an espresso with hot milk and toped off with a steamed milk froth. Cappuccinos are typically powdered with a chocolate powder for decoration.
• Latte – Literally coffee and milk. A Latte is made from espresso to which steamed milk is added. Despite having the espresso caffeine “kick”, the latte is mild drink and often appreciated by those who do not appreciate the strong flavour of coffee.
• Macchiato – Very similar to a latte, in fact the macchiato is a latte made in reverse. The word its self is derived from the Italian for “stained milk”. The macchiato is made by the addition of an espresso to a vessel of steamed milk.
• Mocha – Mocha is an entirely American invention and may be seen as a chocolate version of the latte. Typical recipes use espresso, steamed milk and the addition of chocolate in some form. Think of the Mocha as a hot chocolate with a shot of coffee added.