Espresso Beverages Basic Guide

Do you want to learn the basics of espresso beverages? If so, read carefully... You will learn how espresso, cappuccino, cafe latte, americano, cafe mocha, latte macchiato and other popular espresso beverages differ from each other.

Espresso is for strong coffee afficianados. Espresso is a highly dense coffee that tastes really favorable to those who enjoy their coffee dark and accented. It is also the essential element to every espresso beverages.

High quality coffee beans that are recently ground at home is the best alternative to prepare an Espresso. Now if you don't have a coffee grinder in your kitchen, you'll find it easy to search ground coffee in respected cafe shops and supermarkets.

Espresso is best brewed with an espresso machine. So if you really long to try out your barista skill at home, get a good espresso machine for yourself. Now if you do have an espresso machine, this is the way to make a delicious espresso.

Be sure that the coffee ground is not too crude or too fine. The former choice makes a weak espresso whereas the latter makes a bitter espresso.

Place the ground coffee inside the machine’s filter. The amount of ground coffee depends on the type of shot. The difference between a single shot and double shot is only their quantity.
- Single shot : 7 to 10 grams
- Double shot : 12 to 18 grams

Tamp the ground coffee inside the portafilter firm to guarantee a full extraction of the flavour. Insert the portafilter into the espresso machine’s head and set the amount of water for brewing:
- Single shot : 1 ounce
- Double shot : 2 ounces

Start the brewing process. The ideal espresso brewing time is 21 second. If you are using clear glasses, you will notice that the properly brewed espresso is comprised of 3 parts; the heart (dark at the bottom), the body (golden brown at the middle) and the crema (cream layer at the top).

Now that your espresso is ready, drink it like a proud Italian or use it to prepare an espresso beverage which we will review soon.

Frothed milk is another essential ingredient that is used to make coffee with milk. A well done frothed milk will make the taste of the milky beverage a more pleasant one.

To make a frothed milk, start by purging the water from the espresso machine's steam wand to make sure that you will not get all the water inside your milk later.

Pour very cold milk into a steel steaming pitcher until it is about 1/3 full. Place a thermometer inside the milk so you will know when it is ready.

Sink in the tip of the wand. The wand should be off center and slightly horizontal; about 45° of the milk’s surface.

Quickly bring it to the surface as soon as you sink in the wand. Surf the tip of the wand just below the milk’s surface. The milk should be flowing in a rapid, circular motion inside the pitcher and there should be a hissing sound. You will have to slowly lower the pitcher to maintain the hissing sound. Avoid letting the tip of the wand comes out from the milk’s surface as it will splatter and create big bubbles.

As soon as the temperature rise to 100°F, sink the wand deep into the milk. Maintain the position of the wand to make sure that the milk is rotating. It is ready when the temperature hits 145°F. Turn off the valve.

If you have a few large bubbles, tap the bottom of the pitcher lightly on the counter to release them. The perfect frothed milk should be velvety smooth in texture and not a collection of tasteless big bubbles.

Steamed milk = frothed milk without the froth.

Just hold the froth with a spoon as you pour the milk into the cup.

Americano is a light black coffee that is made of equal parts of espresso  and hot water.

Simply pour in a double shot of espresso and 2 ounces of hot water in a cup.

A Latte is a coffee drink with milk and it has a thin layer of frothed milk on the top.

To make the perfect cup of Latte, place a single shot of espresso in a cup.

Pour in 2 ounces of steamed milk.

And place a thin layer of froth on top of the drink.

For a variation of taste, add in flavorings such as vanilla syrup or caramel.

Cappuccino is made of equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk.

Begin with a single shot of espresso in a big cup.

Pour in 1 ounce of steamed milk.

Top the drink with the froth. Make sure that it is 1/3 of the drink.

Sprinkle some cinnamon powder or cocoa powder on top of the frothed milk.

A Cafe Mocha has the mixture taste of coffee and chocolate.

Start with 1/2 ounce of chocolate syrup and a double shot of espresso.

Pour in 6 ounces of steamed milk and top it off with some whipped cream and cocoa powder.

Macchiato means marked. A Latte Macchiato means milk that is marked with espresso. The ratio of frothed milk to espresso should be 4:1.

To make the drink, start with 4 ounces of frothed milk in a glass.

Add in a single shot of espresso to the milk.

For a variation of taste, add in flavorings such as vanilla syrup or caramel.

Espresso Macchiato is also known as Cafe Macchiato. Macchiato means marked. An Espresso Macchiato means an espresso  that is marked with frothed milk.

Start with a double shot of espresso in a demitasse cup.

And add a dollop of frothed milk to the cup. The ratio of espresso to frothed milk should be 4:1.

Add sugar to suit your taste.

This is an espresso  drinked with whipped cream.

Start with a double shot of espresso in a small cup and add a dollop of whipped cream to the cup. The ratio of espresso to whipped cream should be 4:1.

Affogato is an espresso  served with ice cream.

Start by placing a single scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass. Pour a single shot of espresso on the ice cream.

It should be served immediately.