If you are anything like myself the best part of your day is that first coffee in the morning. I usually prefer a morning latte but sometimes go for an Americano or in the summer I like to make an iced latte if its really hot outside. My day is not complete without that first espresso based drink to give it a kick start.
What are the different Espresso Types of Coffee?
Espressos are rich coffee drinks that are stronger than regular coffee. It only takes a few sips to finish off an espresso, but the experience lingers for hours. You do not have to go to a coffee shop to get an espresso beverage. Brewing the perfect espresso for yourself takes practice and skill, but once you have the basics, you can branch out to make different types of espresso-based beverages with your espresso machine.
1) Americano
1) AmericanoThe Americano is a rich, full-bodied espresso with hot water poured over the top.
This drink is the European way of making an American-style coffee. The extra hot water gives you more volume than a shot of espresso and is similar to an American cup of coffee. However, you still get the subtle nuances and depth of pulling a fresh shot of espresso.
2) Café Breva
2) Café BrevaThis American variant of the latté is a very rich treat.
Whereas a latté uses milk, the café breva uses steamed and frothed half-and-half.
After you brew an espresso, pour some of the steamed half-and-half into the cup, and then top it with the foam.
3) Cappuccino
3) CappuccinoWhat is a Cappuccino?
A cappuccino is an espresso drink topped with foamed milk. It is very similar to a latte, except that it is dry (more foam). To create the dry foam, the milk is frothed, and then left to sit for a minute as the foam rises to the top. That milk foam is then scooped onto the drink to produce a layer or mound.
The perfect cappuccino has a balanced ratio of light and airy foam to espresso. It uses less milk than a latté to give you a stronger espresso flavor.
One of the most important parts of making a cappuccino is frothing the milk. In Italy, the cappuccino is more of a breakfast drink.
Making a Cappuccino:
- Extract espresso shots into a cup
- Froth and texturize milk, creating more milk foam than you would for a latte
- Let the milk sit for a minute to allow the foam to rise to the top
- Pour the steamed milk into the espresso
- Spoon the dry foam onto the drink and enjoy
Did you know? – In Italy the cappuccino is seen as a morning drink and is rarely drunk after 11am.
4) Macchiato
4) MacchiatoThe macchiato is a multilayered beverage of rich espresso, steamed milk, dense foam and a sweet drizzle.
Steam the milk to bring out its natural sweetness, and top it with a dense layer of foam. Pour a single or double shot of espresso over the foam, and drizzle your favorite syrup over the top.
Take a look at our guide to Macchiato coffee for interesting facts and information from how to make it, to where the name comes from!
5) Latte Macchiato
What is a Latte Macchiato?
A latte macchiato (Italian pronunciation: [ˈlatte makˈkjaːto]) is an espresso drink in which espresso is carefully poured on top of steamed milk. The reverse (steamed milk added on top of espresso) is a regular latte.
The other difference between a latte and a latte macchiato is that the frothed milk is usually made to have dry (more foam) than a traditional latte which is more wet (steamed milk). Flavored syrups or simple syrup (sugar water) can be added to flavor or sweeten the drink.
The words “latte macchiato” mean stained milk as the espresso leaves a small mark on the milk as it is poured into the drink.
Did you know? – Macchiato means stained.
Making a Latte Macchiato:
- Pour frothed milk into a cup (optionally with sugar or flavoring added), leaving a little room at the top for espresso shots
- Gently pour the espresso shots on top of the milk so that the espresso runs through creating a layer on the bottom
6) Latté
6) Latté
A latté is an original café drink that is made up of espresso, steamed milk and foam.
You simply make a shot or two of espresso, and pour steamed milk over the top before adding a layer of foam. Drizzling your favorite flavor of syrup on top is optional.
Caramel is a great complement to the base of espresso and steamed milk.
7) Café Latté
What is a Café Latte?
A café latte is an espresso drink in which steamed milk is added to espresso shots in a cup. The order is important, as the reverse (espresso added on top of steamed milk) is known as a latte macchiato.
Flavored syrups or simple syrup (sugar water) can be added to flavor or sweeten the drink. Latte art is made by pouring the steamed milk in a manner that creates beautiful shapes and patterns.
Making a Café Latte:
- Pour espresso shots into a cup
- Froth and texturize milk (optionally with sugar or flavoring added)
- Pour the steamed milk into the espresso and enjoy
8) Iced Latté
What is an Iced Latte?
The iced latte (sometimes known simply as an iced coffee) is a cool, refreshing espresso drink. It’s also really easy to make. Iced lattes can be flavored and/or sweetened any way you like. It is made by pouring milk and espresso shots over ice.
Making an Iced Latte:
- Fill a tall glass with ice
- Pour cold milk into the glass, about half way up (It’s important that you have milk in the glass before adding the espresso)
- Add pumps of flavor syrup or sugar (~2 pumps per 6 ounces)
- Extract 2 shots of Espresso
- Pour the espresso shots into the glass
- Add more milk, ice, and stir
Did you know? – Increasingly common in the United States and Europe, latte art has led to the stylization of coffee making, and the creation of what is now a popular art form. Created by pouring steaming, and mostly frothed, milk into the coffee, that liquid is introduced into the beverage in such a way, patterns are distinguishable on the top of coffee. Popular patterns can include hearts, flowers, trees and other forms of simplistic representations of images and objects.
9) Espresso Con Panna
The name of this drink means “espresso with cream” in Italian, and this drink is just that. All you have to do is add a table spoon of whipped cream to your espresso. The whipped cream softens the rich, bold flavor of the espresso, making an espresso con panna good for friends who are not ready for a straight espresso.
10) Frappé
A Greek creation, the frappé is a foam-covered iced beverage that was invented by accident in Thessaloniki in 1957. Popular among youths and tourists to Greece, you can shake, blend or beat a frappé before or after you add ice. You can add whatever milk, sweet syrups and sugar that you prefer as well. Top the cold drink with whipped cream.
11) Mocha
A mocha is a decadent treat that involves melting bittersweet chocolate with a hot single or double shot of espresso and then mixing it with steamed milk. Some baristas pour the espresso and chocolate mixture over a sweet mocha sauce before topping it with sweetened whipped cream. The name for this beverage comes from the port of Mocha, Yemen, which was once a major coffee trade center and popular for its chocolaty-tasting beans.
12) Café Mocha
What is a Café Mocha?
A café mocha is an espresso drink originating in America that adds chocolate to a traditional café latte. Cocoa powder or chocolate syrup is added to espresso and steamed milk and are often topped either with milk foam or whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.
Making a Café Mocha
- Pour espresso shots into a cup
- Froth and texturize milk with sugar and cocoa powder or chocolate syrup in the milk
- Pour the steamed chocolate milk into the espresso
- Top with milk foam or whipped cream
- Sprinkle with cocoa powder and enjoy
13) Shot in the Dark
The shot in the dark adds two shots of espresso to a regular cup of American coffee. It is best to use premium, fresh ground coffee beans for your coffee. This is one of the most straightforward espresso-based beverages you can make. It is also referred to as a black eye, hammerhead or depth charge, among other names.
14) Flat White
This Australian-created espresso beverage is stronger but smaller than a latté, café au lait or cappuccino. Due to its size, it has a higher coffee-to-milk proportion. All you have to do is pour steamed whole milk over a double espresso, and top it with an artful swirl of little to no foam.