If you’re a basic bitch like me, who loves to discover the trendy coffee shops tucked away in the nooks and crannies of town, it’s an absolute necessity to know your coffees. Whether you know it or not, there is a brilliant barista behind every cup of joe you order, meticulously hand-crafting your beverage to perfection in hopes that you may enjoy your coffee in full. While these coffee artists are experts in this field, it’s helpful to become familiar with the basics yourself so you know exactly what you’re ordering!
Basics:
Some basic terminology.
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Espresso: Strong black coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee beans. Some also call this a “short black."
Crema: Little bubbles that form naturally at the top of an espresso shot.
Steamed milk: Milk heated with a steam wand, creating warm milk that might have a little foam on top.
Foamed milk: Milk heated with a steam wand with air injected into it, creating a frothier, bubblier texture. Typically seen on the top of your coffee drinks.
Classics:
Everyday orders you’ll see almost everywhere.
1. Doppio
A double shot of espresso to really give you an extra pick-me-up for your day.
2. Americano
A shot of espresso with hot water added to it. This is commonly known as your regular black coffee.
3. Long Black
Two shots of espresso added to hot water. Similar to the Americano, but the contents are added in a reverse order. This creates more crema present on top than Americanos.
4. Cappuccino
A shot of espresso with equivalent portions of steamed milk and foamed milk added in that order. You’ll generally see cappuccinos with foam art on top.
5. Latte
A shot of espresso layered with a larger portion of steamed milk and a little bit of foamed milk on top. The greater presence of steamed milk gives the latte a creamier texture than the cappuccino. Foam art is typically also present.
6. Flat White
A shot of espresso with a large portion of steamed milk added. Flat Whites tend to be more bitter than cappuccinos and lattes, and also seem stronger.
7. Caramel Macchiato
A shot of espresso drizzled with caramel syrup, steamed milk and a top layer of foamed milk. Typically, other flavored macchiatos are made the same way, obviously with another syrup flavor. These macchiatos tend to be fairly sweet, as most places drench the drink with syrup.
8. Espresso Macchiato
A shot of espresso with a little layer of milk foam on top.
Don’t expect these guys to come in the same size as flavored macchiatos. These
typically come in really tiny portions, considering all you’re drinking is
basically an espresso shot.
9. Latte Macchiato
A large portion of steamed milk mixed with a shot of espresso and a little foamed milk on top. This is essentially one of the flavored macchiatos without any syrup.
10. Mocha
For chocolate lovers! Chocolate syrup is first drizzled on the bottom, an espresso shot is added, then a layer of steamed milk and whipped cream on top. Mochas also tend to be sweeter than most other coffee drinks because of the syrup and whipped cream. Mmmm.
