Americano and Long Black

The drink " Americano" comes from when American G. I.s in WW II would order their espresso with water because it was too strong. 

When preparing an Americano, you always pour the hot water on top of the espresso in the glass. If you are instead pouring espresso over hot water you are making a different drink, commonly referred to as a Long Black. 

What is a Mocha?

A Cafe Mocha is an espresso drink that contains the same basic components as a Latte (milk & espresso). Chocolate is the ingredient that makes the mocha distinct among all espresso drinks. The type of chocolate used will depend on the coffee house. I would recommend a dark chocolate mocha that is light on the chocolate because it pairs well next to some of the more bitter notes in the coffee while highlighting the sweetness. Whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate on top is optional.

What is a Latte?

A Cafe Latte is comprised of milk and espresso(* which are the basic building blocks to every espresso drink.)

2 things, amongst others, that will make or break a Latte are:

1. The Quality of the Espresso

The quality of the beans themselves is no doubt a huge factor but equally as important as how they are pulled. It is very important to note that if an espresso shot is pulled too long or too short it will negatively effect the flavor of the Cafe Latte.

2. The Steamed Milk

The most obvious clue that your latte was made by an inexperience barista is huge bubbles in your latte. A cafe latte, or any other espresso drinks, should contain micro film/ bubbles. These will enhance the flavor of your drink by adding sweetness. The type of milk used is also a huge factor. In my opinion, full cream milk does the best job of accentuating the flavor of the espresso and makes for a more creamy beverage.

A latte, unlike an espresso macchiato or a cappuccino which use  less milk, is made up of a higher ratio of milk to espresso. Latte's ratios differ but a good middle ground is a 4:1 ratio of milk to espresso. the milk to espresso ratio will differ from cafe to cafe depending on the quality of espresso and clientele of that particular coffee shop.


Do you drink Latte or Cappuccino ?

What is a Cappuccino?

A cappuccino is  a coffee drink comprised of steamed milk, foam and espresso. The bottom layer is espresso, the middle layer is steamed milk and the top layer is foam. The ratio of milk to foam will differ depending on who is preparing the drink and how you prefer the drink to be made.

Assuming that the barista pulled a good shot of espresso, the main thing that will differentiate one cappuccino from another is the way the milk is steamed. It is very important that this coffee drink be made up of micro bubble foam. This ensures that the drink will have a pleasing sweetness and optimum consistency.

DRY or WET

There are two types of cappuccinos. A dry cappuccino is made up primarily of foam. A wet cappuccino is made up of more milk than a traditional cappuccino but less than a Latte.

What is your favorite way to enjoy a cappuccino?