Cuppa Joe

"Yes, I'd like a triple shot caramel mocha with unicorn tears and fairy sugar!" We all know (or are) one of those people who approach the Starbucks counter with ease and confidence. These people give their order in an almost condescending tone, daring the poor cashier to question the long string of fancy coffee lingo that pours from their caffeine-craving lips. If you aren't one of those people, you may find yourself staring at the menu in the coffee shop, evaluating your seemingly endless choices. Who knew coffee could come in so many variations? So what's with all the fancy java jargon? Personally, I have loved coffee for many years. Our bond is strong, and I find that there is no better thing to wake up to than the smell of some freshly brewed caffeinated joy. So after years of this committed relationship, I have finally decided to learn what the difference is between a latte and mocha, a macchiato and an americano. In my research, I found a lovely little infograph by a neat company called Folly Graph. The graph shows thirty-eight different types of coffee drinks, and you can even order a giant print of the graph here. However, I am just going to summarize a few of the most common types of drinks you might come across in your caffeinated endeavors.

Espresso
Since most coffee drinks are made with espresso, I figured that it is important to determine what makes an espresso different from your average joe cup of joe. The point of an espresso is to get an intense, strong brew. I have always called it "coffee concentrate" as a joke. An espresso is made when coffee beans are finely ground and compacted into a thing called a "portafilter." Then pressurized water is jettisoned through the grounds, and there you have your shot (usually 2 oz.) of espresso! Sometimes it is nice to drink it as-is, but other times, the mood calls for something with a little less oomph.

Latte
If you aren't into your coffee tasting a lot like coffee, a latte might be the drink for you! A latte consists of three parts steamed milk, one part espresso. An average 8-ounce drink would have one shot, and then six ounces of steamed milk. Often times, a flavored syrup is added, caramel and vanilla being two of the most favorable among popular coffee shops. If it's hot outside, and you need that caffeine but aren't trying to get a hot drink, an iced latte might be the way to go. The only difference is that instead of steamed milk, the drink is made with just regular milk instead. Whether you go steamy or iced, a latte is a sweet coffee drink that is enjoyed by almost everyone.

Mocha
One of the other more popular drinks is the mocha. There are a couple different ways to achieve that chocolate-y coffee goodness, and both are fairly simple. One way to make the mocha is to simply make a latte, only putting chocolate syrup in between the espresso and the steamed milk. However, another way to make it is to use one part espresso and two parts hot chocolate. Either way, usually the mocha is topped with whipped cream and maybe a chocolate syrup drizzle to make it extra pretty.

Cappuccino
Along with the latte, the cappuccino is one of the milkier forms of coffee. The cappuccino is a one to one to one ration of espresso, hot or steamed milk, and milk foam. Often times flavor is added to the cappuccino to give it that extra sweetness and flavor.

Americano
The americano is basically the American way to cheat out of drinking just a straight-up espresso. An americano is born when a shot of espresso is weakened by hot water. The drink is two parts hot water and one part espresso. Often times a bit of cream is added,but overall the desired effect is to have the flavor of the espresso without the intensity.

Macchiato
Like the americano, the macchiato is basically America botching up coffee tradition. There are two types of macchiatos: the original type and the American type. Macchiato translated from Italian is "spotted"or "marked," and in this context, the original macchiato is an espresso with a spot of milk foam. However, the American version is known as a latte macchiato, which is milk foam with a spot of espresso. The latte macchiato is frequently bought as a "caramel macchiato" which has a caramel sauce added in.


Hopefully this will help the next time you are in the mood for some café or maybe in need of some caffeine.


xoxo

-Abby

Micah 6:8