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It can sometimes be daunting walking into a coffee house and seeing the long list of coffee varieties and drinks on the menu. What’s the difference between a latte and an Au lait? How does a cappuccino differ from an Americano?
We’ll try to make it all clear for you below:
Americano: A single shot of espresso with about 7 ounces of hot water added to the mix. The name for this coffee drink stemmed from an insult to ‘uncouth’ Americans who weren’t up to drinking full espressos.
A Shot in the Dark: See ‘Hammerhead’.
Black coffee: A drip brew, percolated or French press style coffee served straight, with no milk.
Cafe au Lait: Similar to Caffe Latte, except that an au lait is made with brewed coffee instead of espresso. Additionally, the ratio of milk to coffee is 1:1, making for a much less intense taste.
Cafe Breva: A cappuccino made with half and half milk, instead of whole milk. The theory is that the mix gives a richer, creamier flavor. You should be aware, before trying this for yourself, that half and half is much harder to foam.
Caffe Latte: Essentially, a single shot of espresso in steamed (not frothed) milk. The ratio of milk to coffee should be about 3:1, but you should be aware that latte in Italian means ‘milk’, so be careful ordering one when in Rome. Click here for how to make Caffe Latte at home
Cafe Macchiato: A shot of espresso with steamed milk added. The ratio of coffee to milk is approximately 4:1.
Cappuccino: Usually equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk, often with cinnamon or flaked chocolate sprinkled on top. Some coffee shops will add more milk than that so that the customer will get a bigger drink out of the deal, but that makes the coffee itself far weaker. Click here for how to make Cappuccino
Double, or Double Shot: Just as it sounds, this is two shots of espresso mixed in with the regular amount of additional ingredients. So, for example, if you were going to make a double hammerhead, you would put two shots of espresso into a coffee cup, and fill it with the drip blend, rather than the usual single espresso shot.
Dry Cappuccino: A regular cappuccino, only with a smaller amount of foam, and no steamed milk at all.
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Govind Raghav says
coffee keeps us fresh in the early morning..
Jordanna says
Hi I love to drink coffee everyday
Dave says
a friend of mine told me about a certain kind of Spanish coffee called “Bastula”. she wasn’t sure of the correct spelling, and neither am I. she said that it is usually only found at ethnic stores and markets. she said it is very strong coffee usually made on the stove, and is mostly prepared with sugar. I’ve been trying to look this up online, but I’m not able to find any information at all. am I spelling this incorrectly? judging by the description of Puerto Rican coffee, it seems somewhat similar. does this sound familiar to anyone?
Global Peace says
Thanks for sharing! Walking in to a coffee shop and not knowing what to order can be extremely daunting. We try and make it as easy possible for our customers at our coffee shop in Frisco, TX. Best of luck to you all!
bob says
this did work wonders!!
Andrew Chan says
I work ia a Restaurant. I wonder if you could tell me all the cooffees that are available in the world today, such as Caffe Latte, Mocha, Cappuccino, etc. Thank You.
Andrew Chan says
I work in a Restaurant. I wonder if you can provide all different type of coffees that are availiable in the world today, such as Caffe Latte, Cappucino, etc.,
Heather Bell says
Been in catering all my life.I have just opened my own cafe & could not remember the measurements for each coffee! very very hepful & simple -Thanks x