The INSIDER Summary:
- There are several espresso drinks besides the typical espresso shot.
- A cortado is a strong espresso with a milk-to-espresso ratio of 1:1.
- An affogato is ice cream or gelato topped with a shot of espresso.
I never really drank espresso before a year ago. I didn't know the difference between quality espresso drinks and the coffee from a Keurig. So, naturally, I decided to work at a local coffee shop in the hopes of being a barista. Logical, right? Yeah, definitely not.
On my first day, I glanced at the menu and thought to myself, "Yikes." I knew nothing about the espresso drinks on the menu, let alone how to make them. Needless to say, the first few weeks were a struggle and my coworkers probably hated clueless little me.
I quickly discovered that I was not alone in this befuddlement. Even dedicated coffee lovers sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between cortado and flat whites—and that’s why I made this list. I'm here to explain the daunting espresso drinks that I now know by heart, to help you to venture away from your daily latte habit.
1. Espresso Shot
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Who doesn't love shots? (A lot of people.) But this kind of shot is straight espresso, which most people find incredibly strong and bitter. It takes a while to develop the acquired taste for a straight espresso shot.
Traditional espresso machines pour double shots, so this (and the drinks listed below) are usually made with double or quad shots. But, some cafés like to be fancy and split their shots to make them into odd numbers. Wild, I know.
2. Latte
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If you haven't heard of a latte, you're either living under a rock or are way too much of a hipster for this crowd favorite. Iced or hot, the milk-to-espresso ratio is 4:1, so if you don’t like the bitter taste of espresso, this is the drink for you.
In a hot latte, the milk is steamed so that there is little foam poured over the espresso. Hopefully with enough skill to snap a sweet Instagram out of the latte art.
3. Cappuccino
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Cappuccinos are always served hot. (Please don't ask for an iced cappuccino. I beg you.) You will definitely get a weird look from your barista and most likely get a comment along the lines of, "You mean an iced latte?"
The key to this drink is that the milk is aerated so that there's some foam chilling on top of the steamed milk. This is my favorite drink because I love sipping on the sweet layer of foam that won't burn your tongue in the lovely way that hot coffee tends to do.
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