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Do you love coffee but get confused by all the different espresso drinks? This guide will explain the most popular espresso drinks, from black coffee to milk coffee. We’ll cover what makes each drink unique, so you can order your next coffee with confidence.
These drinks are made with espresso and hot water. They’re strong and simple, perfect for coffee lovers who enjoy a bold taste.
A single espresso is the base for many coffee drinks. It’s a small, strong shot of coffee served in a small cup. A single espresso is about 20-30 milliliters. Baristas often weigh coffee instead of measuring by volume. Expect an intense, rich taste. Stir before drinking to mix all the flavors.
If you want more coffee with the same strong taste, order a double espresso. It’s simply two shots of espresso in a larger cup. It’s often a better deal than ordering two single espressos.
An Americano is an espresso diluted with hot water. It’s for people who like the taste of espresso but want a less intense drink. A barista adds about 100-120ml of water to a cup and then pours in an espresso shot. The coffee flavor is still there, but it’s not as strong.
Lungo means “long” in Italian. It’s a longer espresso shot. To make it, baristas adjust the grinder to extract more coffee. A lungo is typically 30-40 grams. Some coffee shops add hot water to a regular espresso so you can make it weaker.
Filter coffee, also called batch brew, is not made with an espresso machine. But it’s a good choice if you want a large cup of black coffee. It has a more subtle flavor than espresso and changes as it cools.
If you prefer your coffee with milk, these drinks are for you. They combine espresso with steamed and foamed milk for a creamy, comforting taste.
The cappuccino is one of the most popular coffee drinks. It’s made with a single shot of espresso and foamed milk. The amount of milk varies, but the cup size is usually 150-200ml. This gives a good mix of coffee and milk. Latte art shows the barista’s skill and can brighten your day.
An espresso macchiato is a small drink with a strong coffee taste. It’s a single shot of espresso with a small amount of foamed milk. The ratio of coffee to milk is usually 1:1 or 1:2.
A cortado, sometimes called a piccolo, is a small milk espresso drink. It’s often served in a glass cup. It combines a single shot of espresso with foamed milk in a 100-120ml cup.
The flat white comes from Australia and New Zealand. It’s made with a double shot of espresso and foamed milk in a cappuccino cup or smaller. You get more coffee flavor and a bigger caffeine kick.
If you like more milk in your coffee, choose a caffè latte. It’s served in a large cup, around 300ml. It has a single shot of espresso and foamed milk.
Here’s a quick recap of the espresso drinks we’ve covered:
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Ever wonder what espresso drinks are ordered the most? One coffee shop found that:
The most popular black coffee was batch brew (16%), followed by espresso (7%). Americano and doppio each got about 4%.
For milk coffees, cappuccino was the clear winner with over 37% of orders. Flat white came in second with 16%, and caffè latte had 11%. Cortado and macchiato each got 1-2%.
Now you know the difference between all the popular espresso drinks! Next time you’re at a coffee shop, you can confidently order the perfect drink for your taste.
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Aveline Lux is a visionary writer and digital storyteller, using her blog on CitiWell Shop as a platform to explore the intersection of creativity, commerce, and culture.
Traveling extensively across continents, Aveline draws inspiration from different cultures and global trends, infusing her articles with unique perspectives and practical insights.
Aveline enjoys photography, hiking through nature trails, and curating playlists that fuel her creative process.
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