I used to have a Starbucks habit that just wouldn't quit - and you can
imagine how expensive that was getting! So I did what any respectable
coffee drinker would do – I learned to make my own creamy coffee drinks.
After researching a bit, I found that what I needed to do this was a
milk frother, used for making the creamy foam that you see on top of so
many coffee drinks. Once I had my milk frother, I was ready to start experimenting with a variety of delicious coffee drinks.
Most
of them start with a shot of espresso. Espresso is a very strong shot
of coffee, made by forcing steam through tightly packed, very finely
ground coffee. Espresso has a higher concentration of caffeine, but is
also served in a smaller portion. The small portion of espresso is
usually about one ounce and is typically called a “shot”. You can also
get double or triple shots that are sized accordingly. Espresso is mixed
with other ingredients – mainly milk – to create a variety of other
drinks. You’re probably familiar with many of the names, but may be
unsure what the difference is! Usually, the biggest difference is the
amount of milk added and whether or not milk foam (also called froth) is
used. To help you out, here’s a list of some of the most popular
variants.
Macchiato – This is one shot of espresso, topped with just a bit of steamed milk with a slight foam.
Cortado – One shot of espresso, mixed with an equal part of steamed milk, little foam.
Americano
– One shot of espresso mixed with an equal part of hot water. This was
popularized during World War 2, when American soldiers would dilute the
traditional espresso to have a drink that tasted more like “coffee from
back home”.
Hammerhead (also known as a “black eye”, “red eye” or
“shot in the dark”) – A cup of regular coffee with 1 or 2 espresso shots
added for that extra kick of caffeine.
Café au Lait – Regular brewed coffee mixed with an equal part of hot milk.
Latte – One shot of espresso, mixed with steamed milk, typically served with foam on top.
Cappuccino
– Traditionally, this is one shot of espresso, layered with an equal
amount of steamed milk and topped with an equal layer of foam. It is
often served with cocoa or cinnamon sprinkled on top.
Caffe
Macchiato – Espresso with a small dollop of steamed milk or foam spooned
on top. Macchiato translates to “stain”, the idea being that the white
milk is staining the top of the espresso.
Latte Macchiato – The
opposite of the above: a shot of espresso is slowly poured into a cup of
steamed milk, so that it leaves an espresso-colored “stain” on top.
Milk Frother Review