Gourmet coffee drinks are all the rage and range from typical, strong Italian espressos to tall, iced lattes and cappuccinos in a variety of flavors. All of these are variations on traditional coffee, although the process of making each is entirely different.

Coffee

Regular, traditional coffee is an uncomplicated drink to make. It can be made with automatic coffee makers, on the stovetop with a percolator or even with nothing more than hot water using instant crystals.

There are fancier methods of making coffee like using a French Press or using gourmet, flavored coffee beans for variety. However, the true coffee connoisseur prefers coffee beans that haven’t been altered with flavorings.

Espresso

Espresso is the backbone of coffee shops and coffee beverages. Although it is enjoyed by many people, it is more often used as the main ingredient in coffee based drinks like latte and cappuccino.

Espresso is made in much the same way as coffee except that it is made one serving at a time with a much larger amount of coffee beans per serving. A typical serving of espresso is one to two ounces.

Although it is possible to make faux espresso using the stove and a pot, the end result is not the same as using an espresso maker. Espresso makers have the ability to heat the water to extremely high temperatures and use the resulting steam to force the water through the compressed puck of finely ground coffee to extract the flavor and produce an espresso shot.

Espresso is typically served in tiny, warmed coffee cups known as demitasse cups. It is not typically served with cream or sugar, but that is of course up to the drinker. It is often served with a lemon twist on the edge of the cup.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino is an espresso based drink that has become very popular, even among people who don’t drink coffee.

Cappuccino is made using espresso and frothed milk. A shot of espresso, or two if the drinker asks for a double shot, is prepared. While it is being prepared, milk is steamed then frothed using a frothing wand attachment

The frothing process creates thick foam on the top of the milk that is a signature part of cappuccino.

The espresso is poured into a cappuccino mug. Next, the frothed milk is added, using a spoon to hold the foam back in order to spoon it on top of the cappuccino at the end.

Once the foam has been placed on top, it can be sprinkled with cinnamon, chocolate or other flavoring.

So, regardless of whether cappuccino or espresso is preferred, espresso will still be a component of the coffee shop. Cappuccino and espresso are both popular drinks that are very different from each other. Without espresso there would be no cappuccino and the world of coffee would not be the same.

-Sharon V. Chapman

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