If a picture says a thousand words then this beverage guide is the one that will take you on a journey of the best espresso drinks ever created. Espresso Review Hub has assembled the most popular blends of espresso beverages that have been brewed by some of the best espresso machines. Below is a list of the featured espresso beverages in detail.
Short
This is probably the most famous and most popular espresso beverages out there. Espresso’s are known to be 1-2 shorts of potent coffee, making it a strong yet tasteful beverage. Most, if not all espresso based beverages starts out with a short espresso.
Lungo
Different roasts usually need to be brewed in a unique manner, in order to bring-out their diverse flavours. For instance, full-flavour espresso’s can sometimes be stretched, hence the name Lungo. Lungo, meaning long, is associated with the stretch brew of the espresso. This type of espresso is most commonly enjoyed by many to be brewed ‘black’. Brewing your espresso black is the starting point for some of your most favourite espresso beverages.
Ristretto
This type of ‘shot’ is known as the most potent and shortest of the espresso beverage line-up. Being most commonly brewed and prefered “black”, this drink is most famous for it’s “pick me up” properties. Due to the ease, speed (taking approximately two seconds to finish each drink) and potency of the brew, this type of shot is most popular among business people. The Ristretto is most famously a stand-alone-drink, meaning, it is best desired plain, rather than being accompanied by steamed or frothed milk.
Cappuccino
You may find this drink in just about everyone’s coffee favourite lists. The cappuccino is one of the most popular and easy drinks to brew. The best way to prepare this drink, is to start by brewing a two ounce shot of espresso. Once you start brewing, quickly steam your milk in your glass of choice. When the milk frothing is complete, begin by pouring your espresso in the glass. Pour slowly and you will start to notice the espresso will sit in between the steamed milk and the froth. Speed up your pour at the end of the drink to complete the separation. At last, top the froth with chocolate shaving for an elegant appearance.
Our Milk Frothers Reviews page will help you choose the best frother for your espresso beverage creations.
Macchiato
These drinks are often accompanied by a flavour of some sort. One of our personal favourites is of course, the caramel infused Macchiato. Best way to prepare this drink is to brew a long espresso, then add you flavour shot and finish off the beverage with a top layer of frothed milk. Your guests or clients will most definitely be impressed with this drink.
Cafe Latte
Latte’s are brewed similar to a cappuccino, but without the frothed milk. This beverage is one of the most popular espresso drinks ever created. Commonly associated with the flat white, this beverage is more potent when it comes to the blend and pour of the espresso. The best way to make a caffe latte is to layer it. To layer, you will first steam the milk, then pour the long espresso shot over top. A common additional flavour many enjoy to add to this drink, is a vanilla extract.
Cafe Mocha
The Cafe Mocha is every chocolate lovers favourite drink. The key to this drink is to have a good quality chocolate sauce and to layer the drink. To do this, get the chocolate to sit and mix evenly with the espresso, then top this drink off with steamed milk.
Cafe Americano
This drink is commonly known as a simple coffee– most commonly enjoyed by North Americans. The drink is evidently a strong espresso shot, accompanied by hot water. This beverage is most popular among Americans, as well as Canadians. To personalize your drink, you can add sugar, cream or milk.
Flat White
Brewed almost identical to the latte, the Flat White is a great drink to sip on. instead of brewing a longer espresso, the barista would usually brew a Ristretto or a short shot. After the shot has been brewed, this drink is topped with steamed milk and ready to be served. The steamed milk should make-up the majority this beverage, hence the famously known name “Flat White”.
Cafe Affogato
This drink is one that tastes just as good as it looks. This drink blends two of the very best things known to mankind, espresso and ice cream. The best way to enjoy this drink is to scoop a small ball of ice cream into your mug or glass, then pour your favourite blend of espresso over top of it (this small dessert like shot is to be taken all at once). This is the one drink that you will not have to fear about burning yourself– the ice cream is meant to cool the espresso off to drinking temperature.
Breve
This creamy dessert-like-beverage is quite simplistic to make. The Breve is a steamed milk based beverage, made-up of half milk and half cream. Served warm, this beverage is popular among women and is commonly associated with the café latte. A popular additive with this beverage is chocolate.
Cafe con Hielo
This drink is a summer special for all espresso lovers. Prepared with two simple and familiar ingredients, espresso and ice. The best way to create this amazing drink is to brew your espresso over 1 ice cube, this will make the shot cool down below room temperature– add more ice if needed for that desired drinking temperature. Our personal favourite is to combine a cafe americano and a Con Hielo as one beverage. Doing so, this will make your beverage a twelve ounce rather than a five.