You may not know this, but espresso is not a specialty drink or special type of coffee bean. It actually refers to the process of making the coffee. Regular coffee is made by steeping grounds in hot water, much like we steep tea bags (the tea bag acts as the filter). Espresso, however, is made by forcing hot water through very finely ground coffee. The grounds are pressed (you've probably seen your barista do this) and then the water is forced through quickly and at high pressure. The result is a coffee with a more intense flavor.
Because espresso has such a concentrated flavor per a small amount of water, it can be used to create any number of amazing coffee drinks. Many of the drinks people favor at coffee houses are created using espresso as a base. Not clear on how the drinks are different? Below is a list of the five most popular espresso drinks in the United States, and how they're made.
Types of Espresso Drinks:
All of these popular coffee drinks start with espresso.
Americano - An Americano is espresso with hot water added. The name of the drink comes from WWII. American soldiers, unaccustomed to the intense flavor of espresso, would ask for water to dilute it.
Cappuccino - A cappuccino is simply espresso, milk, and a lot of foam. Foam, by the way, is also made of milk.
Mocha - A mocha is a delicious mix of espresso, milk, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. It can be one of the higher calorie drinks, but it sure is worth it!
Latte - A latte is made by combining espresso, lots of milk, and foam. Essentially a latte and cappuccino are the same except that a latte has more milk and cappuccino has more foam.
Breve - To make a breve, combine espresso with half-and-half (milk with cream) and foam.
Types of Espresso Makers You Can Buy:
For those of you who are looking to buy your own espresso machine for home use, there are many options. There are so many options, in fact, that it can be overwhelming to a first-time buyer. Below are the main types of espresso machines on the market, and how they differ from one another.
Manual machines- Manual machines use a lever to force the water through the coffee grounds. The lever is operated manually, rather than using steam or a pump. Because it takes quite a bit of skill and practice to operate a manual machine and still get good espresso, manual espresso makers are only popular with people who really want to perfect the art.
Steam driven - These machines use steam to force water through the grounds rather than a pump or a manual lever. The quality of brew can vary a great deal from machine to machine. Steam machines can also be a bit difficult to maintain. But with a good machine and a little practice, you can get an excellent espresso for a pretty reasonable price.
Semi-automatic - These pump-driven machines can deliver an excellent brew, and are affordably priced. You control the brewing, so it can take some practice to learn how to make an espresso the way you like it, but many people enjoy the option of figuring out their personal perfect brew.
Automatic - Automatic machines are pretty much the same as semi-automatic ones, except that the brewing is programmable and not directly controlled by the user. This is great for people who just want a good espresso without trial and error or fine-tuning.
Super automatic - These are the top-of-the-line espresso makers that do everything for you. They even grind the coffee beans. Some models dump the used grounds in a waste drawer! If you have the money and don't want to fuss with figuring anything out, this is the type of espresso maker you want to buy.
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