Making Sense of the Coffee Menu.

"Can I get a cup of coffee?"

"Sure! What would you like?"

If you are like me, there is always an awkward pause after that question as I try and make out what the words on the menu mean. When I started working as a barista in 2017, it took me months to get down the different drinks and their names.

Now, I will share what I learned with you so that the next time you are standing in front of a barista as she looks on expectantly, you can answer confidently and receive the exact drink you desired.

To begin, I must make it clear what Espresso is.

Espresso is a type of brewing method.

The Espresso machine you see in this picture uses scorching hot water and a great deal of pressure to push that water through tightly packed ground coffee beans into what we know as an Espresso Shot.

The Espresso Shot is a minimal amount of highly concentrated coffee that is often highly robust and acidic. This Espresso Shot is then added to a coffee drink like an Americano, Latte, Breve, Frappe, Macchiato, or several other beverages we will be discussing.

To begin with, the Americano is one of the most straightforward drinks you will see on a coffee menu.

It combines Espresso Shots with water. This drink can be either hot or iced if desired, with additional cream or flavor. It is a refreshing drink with a rich coffee taste.

Our next coffee beverage is a Latte.

The Latte is steamed milk and Espresso Shots. This drink can also come cold, with the milk poured over ice. The flavor is optional and will only be added if the customer clarifies that they want it.

If you are interested in understanding the rich creaminess of a Breve or the chilling delight of a Frappe, subscribe to my email list to get notified when the next blog post comes out!

Subscribe