Could someone please explain coffee to me.

[Justanopinion]

I guess I'm just ignorant. I don't know the differences in all these different coffees.

What is a latte?
What is a cappuccino?
What is an expresso?
Is there a mocho also?

What are the different shots you put into each?

I just recently started enjoying coffee but even what McDonald's now offers confuses me. Someone help please. Thanks

P.S. Please someone tell me I'm not the only coffee idiot out there...lol

 

[TwinsinCA]

-espresso is a very strong coffee. It is made from darker beans and is brewed differently than regular drip coffee.

-a latte is espresso with milk

-a cappuccino is basically a stronger latte with foam on top.

-a mocha is a latte with chocolate added

 

[themarquis]

You can make coffee in your coffee pot and it's called ... (wait for it!) ... coffee!

You can make coffee in a special device that makes it super strong and concentrated and its called ... espresso.

You can take the espresso and add all sorts of different things to it and it becomes a latte or mocha or cappucino or whatever....

Most "espresso drinks" are espresso on the bottom and then steamed milk on top with maybe some flavoring added. Steamed milk is made in a special device so that it gets hot and frothy.

For example, take some espresso, pour some steamed milk on top, and then mix with chocolate syrup, and it is a mocha. Do it without the chocolate syrup and it is a latte. But add vanilla (or any other flavor) and it is a vanilla latte (or hazelnut latte or whatever). A cappucino is usually a lot of foam (it comes off the top of the steamed milk), some of the milk, and the espresso. It is exactly the same as a latte but more "foamy".

Basically, all "espresso drinks" are almost *exactly* the same ... lol! You've got some sort of milk, some espresso, and maybe flavors. There's no magic involved!

 

[themarquis]

the "shots" can be:

1) "shots" of flavor (a "shot" is just a tiny measuring cup). You could have a shot (or more than one shot) of vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, raspberry, or whatever.

2) "shots" of espresso. (basically the same, imagine a tiny measuring cup full). Each place is different. For a lot of coffee shops, you would get 1 shot, 2 shots, and 3 shots in a small, medium, large (respectively).

So for example, you could have a "three shot small latte with two shots of raspberry". That would be in a small cup but have extra espresso (three shots) and then two shots of flavoring added.

 

[Michelle67]

Actually, a mocha is a mocha latte, it's just the most common so it gets shortened to "a mocha." Latte is the espresso/frothed steamed milk combo. Flavoring makes it a particular type of latte. Hazelnut latte, raspberry latte...etc. How many shots of flavor and espresso are standard depends on the size of the drink. People add extra shots if they like to get poleaxed by their coffee. If you live around here, it might take you fifteen minutes to order your coffee...you know...you might want a sixteen ounce triple skinny decaf no whip vanilla raspberry hazelnut latte or something.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Actually, a mocha is a mocha latte, it's just the most common so it gets shortened to "a mocha." Latte is the espresso/frothed steamed milk combo. Flavoring makes it a particular type of latte. Hazelnut latte, raspberry latte...etc. How many shots of flavor and espresso are standard depends on the size of the drink. People add extra shots if they like to get poleaxed by their coffee. If you live around here, it might take you fifteen minutes to order your coffee...you know...you might want a sixteen ounce triple skinny decaf no whip vanilla raspberry hazelnut latte or something.

My favorite in the winter is a ....venti, skinny, seven pump, no water, Chai Latte.

Yes, I know it's tea but,...thought I'd throw it into the mix.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Here's a "few" vocabulary words to get you started. We will give you a test in the morning.
Starbucks lingo:

Americano:
A coffee made with two shots of espresso and hot water.

Breve:
A latte made with half-and-half (heart attack city, but Yum!)

Cappuccino:
A drink made with espresso and equal parts steamed milk and thick foam. It has a stronger espresso flavor than a latte.

Chai:
A coffee alternative (Gasp!), premium Tazo black tea mixed with exotic spices, steamed milk and honey.

Con Panna:
Italian for “with whipped cream”

Creme:
At Starbucks, it refers to a coffee-free beverage, such as Vanilla Bean Frappuccino blended cream.

Demitasse:
French for “half cup” - it’s the little cup used to serve espresso.

Doppio:
Italian for “double,” but used only when referring to a two-shot espresso (One orders a doppio espresso con panna, but a double latte.)

Double:
Two shots of espresso in a drink.

Dry:
More foam, less milk.

Espresso:
Coffee’s purest, sweetest, most intense form.

For-Here Cup:
A cermic cup for enjoying your drink in the store.

Grande:
Starbucks second-largest beverage size, 16 fl oz.

Half-Caf:
One shot of regular and one shot of decaf.

Latte:
A drink made with espresso and steamed milk, with a thin layer of foam on the top.

Light:
Less of something in a drink, such as “light syrup” or “light whip”

Macchiato:
Italian for “marked” or “stained.” For example, the Starbucks Carmel Macchiato.

Misto:
Italian for “mixed.” A combination of drip coffee and steamed milk.

Mocha:
A drink made with espresso, chocolate and steamed milk.

Personal Cup:
A reusable cup you bring to the store.

Quad:
Four shots of espresso in a drink.

Ristretto:
A short pull of espresso, capturing only the sweetest part.

Shaken:
Icea tea or coffee mixed with ice in a shaker for a bright refreshing flavor.

Short:
Starbucks smallest beverage size, 8 fl oz.

Single:
One shot of espresso in a drink.

Skinny:
Made with nonfat milk.

Solo:
One shot of espresso by itself (old school!).

Tall:
Starbucks regular beverage size, 12 fl oz.

To-Go Cup:
The white paper cup used for coffee to go. This is the default cup that is used for an order unless you specify otherwise.

Triple:
Three shots of espresso in a drink.

Unleaded:
Decaffeinated.

Valencia:
An orange syrup.

Venti:
Starbucks largest beverage size - 20 fl oz. for hot drinks, 24 fl oz. for cold.

Wet:
More milk, less foam.

Whip:
Short for whipped cream.

With Legs:
To go.

With Room:
Space to add milk in a drink, usually an americano or brewed coffee.

 

[Michelle67]

My favorite in the winter is a ....venti, skinny, seven pump, no water, Chai Latte.

Yes, I know it's tea but,...thought I'd throw it into the mix.

I won't quote your second post, but it made me laugh. Good list.

With this one you outed yourself as a Charbucks devotee, though. It was the "venti" that gave you away. I don't like Starbucks, but I go there if I really NEED espresso and they are the only game around. They irritate me, though, because they always feel the need to "correct" me. I order by ounces: I'd like a 20 oz mocha please, no whip. As they reach for the key they say Venti mocha, no whip...that will be ten thousand dollars please. Okay I'm exaggerating on the price. But IMO they are the worst and most outrageously priced coffee place around. And that they seem to want to force me to use their term doesn't help my 'tude much.

 

[Justanopinion]

Thank you TLSnell1981...that's exactly why I'm so confused.

OMG!...how do you remember all that stuff?

I know that I like Egg Nog Latte from Starbucks but I also think that's the only thing I've ever ordered. But are you now telling me I can order that with more shots of egg nog flavoring?

this stuff is really confusing

 

[Justanopinion]

Here's a "few" vocabulary words to get you started. We will give you a test in the morning.

Macchiato:
Italian for “marked” or “stained.” For example, the Starbucks Carmel Macchiato.

Still don't understand this one...what makes it marked or stained? This is actually DH's favorite.

 

[Michelle67]

Thank you TLSnell1981...that's exactly why I'm so confused.

OMG!...how do you remember all that stuff?

I know that I like Egg Nog Latte from Starbucks but I also think that's the only thing I've ever ordered. But are you now telling me I can order that with more shots of egg nog flavoring?

this stuff is really confusing

Sure you can. You pay extra for extra shots. You might not like it, though. Sometimes what is nice with one shot is really too much with more than one, on the flavors. No such thing as too much espresso. Just kidding. I have a friend who gets five shot hazelnut lattes, and they are enough to burn your soft palate off.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Excellent list, ladies!

My favorite, at a semi local coffee shop I used to meet DH at in the summer for lunch used to be a triple expresso mocha. mmmm mmm good! I'd order it in and half way through I'd add in regular coffee and still have a fab drink!

I'd also be able to come home and speed clean the house in record time!

 

[Michelle67]

Excellent list, ladies!

My favorite, at a semi local coffee shop I used to meet DH at in the summer for lunch used to be a triple expresso mocha. mmmm mmm good! I'd order it in and half way through I'd add in regular coffee and still have a fab drink!

I'd also be able to come home and speed clean the house in record time!

I must be the only person on the planet that can enjoy an espresso as a bedtime "snack" and still sleep just fine. Coffee doesn't amp me out. No wait, there's at least two of us. My daughter is the same way. Give her two energy drinks in a day, though, and she's a hyperactive mess. BTW, I'm not amping out small children. My daughter is 19.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Still don't understand this one...what makes it marked or stained? This is actually DH's favorite.

The espresso is "marked" with a dab of foam....or in a macchiato latte...the milk is "marked" with the shot of espresso.

***edited to add***Costco is selling Starbucks gift cards. You pay $79 for 5/$20 gift cards. Pretty good deal for us addicts.

 

[JLKennedy]

I enjoy the venti Non-fat (refuse to change terminology b/c they decided to too late in the game) caramel macchiatto.

I was corn-fused the other day when I stopped in for my drink and my bosses venti non-fat iced chai latte, as I was rambling my 2 drinks and they were repeating it (cashier and the barista), the woman next to me ordered: venti grande. I kid you not the place came to a grinding halt. Which do you want?

 

[Magic Mom]

I...that will be ten thousand dollars please. Okay I'm exaggerating on the price. But IMO they are the worst and most outrageously priced coffee place around. \

tsk ....don't exaggerate. You know full well a Starbucks venti only costs $48.99.

 

[bicker]

... the woman next to me ordered: venti grande.

I would have given her twenty grandes.

 

[goofyernmost]

OK, now for the real 411...

Coffee, be it regular or espresso, no matter what's added, is nothing more than hot water run through dirt (some call it beans, I call it dirt). The difference between coffee and espresso is not much more than $6.00 on average.

Ah, to be young and "trendy" again. Me, I skip the beans and the heat and drink water with an occasional tea bag added. (love my Ice Tea). By the way, "Sweet Tea" is really a glass of sugar. It is one of the only things that make me doubt the south. One sip and it is possible to slip into a diabetic coma.

 

[tinatark]

I only like one thing at Starbuck$$ - white mocha with caramel, or peppermint. Eww they made a regular one a few days ago - it was bitter - yuck! We don't go very often - maybe once or twice a month. DH likes coffee in the mornings - but he doesn't like Starbucks coffee!

Once, I ordered a "short" one - it really flipped them out! The cashier exclaimed "short"? !

I bought a gift card, and registered it at starbucks.com - add ins are free.

 

[smartestnumber5]

Thank you TLSnell1981...that's exactly why I'm so confused.

OMG!...how do you remember all that stuff?

I know that I like Egg Nog Latte from Starbucks but I also think that's the only thing I've ever ordered. But are you now telling me I can order that with more shots of egg nog flavoring?

this stuff is really confusing

Actually I think the egg nog lattes aren't made with flavoring syrup, but with real egg nog (perhaps mixed with milk, but A LOT of egg nog).

So that's an exception to the latte = espresso + milk + flavor.
Egg nog latte = espresso + egg nog (and perhaps + a little milk).

I know I got an egg nog latte at the beginning of a long car trip once and was very disappointed when I drank some and found out it was 20 oz of almost pure egg nog in there--too much for me.

Confused yet?!

If they do mix the egg nog with milk, though, you could ask them for pure egg nog if you want more egg nog flavor.