Are You Among The Millions Of Americans Addicted To Foamy Specialty Coffee Drinks?
Making a superb gourmet coffee all starts with beans. Gourmet coffee beans are mostly Arabica because of their supreme robust flavor and smooth texture. Arabica beans are considered the premium bean in the coffee industry and the demand is high which makes it much pricier than other beans. Arabica coffee beans are the most prominently grown and provide approximately 60% of world coffee production. One reason the beans are so expensive is that the Arabica plant is very sensitive to unfavorable conditions such as frost, pests and disease. What leads people to wait in long, long lines for a cup of gourmet-brewed coffee beverage? Just what are espresso, cappuccino and macchiato?
Espresso coffee is all about hot water and coffee beans. But it’s the way these two ingredients are put together that spells the success of this drink. Espresso coffee is prepared by a special extraction method which produces a very concentrated, strong coffee in a short amount of time. Softened water at a temperature of 90-95 Degrees C is forced through finely ground and specially roasted coffee at high pressure. Since the hot water is quickly forced through the fine grounds it usually only takes between 25 and 30 seconds to brew a cup of espresso.
Cappuccino: A cappuccino is a mixture of espresso, a little steamed milk and a little milk foam. The milk/foam ratio is up to you what you enjoy most. Cappuccino is a remarkable thing. An incredible exercise in doing something absurd within the browser client. Cappuccino is almost everybody’s favorite drink. People try to make it at home, sometimes unsuccessfully.
A latte is basically a diluted cappuccino with almost entirely steamed milk and a dollop of foam on top. Cafe latte is simply the Italian words for “coffee and milk”. The drink was made using a “moka” (a stovetop coffee machine which makes double-strength coffee, not espresso).
A Mochaccino is simply equal parts cappuccino and chocolate syrup. Some of the finer coffee houses prefer the term Cafe Mocha, using a powdered cocoa mixed with diluted cappuccino and topped with a whipped cream dollop. This is a very popular alternative to a traditional hot chocolate drink, neither as thick nor as sweet.
A Cafe Americano is simply an Italian espresso that has been diluted with a little extra water to soften the espresso flavor. A similar beverage is referred to as caffe lungo. Or as some Europeans refer to it as the watered down drink for those sissy Americans.
Besides the hot drinks, there are also a wide variety of iced coffee gourmet drinks as well. Basically, you take any of your favorite varieties, add ice cubes and topping, and voila, you’ve got yourself a delicious gourmet milk shake-type drink.
The reawakened craze in coffee shops, kiosks and coffee carts can be confusing with menu boards listing numerous gourmet treats in various sizes. Baristas move with lightning speed from espresso machine to flavorings to steaming milk to counter with the talent of circus jugglers. Ordering your first latte takes a lot of courage, but once you get over the initial fear factor, you will be hooked for life.