Espresso Drink Recipes
How to prepare lattes, mochas and more
There are a lot of great drinks that can be made from espresso. The recipes that I’ve included here are ones that are often seen in the United States and made the way Americans prefer. The quantities for these recipes vary from country to country or from region to region. A cappuccino in Italy will differ from one in the U.S.A. I don’t think there is really any “right” way to make a particular drink. If you like it the way you’ve made it, then that’s good enough.
I'm won't quibble and fuss over what is the "correct" cup to use for a particular drink. To me it tastes the same if you pour a latte into a stoneware mug or drink a mocha from a large bowl-like cup. If you must be proper about things, this is what I know:
Cappuccinos should be served in a tall coffee cup because of the amount of foam that is added to it.
Lattes are generally served in a tall, clear mug.
Espressos, ristrettos, con pannas, and machiatos are served in demitasse cups.
I'm not sure what mochas and au laits are served in. But, as I said, it doesn't matter to me. I can find out though if you need to know!
Basic Espresso
1 or 2 oz of espresso
If you cannot handle the taste of espresso alone, I recommend trying one of the following:
Pour a packet of raw sugar slowly onto the espresso’s crema. It will rest on the crema until its weight slowly falls through and into the espresso. Don’t stir! You’ll ruin the crema covering, the espresso will look weak, and will get cold faster.
The other thing I recommend is a lemon twist. This is a strictly American practice. As gross as it sounds to mix lemon juice with espresso, it really is very tasty. Italians are quite horrified that we would want to ruin a nice bit of espresso with lemon juice. I think they should try it sometime! ;^)
Espresso Macchiato
1 oz of espresso
Top with foam
Espresso Con Panna
1 oz of espresso
Top with whipped cream
Espresso Ristretto
Ristretto is not very common and only the more hard-core aficionados know what it is and how to make it. Basically, ristretto is made by grinding the coffee a little finer than what would be used for espresso. If a finer grind cannot be achieved, tamping the grounds tighter into the basket will work just fine. The brewing process is cut short after about 18 to 20 seconds. What is left is a very deeply flavoured form of espresso, much stronger than the basic espresso brew. I do not know if a crema is supposed to form on ristretto or not as I have never been successful at getting one to form when I made it.
Cappuccino
1 or 2 oz of espresso
An equal amount of steamed milk
Be sure there is plenty of foam for this! If flavoured syrup is desired, it should be poured into a warm mug before adding the espresso. Pour in the espresso shot(s), add milk equal to the amount of espresso and top with plenty of foam. For this recipe, you want to have more foam than liquid. For something pretty, you can top the foam with a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg, or chocolate shavings. In Italy, cappuccinos are only consumed in the morning, never in the afternoon. Afternoon cappuccinos are an American habit.
Café Latte
1 or 2 oz of espresso
Steamed milk
Again, if flavoured syrup is desired it should be poured into the mug first. Add the desired amount of espresso, fill the cup with steamed milk, and top with one or two spoonfuls of foam. Top with cinnamon, nutmeg, or chocolate shavings if desired.
Café Mocha
1 or 2 oz of espresso
Good quality chocolate syrup
Steamed milk
Whipped cream, if desired
Pour the desired amount of syrup into the mug, add the espresso, pour in the steamed milk, and top with whipped cream. If fat content is a concern, omit the whipped cream and top with foam. This is especially tasty with chocolate shavings on top and a candy peppermint stick placed in the mug! Mmmmm…..
Added flavouring suggestions: hazelnut syrup, caramel syrup, or peppermint syrup.
Café Au Lait
Brewed dark roast coffee
Steamed milk
Fill a mug half-way with the brewed coffee. Fill the rest of the mug with steamed milk and top with foam.
Café Americano
1 or 2 oz espresso
Hot water
This is the nearest thing to brewed coffee you can get without actually brewing a full carafe of coffee. Pour espresso into mug and fill with hot water. Some prefer to drink this with added cream and/or sugar. I like it straight black.
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