Coffee Drinks 101

Can't start your day without your morning cup? You're not alone! Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, when a farmer noticed that his goats seemed extra energetic and happy after eating the beans. By the 13th century, Arabians began to roast and grind their coffee beans before brewing.  Coffee cultivation began in the 15th century when trees were planted in Yemen and Ethiopia. At the time, its uses were mainly medicinal and ritual. When world's first coffee shop, Kiva Han, opened in Constantinople in 1475, coffee consumers were born.

Espresso is a particular treat, by tradition a small, savory and aromatic indulgence enjoyed while watching the world go by at a small cafe table with friends. Individually prepared by the "barista", the window for success in espresso brewing is very narrow. Some even consider it an art form. The exactness of roast, grind, amount of water, and length of brew determines whether your espresso is magnificent, with sweet caramel-ly flavors or bitter. If your espresso tastes bad, it wasn't brewed properly!

The invention of espresso was the brainchild of Luigi Bezzera, an Italian who patented a machine that used steam pressure to force water through ground coffee held in filters. The Pope originally wanted to ban it as the "devils drink", but upon tasting, decided it was too delicious and changed his mind! Espresso machines have gone through many innovations since Luigi's time, but the basic dynamics of Luigi's process are still used today.

So when you go into your favorite Starbucks or coffee cafe, here’s a short guide to what you’re ordering.

Espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed by forcing very hot, but not boiling water under high pressure through coffee ground to a consistency between extremely fine and powder. It is thicker than drip coffee, with a higher amount of dissolved solids. Served in shots, it lends itself to mixing into other drinks such as lattes, cappuccini and macciati.

Cappuccino is primarily consumed as a morning drink in Italy. Prepared with espresso, hot milk and milk foam, it is traditionally served in a porcelain cup, which retains its heat. Its name is said to be derived from the color of the Capuchin monks’ robes.

Latte, in America, is coffee with mile. In Italian, latte simply means milk. If you ordered a latte in Rome, you’d be served a glass of milk. The proper name in Italy is caffe et latte. The French term in cafe au lait. Café au lait is very popular in New Orleans.

Mocha Latte sometimes called Caffe Mocha is a variation of the latte with either powdered chocolate or chocolate syrup added in.

Turkish Coffee or Greek Coffee is coffee prepared by boiling finely powdered roast coffee beans in a pot called an ibrik. When finished, it is poured into a tiny demitasse cup along with the fine grounds. Once settled, spice and sugar are often added in.

Irish Coffee consists of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar, with cream floating on top.