Do you need that cup of joe to get you going in the morning? Do you ever wonder what is in all of those coffee drinks? Having been a barista in junior college, I can tell you there is quite a lot that goes into all of those coffee drinks. Each drink is different and is made with a different process, much like alcoholic drinks, that is why people who make these drinks are called baristas, the Italian word for bartender.

Coffee Drinks:

Espresso- is brewed by forcing a small amount of water through finely ground dark roast coffee beans.  The foam that is produced, which is reddish-brown in color is called crema. Espresso is served in shots. In America, it is served in double and single shots, each shot is one ounce and contains as much caffeine as a 6 fl. Oz. cup of coffee.

Affogato- espresso over gelato (Italian ice-cream).

Americano- equal parts espresso and hot water.

Iced Americano- Americano over ice.

Antoccino- a single shot of espresso and an equal amount of steamed milk poured on top, the two are not mixed and are served in an espresso cup.

Black eye or Canadianado- a cup of regular coffee with two shots of espresso.

Breve- espresso with half and half.

Cappuccino- very common in American coffee houses, cappuccino is made from 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 milk foam. Many places will cut the 1/3 espresso down to one shot to cut costs.

Iced Cappuccino- cappuccino over ice.

Caramel Late- late with caramel sauce.

Caramel Macchiato- created by Starbucks, is a mix of vanilla, a shot of espresso, milk foam, and topped with caramel.

Con Hielo- espresso and sugar poured directly onto ice.

Cortado- espresso with a small amount of milk.

Espresso con Panna- espresso topped with whipped cream.

Guillermo- two shots of espresso over slices of lime.

Guillermo on ice- two shots of espresso over slices of lime, sometimes with milk.

Coffee- standard drip coffee, like what you make in your coffee pot at home, comes in a variety of roasts, strengths, and flavors.

Iced coffee- chilled coffee over ice. Some varieties such as “Frappuccinos” are made with ice cream, heavy syrup, or heavy cream. Most iced coffees contain heavy cream and have a high fat and sugar content.

Latte- one to two shots of espresso topped with steamed milk. Similar to a cappuccino, but with no foam.

Latte macchiato- steamed milk topped with espresso.

Mocha- a late with chocolate syrup, sometimes topped with whipped cream and coco powder.

Iced Mocha- a mocha on ice. Is sometimes blended and other times made with ice cream.

Red eye- coffee with one shot of espresso.

More Coffee Facts

There are many other different flavors and varieties of coffee available depending on the culture, location, and individual shop.

In American coffee shops, a wide variety of flavorings and syrups are available and can be added to all different sorts of drinks to flavor them to your liking.

In Europe, a variety flavorings and liquors can be added to coffees, this does not happen as often in this country. Standard alcohols added to coffees include cognac, brandy, whiskey, and other stiff drinks.

Coffee beans are flavored in many ways and shipped around the world from many different places. These beans are grown in South America, Africa, Indonesia, and the Middle East.

Beans are flavored using flavoring oils and artificial flavorings. The intensity of the beans depends upon the amount they are roasted.

Espresso now days usually made with an automatic espresso machine; these machines have been sized down and can be bought for your home. An automatic machine both brews the espresso and steams the milk. Some places still use hand held machines that use a lever and a spring to force hot water through the coffee, these machines require a high level of skill and pressure.