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Different Types of Espresso Drinks
If you are looking for new ways to enjoy your coffee: here are some types of espresso drinks to try.
Published November 11, 2021
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Johan Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Coffee is a big part of a lot of people’s morning routines. It makes you more alert, increases your energy levels, has lots of health benefits and is delicious. Coffee is such a versatile beverage because there are endless ways to prepare and enjoy it. If coffee is a big part of your life, you likely have a favourite way you take your coffee. Whether you are looking to discover new ways to enjoy your coffee or are looking to revisit a tasty option you had in the past, here are some types of espresso drinks to try.
What is Espresso?
Espresso is highly concentrated coffee that is served as a shot. Because of its high caffeine content, it has a unique taste that is described as bolder and stronger than even that of black coffee. Espresso can be combined with different ingredients to make lots of different espresso drinks. Espresso is made out of robusta and arabica ground coffee beans and is made using an espresso machine.
It is important to understand that espresso is a term used for both the brewing method and the coffee product from this process. The espresso machine uses high-pressure water and very fine coffee to brew the concentrated espresso coffee. From the espresso, we get various types of espresso drinks that we will discuss below.
Latte
Latte, officially called Caffe Latte, one of the most popular types of espresso around the world. It is made by adding steamed milk and a light layer of foam to espresso. Because of this combination of ingredients, lattes are sweet and rich in flavour and both of these attributes make it a very popular drink. It also contains the caffeine you need to get your day started.
Latte is of Italian origin and these drinks were prepared for breakfast in Italy. However, the popularity of lattes spread around the world and many cafés now sell lattes at any time of the day.
While many people love their latte hot, iced lattes have become very popular over the past few years. Some people also prefer to drink their latte from espresso cups which leads to the piccolo latte.
To make a latte, you require espresso, hot milk and milk foam. Micro foam can also be used in place of milk foam.
Cappuccino
Cappuccinos and lattes are different espresso drinks, but they are very similar. The main difference is that there is a lot more steamed milk added to a cappuccino than to a latte. A cappuccino also has a very small amount of foam compared to a latte. Compared to a latte, a cappuccino has a stronger flavour.
Sone cappuccino amounts also make a cappuccino that has equal parts of espresso and steamed milk, or equal parts milk, espresso and foam. The latter is much closer to a latte, but it still maintains the strong flavour that differentiates cappuccinos from lattes.
Americano
The Americano is one of the strongest types of espresso coffee. Americano espresso is made by adding hot water to a shot of espresso in a ratio of 2:1. The hot water added helps soften the strong flavour and caffeine content of each sip of an Americano.
Even when drinking an espresso Americano, you can create new kinds of espresso drinks by adding different amounts of milk or milk substitutes to the Americano. Adding these substitutes helps improve the flavour while making the coffee creamier. If you find yourself doing this regularly, you might want to consider switching to a latte or cappuccino.
To make a cup of Americano, you need 1/3 cup of espresso (usually one shot) and 2/3 cup of hot water (usually two shots).
Mocha
A mocha latte or a mocha is one of the fancier types of espresso coffee drinks because it is flavoured using chocolate syrup. The other ingredients are espresso and steamed milk with the chocolate added for flavour. Some cafés will use cocoa powder as a chocolate syrup substitute. Doing this produces a different flavour profile that you might like.
Sugar can be added to mocha and some people top their mocha lattes with whipped cream. Because mocha latte is the sweetest type of espresso coffee, many people prefer to take it during the day. It is also a perfect drink for the end of a meal or as a dessert.
Red Eye
If you are looking for an espresso drink that wakes you up and gets you going quickly, the red eye is what you are looking for. This is a cup of coffee that has a shot of espresso added to it. This espresso drink has a very high caffeine content and so you should not take it in the afternoons and evenings or if you have caffeine sensitivity.
Ristretto
The official definition of a ristretto is a single shot of espresso with nothing added to it. It is the most concentrated form of espresso available. This gives it a very rich taste and it can be overpowering for some people.
Some cafés also serve a restricted type of ristretto. This is an espresso shot that is made using half the amount of water a normal shot of espresso does but made using the same amount of coffee grinds. Many people often add some sugar to a restricted ristretto because it is quite bitter. Some baristas also serve ristretto, regular or restricted, with a glass of water that is meant to be drunk between sips.
If you ever walk into a café and see people sipping coffee from tiny cups, they are likely drinking a ristretto.
Short Macchiato
A short macchiato is a shot of espresso that contains some textured milk. A short macchiato is meant for those who find a shot of espresso to be too overpowering. It can sometimes be topped with foam or frothed milk to balance it out.
Long Macchiato
A long macchiato originated in Australia. It is made by adding a double shot of espresso to a glass with some textured milk added in. Some baristas will serve a long macchiato with the double espresso and textured milk to make half a glass of macchiato and then top it up with water or milk.
Because of the double espresso, the long macchiato is one of the stronger espresso coffee drink types that you should not take in the afternoon or evening.
Lungo
A lungo espresso is very similar to an Americano. However, they differ in that the lungo has twice the amount of water an Americano contains. Because of this, these two types of espresso look and taste very different.
Because of the double amount of water, the taste is a lot more subdued and milder than you would get in an Americano. Even then, it is still quite bitter and so it is not very popular.
Use the same amount of coffee grounds you would use to make a shot of espresso and add twice the amount of water you would add in an Americano to get a lungo espresso.
Affogato
If you are looking for a fun coffee dessert after a heavy meal, an affogato would be perfect for you. This is an ice cream that contains coffee. It is made by adding a shot of espresso to a scoop of ice cream, usually vanilla ice cream.
Double Espresso
A double espresso is simply two shots of espresso. It is the type of espresso you should take if you are looking for a huge boost to start your day.
It is made by using 14 grams of finely ground coffee and 60 millilitres of water to make the double espresso shot.
Dirty Chai Latte
A chai latte is another fancy espresso drink that is not served too often. To make a chai latte, start with masala chai. Masala is a spice that is used in lots of traditional Indian and East African foods. Next, add the frothy steamed milk that is used to make a latte. The result is a creamy drink that is delicious for any time of day.
To make a dirty chai latte, add a shot of espresso to the chai latte.
Cortado Coffee
Cortado coffee is thought to be better than both a latte and cappuccino as it strikes a balance between milk and espresso. It is made by adding one shot of espresso to one shot of steamed milk. It can also be made in larger volumes by using equal parts of both ingredients. Furthermore, it is silky smooth, has a robust flavour profile and is perfect for those who want both ingredients to stand out.
Iced Variations
Almost all the different espresso drinks you can find in a café have iced versions. These iced variations include iced cappuccinos, iced espressos and iced lattes. These iced versions all contain ice added when the coffees are made. These iced variations are great when you need a pick-me-up but do not want to take a hot cup of coffee.
As you can see, you can start with a shot of espresso and create so many variations of different espresso drinks. It all depends on what you want the result to be and how you would like to enjoy your coffee.
About the author
Johan Hedlund
I´m living in Karlstad, Sweden with my family. Been working the last 25 years with several start ups in the tech industry. Coffee has been an integral part, both professionally and privately. Eager to learn new things and happy to be a member of the era of we community.
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