If given a choice between coffee and tea, I’d take tea any day. Most days, I try to avoid deciding what to order from the long list of coffee drinks available. And If really really have to, I stick with my usual order – Caramel Macchiato. I’ve enjoyed drinking it the first time around and since then, I’ve been ordering the same in all coffee shops. It’s the only order I can think of that would keep me from exposing how coffee illiterate I am, if such term exists.
But alas, not anymore! I should have researched these coffee basics sooner. It could have saved me all the trouble and the embarrassment of not understanding what exactly to order.
Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes, and Mochas are four of the most common types of coffee besides the traditional forms. Espressos are the base of most of the alternate forms of coffee, being a shot of rich, full-blooded coffee with a layer of silky crema. The color of the hazelnut crema is an indicator of the quality of the espresso being served. Cappuccinos are standard espressos with silky foamed milk poured into the cup and then topped with a light sprinkling of chocolate powder. A latte is a standard espresso with hot milk which is then topped with a small layer of milk foam. These drinks are traditionally served in a glass. Mochas are the same standard espresso and hot chocolate and hot milk all combined and also generally served in a glass.
Easy, right?
