The difference between espresso and cappuccino
What these two drinks have in common is that they are brewed in coffee machines and coffee makers. Espresso is a favorite drink of Europeans, especially Italians. This is their creation.
It is prepared by passing 40 ml of water heated to 92–95 degrees under pressure of 8–10 bar through 7 grams of ground coffee. Average yield 30-35 ml. This without additives, pure coffee is poured from 40 to 80 ml.
The espresso is very strong, concentrated with a rich taste. Therefore, they drink it from porcelain dessert cups (demitasse) in miniature volumes. Coffee etiquette requires filling the container no more than two-thirds full.
Drink in sips immediately after preparation. In cups of espresso you will see a thick reddish foam with veins. This color is a sign of proper preparation and quality of coffee. Espresso is the basis of many varieties of coffee drinks.
Cappuccino is an espresso-based coffee. It consists of three layers: coffee, milk and thick white foam. The foam is created using a cappuccino machine. If the addition of sugar does not destroy the foam and it does not spread or settle, then the drink is prepared correctly. The color of coffee is not uniform, it depends on the amount of milk, and has a mild taste. To add unusual shades to the taste, grated chocolate or cinnamon is added to it. Drink from large cups 150 - 180 ml. The dishes are filled completely to the brim. First they eat foam, then drink coffee. That's why they serve spoons with cappuccino.
What is cappuccino?
We already wrote about cappuccino in a previous article, now let’s just briefly remember what this coffee drink is.
Our hero is made by mixing espresso (a strong drink made from ground coffee) and heated milk.
Subtle coffee connoisseurs can say that other types of coffee (latte and macchiato) have the same components. But there is one important detail here: when preparing cappuccino, add milk in a 1:1 ratio, that is, half a cup of coffee drink is topped up with milk. Lattes and macchiatos are only 1/3 milk. In the first case, the foam turns out to be fluid and thick, in the second - airy and light. The taste also differs, having its own charm.
The difference between espresso and Americano
There is foam on the surface of the espresso. Holes in the foam are a sign of a violation of the cooking technology. Americano has no foam.
Americano is espresso diluted one to one with water. Americano does not have a bright, pronounced taste like espresso. However, Americano lacks bitterness and contains minimal caffeine. Therefore, this drink is popular among fans of a healthy lifestyle. Americano is prepared in 150 ml portions, and espresso - 40 ml, as mentioned above.
Experts highlight the main differences in four main points:
- Espresso has the least amount of water and is therefore strong and concentrated. While Americano, with twice as much water, is the least rich coffee.
- There is foam on the surface of the espresso. Holes in the foam are a sign of a violation of the cooking technology. Americano has no foam.
- Americano is prepared using a shot of espresso, diluted with water.
- Espresso has a pronounced taste and aroma, Americano is much weaker.
Americano is prepared in the following ways:
The Italian way. The coffee maker brews coffee for no more than 25 seconds. Then water, not brought to a boil, is added to the coffee in a one-to-one ratio. If brewed longer, the Americano will become bitter and very strong. The foam cannot be preserved.
Swedish way. After boiling the water, you need to remove it from the heat. Boil the espresso for 20-25 seconds and pour it into a cup of water. This Americano tastes softer. The foam on the drink remains.
Espresso is the strongest coffee. The only stronger drink is doppio espresso, which requires twice as much coffee.
Since it is a diluted espresso, Americano cannot be considered a strong coffee.
Americans don't like small portions and that's why Americano was created. This is one or several servings of standard espresso, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. The maximum drink quantity is 470 ml. Americano, prepared using the correct technology, has a less pronounced aftertaste and aroma than espresso.
Despite the fact that espresso has a stronger feel than Americano, due to the concentration of substances, they have the same proportion of caffeine (40-60 mg). Therefore the effect is the same.
Another difference is that Americano is drunk both hot and cold; the taste does not change depending on the temperature. And espresso deteriorates if you don’t drink it hot and fresh.
Serving also varies. Americano is served in cups of 200-250, even up to 450 ml. For espresso, demitasse cups with a capacity of 30-90 ml are suitable.
The caloric content of an Americano is 2 kcal without sugar. Espresso is about 9 kcal.
Types of espresso coffee
Regular espresso is made by passing seven grams of coffee through 90-degree water. In this case, 60 grams of water is needed, and the process occurs under pressure. Serve in a 60 ml cup.
Double espresso is made by passing 14 grams of coffee through 60 ml of 90-degree water. Serve the drink in a cup with a capacity of 90-100 ml.
Espresso Lungo – usually served in a 90-100 ml cup. To make it, you need to pass 7 grams of finely ground coffee beans through 60 ml of 90-degree water.
Espresso ristretto – served in a small 60 ml cup. Coffee is very strong because it requires 7 grams of coffee to be passed through 20-25 ml of hot (90 degrees) water. This type of coffee contains little caffeine, so if you are interested in which coffee has more caffeine : regular espresso or ristretto, the choice will fall on the first option.
Espresso macchiato - prepared in the same way as classic espresso, only 15 ml of cream is added to the macchiato.
Espresso Romano – prepared in the same way as regular espresso, only adding a little zest and a drop of lemon juice.
Espresso corretto is usually served in large cups with a capacity of 250-500 ml. A little whiskey is added to one shot of regular espresso.
You can learn more about what ESPRESSO coffee is - its benefits, calorie content, recipes for making it at home - from this article.
The difference between espresso and latte
As we already know, espresso is strong coffee without milk, brewed in a coffee machine. Other types of cocktails contain milk; a shot of espresso is the base. Lattes are also based on espresso. But a latte contains more milk than a cappuccino. Therefore, for the same volume there is less foam. To prepare, first take half the milk, then pour in espresso, then the remaining amount of milk with foam. The result is a more delicate taste and many people prefer latte.
- Thus, a latte differs from espresso in the presence of about 75% of the total volume of milk;
- Milky delicate taste and barely noticeable coffee notes;
- calorie content depending on the serving size, which varies up to 200 kcal;
- large volume, which is 120-450 ml.
Carefully pour a portion of espresso and 3 parts of foamed milk heated to 70˚C into the serving container. Mixing should not be allowed: milk will be the lowest layer, followed by espresso, and milk foam on top.
The taste of latte can be varied with syrups. Such additives are acceptable. In Europe, the standard latte portion is 200 ml, in the USA - 500 ml.
How is Americano different from espresso?
These are the most common drinks and many people ask the question - what is the difference between espresso coffee and Americano coffee?
Firstly , this is the volume of the finished drink. The Italian cooking recipe uses 30 and 60 ml of water, while its American counterpart uses several times more water. In this case, the amount of ground coffee is the same in both the first and second options. Consequently, espresso coffee has a richer taste, aroma and invigorating effect.
Secondly. These drinks are also served and drunk differently. American-style coffee is drunk from large glasses, and espresso is served in small cups, the drink is covered with thick, dense foam. Americano can be drunk for a long time, even after it has cooled, and Italian coffee is drunk hot. Before drinking espresso, it is considered correct to take a sip of clean water to cleanse your taste buds.
American-style coffee is chosen by those for whom espresso is too strong. A large volume of the American drink is poured into large glasses, often with a lid. You can take it with you and drink it on the way.
Anyone who appreciates the real taste of good coffee prefers espresso. It is drunk without the use of any additives in order to feel the taste of the natural product. It is ideal if you need to quickly cheer up, as well as for those who are watching their figure, because espresso without sugar has a very low calorie content.
The difference between espresso and raf coffee
Raf is also an espresso-based coffee, but with the addition of cream, vanilla sugar and foam. Use one or more shots of espresso. Espresso is mixed with milk, vanilla sugar is added and whipped with a steam wand. The creamy taste prevails. Cream should have a fat content of 10%. Therefore, the drink has a sweet taste; vanilla sugar is added to enhance the effect.
The name raf comes from the name Raphael. According to some sources, this is the name of the barista who originally invented the drink in Russia; according to other sources, this was the name of a regular guest of the coffee shop where the drink was conceived.
You can read the difference between espresso and ristretto from the articles at the corresponding links.
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Popular espresso-based coffee drinks
Ristretto
If you translate the word “ristretto” from Italian, it means thickness and strength. This drink needs to be brewed as follows: coffee needs to be brewed a little stronger than espresso, but in a smaller volume.
To make the volume smaller, take the same amount of coffee, but less water. Choose a smaller grind. During cooking, all the flavors should develop.
Lungo based on espresso
This drink is also called long coffee. Until recently, he was considered completely unpopular. To get this drink using a coffee machine, you need to add three times more water for the same amount of caffeine. Due to this, the strength in the drink decreases. Lungo coffee was considered a low-quality drink, because it did not have the density and the desired aftertaste.
Today, it has become popular to brew this drink based on light-roasted grains. The result is a drink with a complex and balanced structure. If you can't get espresso with the acidity you need, try brewing a lungo. To do this, you need to add water for the same amount of caffeine. Choose a coarser grind. This is necessary so that the water passes faster.
Macchiato
This drink involves milk foam. A macchiato is an espresso-based coffee drink. You also need to add a little milk. There is also another version of the recipe, where delicious milk foam is added on top.
Beverage
There is another option in which cold milk is added. This drink is called ital.
Recipe: Take a tall cup and pour cold milk into it. Now you need to be as careful as possible. Next, you need to pour a layer of hot milk, and then add foam. Now you need to slowly pour in the espresso. It should be a thin string.
Espresso based cappuccino
There is a lot of talk about this drink. There are a large number of myths that I would like to justify. The name cappuccino has nothing to do with monks and their hoods. The drink was invented in Vienna in the 19th century. To make cappuccino, you need to take coffee that has already been brewed and add milk or cream. The result will be a light brown color. Capuchins had the same shade.
The next myth is the proportion of three to three. It says that the drink is prepared from three identical parts: espresso, milk and foam. Some books write very unclearly about proportions and therefore many may make mistakes when preparing cappuccino.
Coffee with milk
Truly a drink for creative people. There are no rules here, no proportions. Everyone, whether at home or in their own coffee shop, is free to create their own, unique and inimitable coffee with milk. Mix instant coffee with hot milk and it will be just the same. Take freshly ground Jamaican Arabica, make a lungo from it, add a couple of ristrettos and express a drop of buffalo milk into it - it will be a very expensive and strange version of coffee with milk.
It can be a disgusting surrogate cappuccino or a wonderful drink, the tastier than which you have never tried anything - it doesn’t matter. Anything that does not fit established standards can only be called that way, or you can give the drink your own name.
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