Timeless Tastes: 10 Popular Coffee Drinks to Start Your Day
Food and drinks arouse our palate in many ways. One particular way is through their scent. And perhaps the most joyful and beloved scent of them all is coffee.
Some people start their day by taking a walk or jogging to take in the smell of the wonderful dew and morning sunshine. However, some find the smell of coffee a more comforting way to start the day.
Coffee is the basis of both very simple and more sophisticated drinks, and the complexity is not always in the number of ingredients a drink has.
Below is a list of some of our favorite coffee drinks:
1. Macchiato
So what is a macchiato and why does it linger with a bitter-sweet taste? Macchiato is an Italian recipe. The word macchiato means “marked”.
The Macchiato recipe is quite simple. Start by brewing coffee with an espresso machine. Steam the milk to 160° to create a foam-like surface. Mix freshly ground espresso together with milk.
If you visit Italy, make sure you know the difference between latte macchiato and espresso macchiato. Espresso macchiato is a short coffee with a small amount of steamed milk, while latte macchiato is quite similar to a capuccino or simply latte, described below.
2. Cappuccino
The word cappuccino, first known as “Kapuziner,” started in Vienna. It means a “coffee with cream and sugar”. The recipe for cappuccino is ½ cup milk and ⅓ cup hot coffee, preferably brewed espresso. You can also add cocoa powder to the top.
3. Espresso
The word espresso means “pressed coffee” in Italian. Espresso is prepared by brewing the coffee with steam pressure. The recipe includes ½ cup ground dark roast or French roast coffee. Start by putting the ground coffee in the coffeemaker. Then serve it in espresso cups. A lemon twist can also be added if desired.
4. Doppio
Doppio coffee is common on the British coffee market. The blend is derived from Italian espresso but is twice as strong as your usual espresso. The doppio coffee is a double shot espresso. Comparatively, espresso coffee and doppio coffee are the same. It is simply that the quantity of espresso is literally twice as much in a doppio than a single cup of espresso.
5. Mocha
The mocha coffee is derived from beans imported from Al Moka. The uniqueness of this coffee lies in the chocolate and coffee blend. The mocha recipe is composed of espresso, hot chocolate, milk, and whipped cream. Preparation is 1 cup hot brewed coffee, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (unsweetened), 1 tablespoon white sugar, and 2 tablespoons milk. Whipped cream is optional but mostly added for extra sweetness.
6. Irish
The Irish coffee, also known as café gaelach, is found in Ireland. The recipe is said to be influenced by their traditions. You need two teaspoons of sugar, 2 cups strong brewed coffee, 2 ounces of Irish whiskey, and ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream to prepare the recipe. Prepare it with hot water (not boiling), add the sugar, pour the coffee, and then stir. After stirring, add the Irish whiskey and finish it by topping it with the whipped cream.
7. Affogato
Affogato is an Italian word meaning “drowned”. It is a favorite of those with a sweet tooth as this coffee has ice cream on the top. The recipe is 3 tablespoons of strong brewed coffee and 2 small scoops of ice cream (chocolate, coffee, or vanilla flavor). Top it with dark chocolate or chopped hazelnuts; of course, you could also add both.
8. Flat White
Flat white is a term to describe milky coffee, but its source and where it originated is still in dispute. The recipe for flat white coffee is the same as cappuccino, though it does not have the foam and sprinkles. Flat white coffee is an espresso with steamed milk. Start by preparing 2 shots of espresso, froth the whole milk, then gently add the frothed milk into the espresso.
9. Cortado
The word cortado comes from the word “cortar”, a Spanish verb that means “to cut”, The difference between cortado coffee from other types of coffee is the balance of ingredients in the recipe. The recipe for cortado coffee is mixed shots of espresso and milk.
Start by grinding, tamping, and measuring espresso grounds and extract 2 shots. After removing, steam the milk, ideally whole milk but you can also use coconut, almond, or oak. Then pour the steamed milk into your espresso. Make sure the ratio of espresso to milk is 1:1, and there you have it—a perfectly balanced mixture of espresso and milk.
10. Latte
No coffee list is complete without a latte recipe. Latte originated from Italy. The latte consists of an espresso shot and steamed milk with a little foam. A latte is 2 cups of milk and 1 ⅓ hot brewed dark roast espresso.
If you are a hardcore coffee lover than you may enjoy these delicious coffee-based recipes:
- ALMOND, COFFEE & CHOCOLATE TART WITH MASCARPONE CREAM
- BEETROOT, COFFEE AND COCOA
- BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE-COFFEE TRUFFLES
- CARROTS ROASTED IN COFFEE BEANS, CRÈME FRAICHE, OATS, AND CILANTRO
- Spiced Coffee Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops
