Added: 09/03/2005 |
Espresso - Coffee Of Many AppearancesOne-third of the people in the world enjoy coffee, served hot or cold, in amounts larger than those of any other drink. The Italian word "espresso" has become the most popular and well-recognized name among coffee-lovers. It is strong black coffee, rich in flavor and taste, which is brewed by forcing the steam through finely ground, darkly roasted coffee beans. Espresso appears dark brown with a gold-colored foam on top, and it is often served in small portions. Since espresso quickly reacts to oxygen, it should be consumed immediately after brewing.
Brewing a "right" espresso is not so easy. Usually, it is made in espresso machines designed only for this purpose. The coffee is placed into the machine and hot water is forced through the coffee at a very high pressure - extracting all the flavor. A one to 1 1/2 ounce shot of espresso should brew from nineteen to twenty three seconds. The coffee should flow out of the machine at a slow but steady dribble. If your espresso has been perfectly brewed, a thick, foamy, golden brown crema will cover the surface. If the crema is good, then sugar in your espresso will float on the surface for a couple of seconds.
Espresso is also the foundation for other coffee drinks, such as cappuccino, latte, mocha and macchiato. All of them have their own varieties and may, sometimes, differ in the ways of brewing and serving. Among the most popular espresso specialties are:
- Caffe Latte is a single shot of espresso with steamed milk, it should have approximately a 3:1 ratio of milk to coffee.
- Cappuccino is traditionally equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk, served in a special white cup, similar to a teacup.
- Ristretto is espresso, brewed with less water, yielding a stronger taste.
- Americano is a single shot of espresso diluted with hot water, similar to drip-brew coffee.
- Mocha is usually a Cappuccino or a Caffe Latte with a chocolate syrup added. There can also be a beverage, which is a mixture of coffee and cocoa.
- Cafe Macchiato is a shot of espresso (served in a small espresso cup), topped off with steamed milk.
- Espresso Con Panna is a shot of espresso with whipped cream and, sometimes, chocolate crumbs.
- Espresso Affogato is served over ice-cream.
- Espresso Doppio is two shots of espresso in one cup.
- Espresso Corretto has some sort of liquor added.
- Lungo is espresso, brewed with more water (twice as much) and let through the ground coffee, yielding a weaker taste.
All respectable coffee shops and houses will offer you at least a few espressos and cappuccinos. Usually, each brand has its own special recipes of how to make a coffee taste the best. Caribou Coffee stands on the top of the list of coffee makers. Their Columbian coffee is made only with high-end Arabica beans and has a distinctive flavor and taste. A myriad of flavor additions are able to seduce even those, who are actually far from being coffee fans. This American company, a Starbucks' strong competitor, keeps on attracting a great number of people, proving that brewing a cup of a "perfect" espresso is a real art.
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