How well do you know your espresso? Espresso Coffee Terms

Americano
A shot or two of espresso that has been poured into a glass filled with hot water.

Demitasse
A small (1/2 size) cup used for serving espresso. It is a French term meaning 'half cup'.

Crema
The caramel colored foam that appears on top of a shot of espresso during the brewing period. It soon dissipates after brewing. If your Crema is gone then you waited too long...or you received a bad shot! The crema makes a 'cap' which helps retain the aromatics and flavors of the espresso within the cup - the presence of crema indicates an acceptable brew.... Crema is due to colloids and lipids forced out into an emulsion under the pressure of a espresso machine.

Doppio
A double shot of espresso. Also see solo

Espresso
A brewing method that extracts the heart of the bean. It was invented in Italy at the turn of the century. A pump-driven machine forces hot water through fine grounds at around nine atmospheres of pressure. It should take between 18 to 23 seconds to extract a good shot. This will produce from 3/4 to one ounce of great liquid. This produces a sweet, thick and rich, smooth shot of espresso. Comes from the Latin word "Expresere" which means "to press out."

Espresso Breve
Espresso with half and half.

Espresso Lungo
A shot that is pulled long for a bit of extra espresso. While many believe this maximizes the caffeine, in most shops this merely produces a bitter cup.

Espresso Macchiato
Espresso with a minimal amount (or "mark") of steamed milk on top.

Espresso Ristretto
Literally "restricted" espresso. A shorter draw. The goal being a thicker and more flavorful espresso. This is the strongest and most concentrated espresso drink. It is made with about half the amount of water but the same amount of coffee as a regular espresso. It is pure, intense, and wonderful in taste. Ristretto in Italian means "restricted."

Latte

A shot or two of espresso that has been poured into a cup filled with steamed milk and topped off with foamed milk (about a 1/4").

Solo
A single shot of espresso. Also see doppio.

Courtesy Of CoffeeForLess.com
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