ORIGIN STORIES
A Brief History of Some Espresso Based Drinks
Sean Allman Origin Stories – A Brief History of Some Espresso Based Drinks.
We all love coffee but have you ever been curious about the story behind your favourite drink? Ever wondered what makes each different? In this ebook I hope to shed some light on the drinks we order everyday but know very little about. Americano:
Americano, or “caffe Americano”, is a staple of any large coffee shop chain or independent nook. Consisting of the simple mixture of brewed espresso and hot water it’s a favourite the world over. The term "Americano" means "American", and comes from American Spanish, dating to the 1970s. The term "caffe Americano" specifically is Italian for "American coffee”. There is a popular, but unconfirmed, belief that the name has its origins in World War II when American G.I.s in Italy would dilute espresso with hot water to approximate the coffee to which they were accustomed.
Latte
A Latte, which translates to milk in Italian, is made with espresso mixed with hot milk topped with a small amount of foamed milk. Having its origins in Europe as far back as the 17th Centaury it is known by several names the world over, like Café au Lait or Caffe con Leche. Latte coffees became very popular in the 1950s in the US, from there its popularity spread worldwide. Variants include replacing the coffee with another drink base such as masala chai (spiced Indian tea), mate or matcha (a finely ground green tea power), and other types of milk, such as soy milk or almond milk are also used. Cappuccino:
Another beloved classic is the cappuccino. A cappuccino is traditionally prepared with espresso, hot milk and steamed milk foam. They are often topped with cinnamon or cocoa. It is typically smaller in volume than a latte, with a thicker layer of micro foam. The name comes from the Capuchin friars, referring to the colour of their habits, and in this context referring to the colour of the beverage when milk is added in small portion to dark, brewed coffee (today mostly espresso). The physical appearance of a modern cappuccino with espresso créma and steamed milk is a result of a long evolution of the drink.
Cortado:
A cortado consists of espresso coffee, specifically a ristretto shot which is made with half the water of a regular shot, mixed with a small amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity. The word cortado is the past participle of the Spanish verb cortar (to cut), in the sense of "dilute". Cortado is a wellknown drink in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America but has been gaining much popularity anywhere there is a strong latino population. Flat White:
A flat white is a coffee beverage that originated in either Australia or New Zealand, the precise origin being disputed – many believe it to have begun in Sydney in the 1980s when the coffee culture in Australia was growing. The beverage is prepared by pouring microfoam (steamed milk consisting of small, fine bubbles with a glossy or velvety consistency) over a single shot (AU) or double ristretto shot (NZ) of espresso. It is similar to the traditional cappuccino or the latte although smaller in volume, therefore having a higher proportion of coffee to milk, and milk that is more velvety in consistency – allowing the espresso to dominate the flavour, while being supported by the milk.
Macchiato
Caffè macchiato, sometimes called espresso macchiato, is an espresso coffee drink with a small amount of milk, usually foamed. In Italian, macchiato means, “marked”, "stained" or "spotted", so the literal translation of caffè macchiato is "stained coffee", or coffee with a spot of milk. The origin of the name "macchiato" stems from baristas needing to show the serving waiters the difference between an espresso and an espresso with a tiny bit of milk in it; the latter was "marked".