Drinking espresso drinks in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon has become a billion dollar business in the USA. If you have plenty of money, and enjoy hanging out at coffee places, go for it.
On the other hand, if you really can't afford the $300-$400 a month you might be spending, you might want to think about making your espresso at home.
The secret to good coffee and good espresso is quality beans, quality water, and a quality grinder. Part 2 of this series lists a number of different espresso devices. There is an espresso machine for every budget. The obvious advantages of home brewed espresso is lower cost and you can make the drink exactly to your liking. I think a lot of people don't make their espresso drinks at home because it sounds complicated (how much coffee to use, how to foam the milk, etc.) You can buy a milk frother from Amazon, Aerolatte Milk Frother Satin for about $20.00. You can heat the milk in the microwave and use the frother to create foam.I have found that freshly ground coffee makes all the difference in the world. Unfortunately, high quality burr grinders are on the expensive side. They are not cheap. I found mine on sale at Costco for $30.00 but the coffee geeks say it's no good for my espresso machine. Look for a deal on the Cuisinart Supreme Grind DBM-8 Coffee Grinder. I drink more regular coffee than espresso.
Click here to see a visual list of the most common espresso drinks.
Commuters might want to consider a spill proof travel mug such as the Contigo Autoseal West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug with Easy-Clean Lid, available at Amazon for under $20. Be careful not to burn yourself, because this mug keeps the coffee hot for about 4 hours. You might even want to experiment with adding an ice cube so your coffee is drinkable immediately. This travel mug is even a good idea if you plan on continuing to buy your coffee on the way to work.
"A latte is something North Americans have made popular. In Europe, a latte would tend to be considered something you would serve to your children. When made properly I consider a latte to be a delicious drink. Many people confuse the latte with the cappucino. A latte is espresso in combination with steamed milk. To give you an idea of ingredient ratios, a 16oz. drink would be 2-3oz. of espresso and the rest steamed milk.
Hint: I consider a good latte to be a "blended" drink. A good barista will incorporate foam, steamed milk, and espresso together giving the drink a blended taste and a marbleized texture."
Cappuccino
This drink is often confused with a Latte, but in essence they are different drinks. The common cappuccino is made in 1/3 proportions. This means a proper cappucino is 1/3 espresso, 1/3 "steamed" milk, and 1/3 "frothed" milk. The espresso and steamed milk are poured together and the frothed milk is scooped on top. This drink is very subjective in my opinion, and can be ordered several different ways.
Hint: I think this drink is a good test of how good a barista actually is, and be forwarned if you do not like formy-ness order a latte…"
"Espresso is made by forcing very hot water under high pressure through finely ground, compacted coffee. Tamping down the coffee promotes the water's even penetration of the grounds. This process produces an almost syrupy beverage by extracting both solid and dissolved components. It also produces the definitive creme, by emulsifying the oils in the ground coffee into a colloid, which does not occur in other brewing methods. There is no universal standard defining the process of extracting espresso, but there are several published definitions which attempt to place constraints on the amount and type of ground coffee used, the temperature and pressure of the water, and the rate of extraction. Generally, one uses an espresso machine to make espresso. The act of producing a shot of espresso is often termed "pulling" a shot, originating from lever espresso machines, which require pulling down a handle attached to a spring-loaded piston, forcing hot water through the coffee at high pressure. Today, however, it is more common for the pressure to be generated by an electric pump." Wikiped
If you prefer regular coffee, see my November 11, 2013 post, "A Good Cup Of Coffee."
(to be continued)
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