Regardless of whether you make it at home or buy a cup at your nearby coffee shop, it’s hard to beat the full-bodied flavor of Italian espresso coffee. Espresso coffee may be Italian in origin, where it was first served at the turn of the 20th century, but its appeal is international. Just look at all the gourmet coffee shops springing up on almost every corner. It’s very easy to enjoy a cup of fine Italian espresso coffee just about anywhere.
Espresso is prepared in a special coffee machine which forces hot water or steam water very quickly through coffee beans that are ground fine and then compressed. What comes out is a relatively thick beverage with a rich, strong flavor. It also is much higher in caffeine than your typical brew.
A feature of Italian espresso coffee is a frothy head on the surface, like you might see on beer. It’s known as crema, derived from the Italian word for cream, and is produced from the foam remaining once the brewing has completed. If you take it straight, a shot of espresso is typically served in small espresso cups known as a demi-tasse. You can add some sugar if you like; some people prefer to just dust a little over the frothy surface.
However, Italian espresso coffee can be a little too much for some people’s tastes. If that’s the case, there are other tasty options that are based on espresso that don’t pack quite the wallop. Macchiato, known as spotted coffee by the Italians, is comprised of espresso with a touch of milk, often with a dollop of milk foam floating on the surface. This beverage is also served in a demi-tasse, since it isn’t that much different from straight espresso.
Cappuccino is a coffee beverage that contains about two-thirds espresso and one third steamed milk. It’s crowned with milk foam, and frequently a dusting of cocoa powder. It’s named after an order of Catholic monks known as the Capuchin. Their hoods – cappuccino – are almost exactly the same color as their namesake beverage.
Even lower down on the caffeine scale is latte, which usually contains one part espresso and two parts milk, topped with some milk froth.
If you’re interested in preparing your own Italian espresso coffee at home, all it takes is an espresso machine and some practice. Quality espresso coffee machines range in price from around two hundred dollars to several thousand. But the price of your machine isn’t the ultimate deciding factor in a good cup of espresso. Experts agree that the key to a fine cup of Italian espresso coffee is all about the precise temperature of the water and forcing it through at just the right pressure.Related Articles: