15th Ave Coffee & Tea

Espresso… How do I love thee?  I drink you in many different forms, yet you are always beautiful. Civilizations have flourished, culinary masterpieces created because of your splendor.

So maybe I’m slightly obsessed,  but let it be excused… coffee is my job, after all.  And as a coffee evangelist, I feel it is my duty (bestowed by the coffee gods, of course) to educate as many minds and palates as are humanly possible. I am your barista Alex and today I am inspired to simply break down the staple espresso-based beverages so as to make them more accessible to the coffee novice.

#1: The Latte
The latte.  Approachable; familiar; a milk lover’s paradise.  The standard latte contains two shots (or roughly 2 ounces) of espresso and anywhere from 6 to 18 ounces of delicious, frothy milk.  Technically, a latte should have around ¼ of an inch of dense foam on top, but never scooped, always free poured.  Lattes are great for slowly sipping as you sift through a newspaper or nose through a novel.  They are also perfect if you are looking for a sweet pick-me-up, as adding vanilla or almond flavoring is best done with a latte.

#2: The Macchiato
One the other side of the drink spectrum is the macchiato.  Where the latte is milk based, the macchiato is espresso based.  Served in a 4-ounce demitasse, the macchiato consists of 2 espresso shots pulled “ristretto” topped off with rich, velvet-frothed milk. The makeup and temperature of this handsome beverage allows the drinker to best experience the flavors of the espresso and interplay of texture with the milk.  As an espresso-forward beverage, you are able to taste all the flavor nuances of the shots, which can range from lemon zest to pink peppercorn to buttered toast.  The temperature the milk is steamed to lends itself to quick consumption and optimum flavor.  As with food, the flavors in coffee become more pronounced the closer it comes to room temperature.  A macchiato is served around 140 degrees, just warm enough to still be considered a “hot drink” and cool enough to extract the maximum flavor.

#3: The Cappuccino
In between the latte and the macchiato can be found a beautiful harmony of deliciousness that is, ahem, the cappuccino.  Many people are unaware, but a true cappuccino is served in a 6-ounce ceramic demitasse.  Two ounces of espresso, two ounces of steamed milk, and two ounces of foam: the holy trinity.  This drink is perfect for those coffee drinkers wanting to expand their palate or try a different type of drink.  Cappuccinos are also a wonderful for a caffeinated pick-me-up with fewer calories, so as not to fill you up before dinner.

As always, never forget that the best way to drink coffee is to drink it how you like it.  With that in mind, however, don’t be afraid to try a new beverage; your next “new drink” may turn into your new favorite!

-Alex