Coffee is the ichor that gets almost everyone’s day going. This drink from the gods has granted many a tired office worker the strength to power through the day. And while coffee is regarded as one of the most popular drinks known to mankind, there are a few types — each with unique properties — that should meet certain needs and preferences. Besides, we’ve all been there at one point of our lives — we’ve ended up staring at a menu or a shelf chock-full of consumables with our mouths agape. And that’s probably the scenario you might find yourself in if you don’t exactly know the basics of coffee. So, while you do know the 10 best coffee shops in New York City, what exactly would you order there? Well, read on and learn:
Espresso
Now, if you’re the type of person who needs a massive jolt of energy to jumpstart your day, then espresso is the coffee for you. This Italian drink is prepared by heating a small amount of water close to the boiling point and then by using pressure to force the water through finely-ground coffee beans. This results in a thicker drink that carries a more concentrated amount of caffeine.
Brewed Coffee
This is your standard run-of-the-mill office coffee that’s made by running heated water through the basket in your coffee maker that holds the ground coffee beans. The heated water then slowly drips into the actual content of your coffee maker, along with every drop of richness from your coffee beans. This is the most basic of your coffee types because ground coffee beans are inexpensive and this type of coffee is extremely easy to prepare. The water-to-coffee ratio in brewed coffee is significantly more balanced versus that of espresso. So, brewed coffee is easy and quick to prepare — this is great for people who are always on the move.
Cappuccino
This coffee type is intended for people who like to have cream in their coffee. Cappuccino originated in Italy and is now one of the most popular drinks around the world. This variant of coffee is traditionally prepared with espresso, steamed milk foam, and of course, milk. Up until the introduction of the cappuccino, coffee was only served black.
Turkish Coffee
This coffee type is not named by its place of origin, but rather by the method by which it’s prepared. Turkish coffee is made by roasting and then grinding coffee beans. The ground beans are then boiled in a cezve (a traditional pot) together with sugar. This is how coffee is served in Middle Eastern regions. As a result, Turkish coffee is noticeably sweeter than your regular coffee. So, order (or don’t) according to your sweetness preferences.
Americano
For those who still want the richness of espresso minus the huge jolt that comes with it, Caffè Americano is the coffee for you. This is essentially espresso plus hot water. The strength of your Americano can be controlled by choosing the ratio between your coffee and water. Just make sure that the water is added AFTER the coffee (only then is it an Americano). Do it the other way around and it becomes a long black coffee, which is similar, but it comes with the cream on top.
Coffee is an excellent beverage. And some people would rather order coffee from cafes, while others prefer to make them at home. If you’re one of the latter, then check out these manual pour over brewers. or read these reviews of some of the known Espresso machines.
