While coffee is, and likely always will be, the king of the morning wake-up, there are really four drinks (all from the coffee bean) that share a certain amount of popularity within western society – coffee, latte, espresso, and cappuccino. The four horsemen of the caffeinated apocalypse represent the vast bulk of humanity\’s a.m. intake. If they did not, there would only be one coffee house at every major intersection instead of three.

While most people can tell the difference and have a preference within this group, what actually separates each drink from the others?

Coffee obviously represents the morning standard. It comes from coffee beans (which are in reality seeds) produced by the coffee plant. Initially, the beans are roasted long before they are sold to the consumer. The roasting process is what determines whether the coffee will be considered light or dark (also commonly referred to as light or bold). After processing, the beans are transferred in some manner to the consumers, who then brew the beans with hot water to create the final product. The beans themselves should not be part of the final mixture, being separated by either a filter or press.

The next drink is the first of three that were developed in Italy over a century ago (for some reason, the Italians seem to own the patent on coffee experimentation). Espresso is well known for its high concentration of caffeine. The irony here is that while it does contain a much greater density of caffeine compared to a standard coffee cup, it is typically served in much smaller volume that result in the espresso drinker actually receiving less caffeine per cup than the coffee drinker. The difference between coffee and espresso lies almost exclusively in the brewing method, as the same roasted beans (pushed tightly together for espresso) are used for both. Espresso garners this greater concentration of caffeine and coffee by using pressure to push hot water into compacted coffee grounds.

Latte and cappuccino build upon the espresso methodology. While milk is an optional ingredient for coffee drinkers, it is – by definition – an essential ingredient for both of these beverages. Latte actually means milk in Italian (one would have to actually order a cafe latte to get something other than a standard glass of milk). Latte is created by combining steamed milk and espresso. For cappuccino, espresso, milk, and milk froth are combined. The drinks look similar, only cappuccino is topped by a foam. Cappuccino is also a bit unique in that it is often served colder with ice (although many modern houses are adding this feature to a variety of coffee drinks).

It is truly amazing the route that coffee has taken. From one little plant, it has become one of the world\’s most consumed single beverages, and been developed in a number of derivative forms that are consumed in great quantities as well. Now it is not only one of the most popular drinks in the world, but also at the heart of multiple billion dollar empires.

Author Bio: by Felix Chesterfield; If you are interested in learning more about these coffee products, or specifically Single Serve Coffee, please contact the author for more information.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: coffee, latte, cappuccino, espresso