Coffee and Its Derivatives

While coffee is, and likely all the time will be, the king of the morning wake-up, there are categorically four drinks (all from the coffee bean) that share a distinct whole of popularity within western society - coffee, latte, espresso, and cappuccino. The four horsemen of the caffeinated apocalypse laid out 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 habitancy can tell the difference and have a preference within this group, what categorically separates each drink from the others?

Coffee

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 determined light or dark (also generally 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 generate the final product. The beans themselves should not be part of the final mixture, being separated by whether 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 appropriate coffee cup, it is typically served in much smaller volume that effect in the espresso drinker categorically receiving less caffeine per cup than the coffee drinker. The difference between coffee and espresso lies practically 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 indispensable ingredient for both of these beverages. Latte categorically means milk in Italian (one would have to categorically order a cafe latte to get something other than a appropriate 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 contemporary houses are adding this feature to a variety of coffee drinks).

It is truly astounding the route that coffee has taken. From one wee plant, it has come to be one of the world's most consumed singular beverages, and been developed in a whole of derivative forms that are consumed in great quantities as well.

Coffee and Its Derivatives