I think it's easy to point how this is pretty off in some ways, but if you think of it as being aimed at someone with no coffee knowledge, I think it's not a bad overview of how that person is likely to experience those types of drinks.

[–] shneancy 41 points 2 months ago (3 children)

as someone who knows fuck all about coffee i can confirm this is how i see coffee. The one thing i know is that i like milky carmel cappuccinos:3

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

Here's a quick tidbit I always have in the back of my mind:

If it's an Italian name, it's espresso-based and if it's a French name, it's coffee-based.

Italian coffee, for example:

Americano - Espresso and water
Latte - Espresso and regular milk
Cappuccino - Espresso and steamed milk
Breve - Espresso and steamed half-and-half

French coffee, for example:

Café - Plain coffee, sometimes called Café Noir
Café au Lait - Coffee and regular milk
Café Cremé - Coffee and cream (or sometimes half-and-half)
Café Americano - Coffee and water, it's the French version of the Italian style.

What's the difference between coffee and espresso? Coffee is brewed and steeped. Espresso is created by forcing water through very, very densely-packed coffee grounds using high pressure. Coffee is typically enjoyed in cups and espresso is typically consumed in "shots" because of the strong flavor.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Is an Italian latte really with cold milk?

I used to work in coffee in Seattle and around there a latte is also steamed milk. The difference between a latte and a cappuccino is the amount of foam to milk ratio.

Latte is mostly milk with a topping of foam. Cappuccino is half foam half milk (and some people like even more foam in their cappuccinos).

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Those terms are an American invention. As for Italy

Latte = plain old milk. Can be cold or hot, it's milk
Caffelatte = probably the origin of the American "latte", literally means coffee and milk, usually made and home with cold or hot milk and moka coffee
Latte macchiato = big cup of milk, frothy on top, with a shot of espresso in it
Caffè macchiato = espresso with a shot of milk, can be frothy

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Interesting, thanks for the info! What is moka coffee? Mocha here means a latte with chocolate basically. Sometimes with whipped cream instead of foam.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Coffee made with a Moka pot

What you call mocha should actually be called Mocaccino, although it's more similar to what we call Marocchino in Italy. They're both derived from the "Bicerin", a drink typical of Turin.

Marocchino is like a Cappuccino with powdered cocoa (mix the espresso and cocoa before pouring the milk).

Mocaccino is instead made up of three layers, a layer of melted chocolate, then a layer of espresso, then a layer of frothy milk.

Afaik they're not massively popular in Italy, but here in the north I see Marocchino more often than Mocaccino.

PS: if you want to pronounce them correctly, "chi" and "che" are pronounced "ki" and "ke", while "ci" and "ce" are pronounced "chi" and "che".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

It sounds like an American mocha is most similar to the mocaccino, since we mostly use a thick chocolate sauce for the chocolate, not cocoa powder.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Certainly the origin of the American "latte" is the latte macchiato, because that's exactly what you receive if you order "a latte" in the US.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I was just trying to keep things simple, but you're right

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Oh got it. You got me very intrigued! 😄

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

It's worth noting that most places without a "signature" style just use espresso as the base nowadays. Because espresso is a much easier way to start (as it's a small amount of coffee syrup, without the water).
And outside of speciality (pour-over/cold-brew), it's the preferred extraction method.

[–] I_Has_A_Hat -3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Half-and-half is for cowards. Either cut the cream entirely or get full cream.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

It's for those transitioning from full cream to none. At least I've never seen anyone going the other way.

[–] crozilla 5 points 2 months ago

Wow, I thought I was the only person who didn’t know anything about coffee!

[–] JustAnotherKay 2 points 2 months ago

Yeah, my partner has to explain to me what the difference is between two drinks at least once a month. I just know I like the sweet ones and hazelnut goes good with most of em

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm sorry but an americano is half coffee half water. It's not black coffee. Black coffee would be a "solo".

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

My point is that a non-coffee drinker is going to drink that and think it tastes like black coffee. Their experience of it will be what's on the sign even if that's inaccurate.

Also just an FYI, an americano is espresso shots in water, not coffee. Similar to what you're describing, but a little smoother.