Hey, Caf-Fiends!
If you live in the United States in a good sized town, you can probably find a Starbucks on every corner. In Chicago, you certainly can. And while Starbucks may speak with terms like tall, grande, and venti other coffee shops don’t. Also, a Starbucks macchiato isn’t the same as a coffee shop macchiato.
Want to learn what those fancy Starbucks terms will get you at a regular coffee shop? Read on to find out!
1. Types of Beans
Arabica:
- Sweeter and softer taste
- 70% of the world’s coffee
- Half as much caffeine as Robusta
Robusta:
- Stronger, harsher taste
- 30% of the world’s coffee
- Twice as much caffeine as Arabica
Arabica and Robusta are two different species of coffee and all the coffee that you drink falls into one of these two categories. Robustas mostly come from Africa and Indonesia, while the more expensive Arabica beans primarily come from Latin America.
2. Types of Roast
Light Roast:
- Sweet, floral flavor
- Has the same amount of caffeine as a dark roast
- The country of origin is more noticeable in the flavor
Dark Roast:
- Has a bittersweet flavor
- Not necessarily stronger, just different
3. Types of Drinks
Below is a list of popular drinks that I, as a barista, make at the coffee shop I work at daily.
Americano:
- 1/3 espresso
- 2/3 hot water
Breve:
- 1 part espresso
- 1 part half and half
- any drink that has espresso in it can be made into a breve, such as mochas
Bulletproof:
- 2/3 drip coffee
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- blended together in a blender
Cafe Au Lait:
- 2/3 drip coffee
- 1/3 steamed milk
Red Eye:
- 1/3 drip coffee
- 2/3 espresso
Cafe Latte:
- 2/3 espresso
- 1/3 steamed milk
Did You Know?
That when you say “espresso”, you’re actually saying “press out” in Italian! Isn’t that cool?
More coffee shop lingo to come later this week! What’s your favorite drink to order? Comment down below with yours!
