Espresso is one of the purest forms of coffee out there and espresso coffee in Lahore is as popular as coffee gets. Those who consume espresso coffee call themselves ‘purists’ and often look down upon all those who dilute their coffee with other things.
But did you know that espresso coffee is the base of so many other kinds of coffee drinks also? There are lattes of all kinds such as vanilla, mocha, mint, gingerbread, eggnog and even many more.
This is also why espresso is loved, it can be consumed in a variety of ways depending on what you like and what you don’t from your favorite coffee shop in Lahore. But if you’re confused about which drinks are espressos and what you can have if you’re an espresso fan then this list is everything you need!
Ristretto
The first espresso drink you need to know about is ristretto. This one is a single, short espresso shot that comes in those mini cups at your coffee places. It’s special because its brewing time is less than the regular espresso even which means it is brewed for a maximum of 15 to 20 seconds. This one is popular among espresso fans because it has a stronger taste with a sweet touch that is not common for other espresso drinks. If you have this in the morning, expect to be awake for the entire day without sleep even passing you by from near.
Lungo
Lungo means long in italian and as you might have figured, the long refers to the brewing time. This drink is not like the previous one at all. You need to extract this coffee for about 40 or more seconds to make a shot of this.
There is twice as much water used in making this and even more coffee is used to ground it which means the caffeine content is higher and so is the coffee flavor. The flavor is very bitter and is more intense than your regular espresso. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is an Americano, it’s very different from that.
Doppio
Doppio is also an Italian term and it means double, so you’ll find many espresso coffees made from Italian words. This term was brought into the coffee lingo of the masses in the 1980s and 1990s by Starbucks. It is served in a big cup and it is essentially a double shot of espresso. It uses twice the amount of coffee in it which makes the caffeine content very high.
Americano
This is one everyone knows about! This kind of espresso, i.e., Americano, is named after Americans and it is said that it was popularized during the war time when veterans used to drink massive amounts of coffee to stay alert. There is water in this kind of coffee which softens the taste and makes it easier to consume as opposed to the other kinds of espresso.
Red Eye
If you’re looking for espresso coffee in Lahore you might not find this kind of coffee a lot. The Red Eye is, as the name suggests, full of energy and the caffeine content is also much higher. It will literally leave you red-eyed. It’s not for those who are new to coffee so if you’re feeling adventurous and do want to try it still, do it with cream or sugar.
Affogato
Affogato is an Italian drink and one of the most popular forms of espresso coffee out there. It literally means drowned and it is indulgent because you drown the coffee shot in ice cream! You just need ice cream and espresso to make this drink!
Espresso Con Panna
Espresso con panna literally also means espresso with cream and you may have guessed it, this is also an Italian term. This kind of espresso is made with the espresso shot being topped with whipped cream or heavy cream depending on what you like! It’s neither heavy nor too sweet, often enjoyed as a finisher to a lavish meal.
Cortada
Cortado is finally a form of coffee that is not Italian. This is Spanish and it means to cut or to chop because in this the strongness of coffee or espresso is cut with milk. Cortada is served in a special way which is in a 4.5 oz clear or glossed glass.
Macchiato
Macchiato is also from Italian origin and a popular form of espresso. This one translates into stained and it refers to the stain of milk that is put into the coffee. This espresso shot comes with a foamy layer of milk on top and the foam gradually melts into the drink, making it sweeter and more neutral.
Latte Macchiato
Latte macchiato is similar to a latte, but it’s prepared differently. When making a latte, you first add espresso to the cup and then milk.
Depending on the coffee shop, there can be differences in strength (if the coffee shop uses one or two shots). But, a latte macchiato starts with milk that’s been steamed.
Caramel Macchiato
Caramel macchiato is a Starbucks invention. Espresso is paired with sweet favors like caramel, vanilla syrup and also milk. The flavor is more balanced here.
Cappuccino
How could we not talk about cappuccino? This drink has an espresso shot with steamed milk and so it still has a strong flavor. This kind of espresso drink is hard to perfect though and is only perfected with a lot of patience.
Dry Cappuccino
Wait, how can an espresso drink be dry? This is how: it has cappuccino that you find in regular coffee shops in Lahore but it has little or very less steamed milk and a whole lot of foam which gives it the dry aspect.
Latte
Latte is the queen of espresso coffee in Lahore. It was invented in Italy as something for the American tourists and it has a very strong taste. Latte art is a whole famous category and it is still one of the very popular espresso drinks.
Flat White
This kind of espresso coffee comes from Australia! This one is a combination of cappuccino and latte and it is mixed with milk to add foam on top. Do you think you would be interested in this?