Coffee is a truly enchanting drink with a long history. The homeland of the berry from which this drink is made today is Ethiopia. It was there that the first legend about the discovery of coffee beans originated.
History of making coffee
According to legend, a shepherd named Kaldim lived in Ethiopia for a long time. Once, while carrying out his work, he noticed how his goats ate the unknown berries of a wild shrub and after that became energetic and lively until late at night. Then Kaldim decided to try to make a decoction of these unknown berries himself, and the result was not long in coming. The young man noticed how fatigue began to pass, and in her place she was replaced by a good mood and vigor.
Then the shepherd shared his discovery with the local monk, who, in turn, having experienced the miraculous properties of coffee, ordered this broth from berries to be drunk by all his wards. So, according to an ancient legend, the centuries-old history of coffee began. After the 14th century, berries became widespread and became popular around the world.
In 1819, the French scientist Runge, having studied the composition of coffee beans, isolated caffeine, now widely known , from it. Having revealed all the useful properties of this substance, it began to be introduced into medicines and food. Today, caffeine-based drugs can cure many ailments.
Varieties of Coffee Beans
About a thousand years have passed since the opening of coffee berries. During this time, hundreds of recipes for making a great drink appeared. Before describing the classification of coffee drinks, it should be noted that coffee is primarily divided into varieties of berries, their place of cultivation and the subsequent degree of roasting.
The most popular types of coffee beans are Robusta and Arabica.
Arabica is considered the oldest variety of coffee berries and contains more than 55 subtypes of coffee crops. All of them differ from each other by the locality of cultivation and taste. Arabica has a velvety and soft flavor.
Robusta grains have a rather sharp taste and a lot of caffeine. In its pure form, a drink from such a berry is rarely consumed because of its bitterness and strength. An obvious advantage of this variety is unpretentiousness in the process of growing and low cost. Robusta is also saturated with a large number of amino acids and oils.
The main types of espresso and americano
Despite all the nuances and taste of coffee beans, its variety will become an important criterion in choosing a drink. An unlimited variety of types of coffee came to Russia from the Middle East, from France and Italy. The most popular: double espresso, americano, cappuccino, latte and just espresso.
- The basis for any drink will be espresso. This is a type of coffee, which is characterized by fine grinding and the use of blended varieties of beans in the preparation. Traditionally, espresso is drunk after eating in a miniature 50 ml cup. You can drink the drink with still water.
- Dopio is a double espresso based on its caffeine content.
- Lungo is a coffee drink that incorporates the properties of Americano and Espresso coffee. The volume of the drink, like that of Americano, but the caffeine content remains the same as that of espresso. Most often they drink longo after eating.
- Americano is the second most popular coffee drink. After making espresso, the coffee is diluted with water to increase the volume. You can use the drink with sugar, milk or cream.
- Ristretto is the strongest of all coffee drinks. 6 grams of coffee is taken per 25 ml of water, which makes the drink very strong. Ristretto was widely distributed in Italy, where it is customary to drink it after a meal with a glass of cool water.
What is the difference between espresso and americano
The main difference between drinks is volume and strength. In Americano, despite the large volume, the taste and aroma are less pronounced and deep, due to the dilution of coffee with water. Espresso, on the contrary, is famous for its strength and rich taste. The answer to the question: "What is stronger, Americano or espresso?" - also easy to give. Based on the fact that espresso has the same amount of coffee but less water, this coffee drink will be stronger than the American counterpart.
Espresso and Americano have a different drinking culture. If americano can be drunk both hot and chilled, adding milk, sugar or cream to the drink, then its Italian counterpart should traditionally be consumed only in hot form, washed down with still water. Also, foam must be present on properly brewed espresso, which confirms the high quality of the drink and the correctness of its preparation, in American this criterion is optional.
Espresso Recipes
Making coffee is a separate art form, with its subtleties and nuances. But anyway, all espresso recipes are based on the traditional preparation of this coffee drink. But there is a difference. So what is the difference between espresso and americano? The difference is that traditionally no additives are needed in espresso. But if you really want to, it is allowed to add alcohol to it, add sugar, cream, milk or ice cream.
Classic Espresso Recipe
Ingredients per Serving:
- 20 g of very finely ground coffee, roasted to a dark color;
- 50 ml of drinking water.
Cooking process:
- To make coffee in a coffee maker, first rinse the horn with boiling water, pour ground coffee into it and level it.
- Paste into the coffee machine.
- To prepare one serving of espresso in a Turk, pour 20 g of coffee with water, put the Turk on fire, wait for the drink to boil and remove from heat.
Tequila espresso
Ingredients per Serving:
- 20 g finely ground coffee;
- 50 ml of water;
- 30 ml of tequila;
- 20 g of liquor (to taste);
- 15 g cane sugar;
- 20 g of whipped cream.
Cooking process:
- Brew espresso according to the classic recipe.
- Mix liquor, cane sugar and tequila in a glass and warm a little for a couple.
- Before serving, add espresso and whipped cream to the alcohol.
American option
There are a lot of recipes for Americano. Due to the fact that it can be served in any form and the volume of the drink is greater than that of espresso, it is distinguished by its taste due to many additives. What is the difference between Americano and espresso yet? The volume of dishes in which drinks are served. Americano cups have a standard volume of 200-250 ml, and espresso has 50-60 ml.
Orange americano
Ingredients per Serving:
- 25 g finely ground coffee;
- 150 ml of water;
- 20 ml of orange liquor;
- 25 g of whipped cream.
Cooking process:
- Make espresso coffee and add 100 ml of hot water to it.
- Pour orange liquor into the resulting Americano and garnish with whipped cream before serving.
Cinnamon americano
Ingredients per Serving:
- 25 g of medium coffee;
- 150 ml of water;
- 20 g cane sugar;
- 2 g ground cinnamon;
- 10 ml brandy or orange liquor;
- 5 g of grated citrus zest (to taste).
Cooking process:
- Cook one serving of classic Americano.
- Mix sugar, citrus zest, cinnamon, brandy or liquor and steam until the sugar is completely dissolved, set fire to and pour Americano into this mixture.
All varieties of coffee are somehow interconnected and have similarities in taste. What is the difference between espresso and americano? Drinks have many differences: cooking technique, serving time, additives. But, despite this, coffee drinks have common features. So, to get Americano, you must first make an espresso. The taste of the drinks will also be similar, although with American coffee it is less pronounced.