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How to Order Espresso II-Basic Espresso Drinks and Terms

Americano: Also known as a Caffe Americano. An espresso diluted with hot water.

Barista: Espresso bartender.

Breve: Short for Espresso Breve. Espresso with half-n-half or semi-skimmed milk.

Café Au Lait: French style, with coffee and boiled milk poured simultaneously into a cup.

Café Con Leche: 1 1/2 ounce espresso with enough steamed milk to fill an 8-ounce cup.

Caffè Amaretto: Latte with almond syrup.

Caffè Con Panna: Demitasse of espresso topped by a dollop of whipped cream. Also called an Espresso Con Panna.

Caffè Corretto: Also known an Espresso Corretto. Corretto means "corrected." Refers to adding cognac or some other liqueur.

Caffè Creme: Also known as an Espresso Creme. 1 1/2 ounce of espresso with an ounce of heavy cream. Also referred to as a "Café Crème."

Caffè Freddo: Chilled espresso in a glass, sometimes with ice.

Caffè Latte: Also known simply as a Latte. An espresso made with steamed milk, topped by foamed milk. The most popular espresso drink. Also the default espresso: if you ask for a "double tall," for instance, you'll get a double tall latte.

Caffè Lungo: Same as an Americano.

Caffè Macchiatto: An espresso "marked" with a teaspoon or two of foamed milk ("macchiatto" means "marked").

Caffè Medici: A doppio poured over chocolate syrup and orange (and sometimes lemon) peel, usually topped with whipped cream. Formerly, the Last Exit, now gone, was one of the few places in town where you could get one of these, although I've heard recently that you can get a Caffe Medici at the Pearl, a coffee house also located on the Ave (where else?) which has been described to me as having "the spirit of the Last Exit more than the Last Exit in its final years."

Caffè Mocha: Also known simply as a Mocha. A latte with chocolate. Methods of preparation can vary, some using steamed chocolate milk, others adding chocolate to a latte. One variation tops it with whipped cream, with cocoa powder as a garnish.

Caffè Ristretto: A short shot, but with the same amount of coffee as a full shot, just concentrated.

Cake in a Cup: Double cream, double sugar. Also called a Double Double.

Cappuccino: A shot of straight espresso with foamed milk ladled on top.

Crema: The tan-colored foam that forms on top of an espresso shot, as a result of the brewing process. The crema is composed of minuscule air bubbles composed of espresso film and forms a "cap" that protects the espresso proper from being exposed to the air.

Demitasse: Small cup for serving espresso straight, no chaser.

Doppio: The hip way to request a double.

Double: An espresso made from a double shot, approximately 1 1/2 - 2 ounces.

Drip: A regular coffee.

Dry: Sans steamed milk (just foamed milk).

Espresso: Approximately a one-ounce shot of espresso made from Arabica beans, as opposed to Robusta beans, which are used in making regular coffee. Arabica beans, by the way, have about half the caffeine of Robusta beans. The word comes from the brewing method -- hot water is pressed by means of a piston or pump through finely ground, firmly packed coffee.

Espresso Breve: Espresso with half-n-half or other semi-skimmed milk.

Espresso Macchiato: Espresso with just a dollop of steamed milk on top.

Espresso Ristretto: A shorter or "restricted" pull. Creates a thicker drink.

Grande: 16-ounce cup.

Granita: Latte with frozen milk.

Half-Caf: Half decaf.

Latte: The default espresso drink. Ask for a "half-caf," for instance, and you'll get half-decaf latte. Short for Caffe Latte. An espresso made with steamed milk, topped by foamed milk.

Macchiato: Short for Caffè Macchiato or Espresso Macchiato.

Mocha: Short for Cafe Mocha.

Mochaccino: A cappuccino with chocolate.

Quad: Four shots, a double-double, in other words.

Short: 8-ounce cup.

Shot: Equivalent to a single. A double would be two shots.

Shot in the Dark: A regular coffee with a shot of espresso in it. Also called a Speed Ball. I've also been told that in L.A. this is called a Red Eye, but have no idea if that term is used in Seattle or not. Apparently, this is also referred to in some quarters as a Bellman, Boilerhouse, Depth Charge, and Cafe M.F.

Single: An espresso made from a single shot, approximately 3/4 - 1 ounce.

Skinny: If you want a latte made with nonfat or skim milk, just say you want it "skinny." I think it sounds wussy, so I just "non-fat"

Speed Ball: A cup of regular coffee with espresso. Obviously taken from the drug-slang term for a shot of heroin mixed with cocaine.

Tall: 12-ounce cup.

Triple: Three shots, for those for whom a double just doesn't offer enough of a jolt.

Note that this list is not exhaustive, and regional and local variations exist as do individual store variations. When in doubt, I've tried to give you the traditional Italian derived term.

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