It is actually pretty amazing how many different types of coffee drinks are available now. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that there is a coffee shop or coffee house on almost every street corner these days and all of them offer the standard drinks and their own special blends. For some it may even seem a bit daunting to walk into a coffee shop and see the long list of drinks that are offered.
For those of us who are not quite sure of the difference between a cafe au lait (French for coffee with milk) and a latte (which some consider to be a cappuccino with more milk), then perhaps we can help shed a little light on the different flavored coffees and other coffee drinks that are available at your local cafe bar.
First, one that everyone should know is the simple cup of black coffee, which is normally a drip brew, percolated or made using the French press style and served straight (no milk). The Americano actually started as an insult to Americans who were not up to drinking full espressos, so they concocted one with one shot espresso added to 7 ounces of water. Another type of coffee drink is the caffè latte (Italian for coffee and milk), which is essentially a shot of espresso put into steamed milk; the ratio of milk compared to coffee should be about 3 to 1.
The cafe au lait is similar to a caffe latte, except the au lait is made with brewed coffee rather than espresso, and the ratio of milk compared to coffee is about 1 to 1. This gives it a much less intense taste. Your cafe bar may also offer a café Macchiato, which has one espresso shot added to steamed milk and it is normally a 4 (coffee) to 1 (milk) ratio. A frappe is a favorite in Europe and Latin America during the summer months. It was originally served as a cold espresso but lately it has been prepared by putting 2 teaspoons of instant coffee with sugar, water and ice. It is placed in a long glass and you can add milk if you so desire, so that it more like a coffee milkshake.
Most coffee shops or coffee houses offer a drink called a cappuccino, and it has equal parts of frothing milk, espresso and steamed milk, and some may top it with cinnamon or flaked chocolate pieces. A café Breva is much like a cappuccino but is made with half and half instead of whole milk, which makes the mixture creamier and richer. However, not all shops will offer this type of coffee drink, as half and half is much harder to make foam than milk and they do not like the time it takes to make it properly.
