How do you drink espresso?

Question

I have an espresso machine and it has a steam nozzel for milk, but what if i just want the espresso? are you just supposed to take it like a shot of alcohol or do you add sugar and cream to it?

Answer 1

Have it however you like it. If you have a machine at home, then you can try many variations.

Just go for it and have fun.

Here are some Variations from Wikipedia:

* Affogato (drowned): Served over ice cream. Traditionally vanilla ice cream, but some coffehouses or customers prefer chocolate ice cream (this variation is sometimes called an 'affogato mocha').
* Americano (American): espresso and hot water, classically using equal parts each, but many individuals prefer a greater volume of water. Rarely, if ever, ordered by Italians.
* Black eye: a cup of American coffee with two shots of espresso in it. Also known as a slingblade, an autobahn, or a hammerhead.
* Cafè Bonbon (Spanish): a shot of espresso served in a small glass filled with condensed milk. The shot and the milk remain separate unless stirred, as in a black and tan.
* Breve: espresso in steamed milk and half and half.
* Caffè macchiato (marked): in traditional usage, a small amount of foam is spooned onto the espresso; at Starbucks and those coffeehouses which follow their lead, the order is reversed for some macchiatos, such as the caramel macchiato, with espresso added to a large volume of foam on top of steamed milk.
* Café noisette: espresso cut with warm milk, similar to a cortado. The combination of dark French roasted coffee and milk gives a nutty taste, hence the name.
* Café Tobio: two shots of espresso with an equal amount of American Coffee.
* Cappuccino: traditionally, one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third microfoam.
* Corretto (corrected): some sort of liquor added.
* Cortado: espresso "cut" (from the Spanish and Portuguese cortar) with a small amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity.
* Cubano (Cuban): sugar is added to the espresso grounds during brewing for a sweet taste. Sugar can also be whipped into a small amount of espresso after brewing and then mixed with the rest of the shot.
* Doppio (double or doubleshot): two shots of espresso in one cup.
* Espresso con Panna (with cream): with whipped cream on top.
* Flat White: a coffee drink very popular in both Australia and New Zealand, made of one-third espresso and two-thirds steamed milk.
* John Wayne: two portions of any flavor syrup, though commonly caramel or vanilla, two portions of half & half, and two shots of espresso. The ingredients are added slowly in this order, so that the end result is layered with three distinct flavors and temperatures, and is customarily drank all at once. The drink is slowly becoming popular in the state of Texas, and is also referred to as an 'Undertow'.
* Latte: this term is an abbreviation of "caffè latte", coffee with milk, an espresso based drink with a volume of steamed milk, from 6-12 oz. (180-360 ml) total volume, served with either a thin layer of foam or none at all, depending on the shop or customer's preference.
* Long Black: espresso and hot water in equal parts.
* Lungo (long): more water (about double) is let through the ground coffee, yielding a weaker taste (40 ml).
* Mocha: normally, a latte blended with chocolate.
* Red Eye: a cup of American coffee with a shot of espresso in it. Also known as Shot in the Dark, Eye Opener or Depth Charge.
* Ristretto (shortened): with less water, yielding a stronger taste (10-20 ml). Café serré in French.

Answer 2

Traditionally, espresso is made either long (more watery) or short (less in the cup but a little more concentrated). The best way is to add sugar to taste then sip it, but you can drink it all at once if are in a rush or something. Adding milk or anything else to it makes it something else. For example, adding a little frothed milk on top is called espresso macchiato. Adding espresso to a glass or warm milk makes it cafe latte. A little less milk and some milk froth with some cocoa powder or cinnamon turns it into a cappuccino.

Buy a good quality Italian ground espresso and you can't go wrong!

Answer 3

http://shpws.me/skr9
http://shpws.me/snPu

Answer 4

I've heard a serving of espresso actually has a lower caffeine content than a cup of regular coffee. Of course, that's not ounce-for-ounce.

Answer 5

You can do either. I like to add a flavored liqueur to mine instead of sugar, and cream instead of milk. Here's a recipe for you:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rushinrecipes/message/72

Answer 6

Have it how you like it. I like mine with a bit of sugar, because the shots themselves are bitter.

Answer 7

add to personal taste