For the love of coffee

With so many styles of coffee, the choice can be a bit overwhelming when you walk into your favourite coffee shop.

Below is a guide to some of the different types of coffee beverages available.

Espresso

Espresso is a strong black coffee made by forcing steam through dark-roast aromatic coffee beans at high pressure in an espresso machine. A perfectly brewed espresso will have a thick, golden-brown foam on the surface. If the foam is good, the sugar you add will float on the surface for a couple of seconds before slowly sinking to the bottom.

Espresso is the foundation for a wide variety of specialty coffee drinks, such as the cappuccino.

Cappuccino

This hugely popular coffee drink has become a staple that even the most common of corner coffee shops carries, or at least a version of it. A true cappuccino is a combination of equal parts espresso, steamed milk and milk froth. This luxurious drink, if made properly, can double as a dessert with its complex flavours and richness.

Caramel macchiato

This is another variation that is prepared in a number of ways by different coffee houses. The most common method is combining espresso, caramel and foamed milk, though some use steamed milk. Often, vanilla is added to provide extra flavour.

Café latte

A café latte, or “latte” for short, is an espresso-based drink with steamed milk and micro-foam added to the coffee. This coffee is much sweeter compared to an espresso, due to the steamed milk.

q Information obtained from www.askmen.com and www.latteartguide.com.