Do you know your flat white from your long black? There are so many coffee shops around these days and the selection on offer can be confusing. What on earth do you ask for when you’d simply like a nice coffee? Here’s a guide from Forde’s to choosing the coffee that’s right for you and some options that you might not have tried.
All coffees made by your barista start with an espresso. The light brown creamy texture on the top of the espresso is called the crema, and there should be a generous swirl of it. A lot of people think it tastes bitter, but an espresso served fresh from the machine shouldn’t be. If you’re not convinced by trying an espresso on its own you could try a macchiato – an espresso with an “island” of foamed milk floating on top. Still nice and strong!
Add some steamed milk and foam to the espresso and you have a delicious milky latte.
We recommend a double shot in our large size cup for the perfect balance of espresso and milk. If you prefer something a little stronger and less foamy, go for a flat white – a double espresso shot topped with steamed milk, but less foam. It’s served in smaller cups so the taste is slightly stronger than a latte. If you love the coffee hit but not so much the milky volume, why not try a cortardo? This little coffee is served in a small glass, like a mini flat white.
Classic favourite the cappuccino is again similar to a latte but with more delicious foamed milk, and chocolate sprinkled on top. At Forde’s we also love cinnamon sprinkled on top as a lovely warming alternative – why not give this a try next time? If you usually go for a cappuccino why not try a mocha – a latte with a hint of chocolate. Delicious, smooth and luxurious!
A standard “black coffee”, or Americano, is simply an espresso with hot water added to it. You can add milk if you like. A long black is similar, but is made by adding the espresso to the hot water, which helps retain the crema.
At Forde’s we also offer any of our coffees with decaffeinated coffee and alternatives to dairy milk such as soya and almond. If you’re not really into coffee, why not ring the changes and try something different like a chai latte – a delicious blend of warming spice and steamed milk.
Try something different! It’s so easy to try something new, you never know you might find your new favourite coffee. Just ask your barista what they recommend – we’re happy to chat coffee with you any time!