Sourced Coffee Guide

Want to know your Latte’s from your Cappuccinos? How about Macchiatos from your Cortados?

Well we’ve created a beginners guide to the perfect cup of coffee.

This guide outlines the different coffees you may come across, as well as the suggested servings for the perfect cup.

Cappuccino

The cappuccino requires milk to be ‘frothed’, using a technique with the steam to create twice the volume of milk you began with. The ‘micro-foam’ milk is then poured directly over a single or double espresso and served in an average coffee cup. You may see it being dusted with cocoa, for a little extra sweetness. The cappuccino is a popular choice amongst many coffee enthusiasts as the coffee taste is more prevalent than in a latte.

Latte

Latte is an English interpretation of the Italian caffè latte which means ‘coffee milk’. It’s made up of a single or double shot of espresso and plenty of steamed milk. It is often served in a taller cup or glass, and poured so that a foamed layer of milk settles on-top. The milk volume helps control the flavour of the coffee, so it appears not as strong, making it ideal for entry level coffee drinkers.

Flat white

For a flat white, a double shot of espresso is combined with foamed milk. This time, milk is freely poured in with the espresso, creating a consistent, velvety texture throughout – unlike a latte. Also unlike a latte, the flat white is served in a shallow cup with a lot less milk. This is a coffee drink that amateurs should work towards, once the taste buds are adapted and the coffee cravings have heightened.

Cortado

The term `cortado’ translates to ‘cut’, in Spanish and Portuguese. A single or double espresso is cut with a shot of steamed milk, to create this coffee beverage. It bears little, if any, froth and is best served in a small glass. Beware, this is a slightly more grown-up coffee which is inherently strong.

Macchiato

Similar to the cortado, a macchiato is a coffee drink designed for true coffee enthusiasts. Again, a single or double espresso is present, this time with a a spot of milk. In fact, the word macchiato actually means ‘spotted’ in Italian, whilst in Portugal it is referred to as ‘cafe pingado’ translating to  ‘coffee with a drop’, giving you an idea of the milk levels involved here. The lack of milk allows the coffee flavour profile to truly shine.

Americano

Typically, an Americano is hot water topped with an Espresso. It has a very distinct flavour profile and promotes the natural qualities of the coffee taste and aroma. The strength of an Americano is solely down to the amount of espresso shots and water added afterwards. All in all, it’s a strong coffee offering.

Espresso

Picture the espresso as the emperor of all specialty coffee. Not only is it at the basis of the majority of coffees you see on a coffee menu, but it is also a beverage in its own right. An Espresso is a coffee drink in its purest form. Nothing is added, or taken away – it’s simply a strong, black coffee made by forcing high pressures of steam through ground coffee beans to create a high concentration of caffeine.

The perfect cup of coffee - Espresso 

Arguably, the perfect cup of coffee doesn’t exist – it’s all a matter of individual preference and taste! That’s probably the reason coffee drinks are so diverse!