Espresso Drinks: 5 Classics, What They Are, and How to Make Each

All espresso drinks start the same way: a 25 to 30 second extraction of finely ground coffee under 9 bars of pressure. What happens after that extraction determines the drink. Add water and you have an Americano. Add steamed milk and you have a latte. Change the milk ratio and you have a cappuccino or a cortado. The same espresso base produces five completely different drinks depending on what you do with it.

This guide covers the 5 classic espresso drinks, what makes each one distinct, and the ratios you need to make each at home.

5 Classic Espresso Drinks at a Glance

The 5 Classic Espresso Drinks Explained

A double espresso is 18 to 20 grams of ground coffee extracted into 36 to 40 grams of liquid in 25 to 30 seconds. The result is concentrated and complex, topped with crema , the emulsified oils and CO2 that give espresso its distinctive texture. The Specialty Coffee Association defines espresso as a 25 to 35 second extraction at 9 bars of pressure. Everything else is built on this base. See our espresso blend guide for how the coffee you choose affects the shot.

An Americano is a double espresso with 6 to 8 ounces of hot water added. The result is a full-size drink with the flavor complexity of espresso but the volume and approachability of drip coffee. Americano is not the same as drip coffee. The extraction method is different and so is the flavor. Pour espresso first, then add water to preserve the crema. Americano is simple to make with any espresso machine.

A cortado is a double espresso with equal steamed milk at 1:1. The milk cuts acidity without diluting intensity the way a latte does. Total volume is 4 ounces with minimal foam. Cortado keeps coffee flavor dominant , for people who want milk in their espresso but still want to taste the coffee.

A cappuccino is a double espresso with steamed milk and thick microfoam. Total volume is 6 ounces, with roughly equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam. The thick foam gives cappuccino a drier, more textured mouthfeel than a latte. In Italian tradition, cappuccino is a morning drink only. See our Italian espresso guide for how these drinks are ordered and consumed in Italy.

A latte is a double espresso with 6 to 10 ounces of steamed milk and a thin foam layer. It is the most milk-forward of the classic espresso drinks. The large milk volume produces a sweeter, creamier cup where espresso flavor is present but not dominant. Latte is the most forgiving to make at home. Small shot errors are buffered by the milk volume. It is the base for most flavored coffee drinks. See our home espresso guide for milk steaming technique.

Which Espresso Drink to Choose

If you want the purest expression of the espresso: order straight espresso or an Americano. No milk interferes with the coffee flavor. Americano adds volume without adding dairy. Both show exactly what the coffee tastes like.

If you want milk but want to still taste the espresso clearly: choose a cortado or a small cappuccino. Both keep the espresso flavor in the foreground.

If you want a smooth, creamy, approachable coffee drink: choose a latte. The milk volume makes it forgiving and satisfying for everyday drinking. See our espresso signature drinks guide for how baristas build on these classics.

Frequently Asked Questions: Espresso Drinks

Volume and foam. A latte is larger (8 to 12 oz) with more steamed milk and a thin foam layer , creamy and mild. A cappuccino is smaller (6 oz) with equal parts espresso, milk, and thick foam , drier and more espresso-forward. Same base shot, different milk treatment.

A cortado is a double espresso cut with an equal volume of steamed milk , 1:1 ratio, total 4 ounces. The milk reduces the acidity without significantly diluting the espresso. It sits between a straight espresso and a cappuccino in intensity. Cortado is one of the espresso drinks where you still clearly taste the coffee.

Americano is espresso diluted with hot water. Drip coffee is brewed by passing hot water through grounds in a filter over time. The extraction method is different and produces a different flavor. Americano tastes sharper and more concentrated than drip, with more crema character. At equal strength, most people find them clearly distinguishable by flavor.

For Americano and straight espresso: no, not authentically. For milk-based drinks using AeroPress or moka pot as a substitute base: yes, with some compromise on crema and concentration. AeroPress at high concentration with frothed milk is a reasonable home latte or cappuccino alternative. See our AeroPress guide for the high-concentration recipe.

All three Blackout roasts work for espresso. Brewtal Awakening dark roast produces bold, low-acid espresso with chocolate crema , traditional and forgiving. Morning Reaper medium roast produces a balanced shot with caramel sweetness. Smooth Finish light roast produces a bright, complex shot for experienced home baristas. Browse our premium coffee collection for all three roasts.

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