Espresso
A short, strong shot of coffee with nothing added.
About 30 ml from 7-9 g
Ristretto
A shorter espresso in a smaller cup, denser and more intense.
15-20 ml, about 1 : 1-1.5
Lungo
A longer espresso, 50 to 70 ml in the cup.
50-70 ml, about 1 : 4
Doppio
Two shots in one cup. Many cafés outside Italy pour this unless asked.
About 60 ml, two shots
Americano
One or two shots topped up with hot water, for a longer black coffee.
Espresso 1 : water 2-4
Long black
Hot water with espresso poured on top: black coffee, Australian and New Zealand style.
Double shot on 100-120 ml water
Macchiato
An espresso with a spoon of milk foam on top. Still mostly espresso.
60-90 ml
Read more about the macchiatoCortado
Espresso and about the same amount of warm milk, hardly any foam.
About 1 : 1, about 120 ml
Read more about the cortadoPiccolo
A latte in a small glass: one shot and about twice as much milk.
About 1 : 2, 85-114 ml glass
Flat white
A double shot under smooth, flat milk. More coffee taste than a latte.
Double shot, about 130 ml milk
Read more about the flat whiteCappuccino
Espresso, steamed milk and a thick cap of foam, a centimetre or more.
About 1/3 each, 150-180 ml
Read more about the cappuccinoLatte
Espresso under plenty of steamed milk, with a little foam on top.
About 1 : 4-5, 200-300 ml
Read more about the latteMocha
A latte with chocolate stirred in, often with whipped cream on top.
Espresso, chocolate, 180-240 ml milk
Affogato
A scoop of gelato with a shot of espresso poured over. A dessert.
One shot over one scoop
Red eye
A cup of drip coffee with a shot of espresso added.
Drip coffee plus one shot
Starting with one shot
An espresso is a shot of coffee, about 30 ml. It comes from 7 to 9 grams of ground coffee. A double uses twice the coffee. A ristretto stops the shot early, so less water comes through. A lungo lets about twice the water through the same coffee.
Choosing water or milk
Hot water turns a shot into an americano or a long black. The shot stays the same size. There is simply more liquid in the cup. Milk is the other route. Some milk drinks have a spoonful of foam. Others are mostly milk. More milk takes more of the edge off the coffee.
| Drink | What is added | Usual ratio or size |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Nothing | About 30 ml from 7-9 g |
| Ristretto | Nothing, the shot stops early | 15-20 ml, about 1 : 1-1.5 |
| Lungo | Nothing, more water through the coffee | 50-70 ml, about 1 : 4 |
| Doppio | A second shot | About 60 ml, two shots |
| Americano | Hot water, after the shot | Espresso 1 : water 2-4 |
| Long black | Hot water, before the shot | Double shot on 100-120 ml water |
| Macchiato | A spot of milk foam | 60-90 ml |
| Cortado | About as much warm milk | About 1 : 1, about 120 ml |
| Piccolo | About twice as much milk | About 1 : 2, 85-114 ml glass |
| Flat white | Steamed milk, thin foam | Double shot, about 130 ml milk |
| Cappuccino | Steamed milk, thick foam | About 1/3 each, 150-180 ml |
| Latte | Lots of steamed milk | About 1 : 4-5, 200-300 ml |
| Mocha | Chocolate and steamed milk | Espresso, chocolate, 180-240 ml milk |
| Affogato | A scoop of gelato | One shot over one scoop |
| Red eye | A cup of drip coffee | Drip coffee plus one shot |
Ordering at the counter
If you want almost nothing added, order an espresso or a macchiato. An americano is the black coffee you can sip for longer. A cortado gives you coffee and milk in equal parts. A flat white gives you milk without losing the coffee. A cappuccino carries the most foam. A latte gives you the most milk. Say single or double, because shot counts change from café to café.