Hy-Vee Recipes and Ideas

A small glass of dark, intensely flavored black coffee with a natural crema on top—this is espresso. The crema on top of the espresso is a sign of freshness and is a byproduct of the preparation method. Espresso is enjoyed throughout the day in Italy, as well as after dinner.

A good cappuccino is a combination of three layers: espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. If in Italy, don't make the touristy mistake of ordering this drink in the afternoon; cappuccino is only served in the mornings.

If you order a latte in Italy, you might get served a hot cup of milk. Be sure to specify it's a caffè latte you want. Caffè lattes (or lattes to us) are considered Italian breakfast drinks and are made of one part espresso with two parts steamed milk. Some are even served with milk foam.

This espresso based drink is served "marked" with foamed milk (as macchiato means "marked" in Italian). Here lies an exception: Although many milky drinks are only served during breakfast, this drink is acceptable to sip on in the afternoon.

Appropriately named, this touristy drink was invented for Americans. Made to be reminiscent of drip coffee, this drink is created with espresso and plenty of hot water.

This one's stronger than an Americano, but lighter than an espresso. The caffè lungo (also called a long shot) is espresso brewed with more water, so it's nearly double the volume of a normal espresso. If you're wondering if a short shot exists, it does. It's called ristretto.

Espresso with liqueur? Translating to "corrected coffee," it's a combination of espresso and booze—typically the traditional digestif of Italy, grappa.