The Long History of Espresso, Americano, and Latte in a Cup
According to legend, the Ethiopian shepherd Kaldim introduced the properties of coffee to humanity in the 9th century. He noticed that his goats began galloping along the hills after eating the leaves of a wild-growing coffee tree. The shepherd told the abbot of the local monastery about this unique plant, and he tried the leaves and fruits of the plant. Feeling a stimulating effect, the abbot started the tradition of brewing a drink from the plant so that the monks would not sleep during the morning service.
Although there is little evidence of this version, in the 15th-century, coffee was enjoyed in Yemen and Egypt. Later the drink conquered Italy and the countries of both Americas.
Currently, it is possible to distinguish three types of coffee – Robusta, Arabica, and Liberica, and only the first two are used in the food industry. In the classic version, robusta coffee contains 2.5 times more caffeine.
Today there are about two dozen coffee drinks, but we will reveal stories and legends about the most popular of them.
Espresso
8-22 grams of ground coffee is poured into a holder with special holes and leveled to prepare a traditional strong drink. Water passes through coffee under pressure. Coffee extract drains into a cup.
The first Espresso machine was developed by the Milanese engineer Luigi Bezzera in 1901, and two years later, businessman Desiderio Pavoni acquired a license for the mass production of coffee gadgets.
It turns out that Espresso is the favorite drink of students who are writing their papers on their own.
Americano
Americano is a so-called Espresso, diluted with water. The drink appeared in Italy during World War II thanks to the American soldiers, who were in the country. At that time, Americans preferred the so-called filtered coffee – when coffee was poured onto a paper filter, water flowed onto it, and under the influence of gravity, the drink dripped into a cup. They drank coffee in large volumes, 200-250 ml each. Therefore, having tried laconic Espresso, the soldiers were disappointed and demanded that the bartenders prepare a soft drink and in a larger volume. Not wanting to deal with the new technology, Italians simply added water to the Espresso. So the cult name appeared now.
Latte
Milk coffee also came from Italy. According to one version, Latte was a coffee for children who wanted to try an adult drink. According to another legend, tourists liked such coffee. The foam was decorated with a variety of toppings and powders, attracting guests with a coffee novelty. In the classic version, first Espresso is poured into a glass, and then milk is whipped in foam.
Cappuccino
The name of the drink is associated with the capuchin order widespread in Europe. According to legend, because of prejudice, monks were forbidden to drink black coffee, so they resorted to tricks, generously diluting it with milk.
Another option is more trivial. Like, the kapuziner was called the red-brown color, in which the monks’ cassocks were painted. And in the XVIII century, the name also changed to a drink of a similar tone. In Austria, this drink contained coffee, egg yolks, and cream.
Over time, the name migrated to Italy and began to be used to refer to Espresso, into which froth milk is poured. The temperature of the milk should be about 60-65 degrees – then lactose dissolves, and the drink acquires a pleasantly sweet aftertaste.
Today, coffee production is a massive industry, with over 20 million people worldwide. Moreover, this drink is trendy among students as it helps to concentrate on their papers. Thanks to its invigorating effect, students can do their homework all night long without sleep. Of course, this might also have a negative effect, so people who take care of their health should be careful with too much coffee. That’s why it would be better to consider using the assistance of writing services online. For example, if you get a SpeedyPaper discount, your life may change for better, and you will have enough time for entertainment. In this case, a cup of good Espresso will be a bonus if you can’t live without coffee.