When You’re Craving the Kick

If you’re looking for a specialty drink with a strong espresso kick, you won’t go wrong with a cappuccino or a mocha. One is an Italian classic with crisp layers and flavors. The other is every chocolate lover and sweet tooth owner’s dream. As with most specialty coffee beverages, both the cappuccino and the mocha begin with a nice shot of espresso and some steamed milk.

The resulting drink should have a very distinct, low-acid espresso flavor that is complemented rather than overwhelmed by the milk products.

The components of cappuccino are the same as many other espresso-based drinks: espresso, steamed milk, and milk froth. Thus, because the ingredients are pretty common, its most defining features are its balance and structure. Cappuccinos have a unique 1:1:1 ratio. So a skilled barista may even be able to prepare the drink based off of weight in hand. Ideally, it will end up being 1/3 espresso (1-2 shots), 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 light froth.

(Source: everydayvoyager.com)