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Gourmet coffee is good, gourmet coffee drinks are fabulous. Using your own gourmet flavored coffee or espresso as a base you can make those tasty treats at home and save yourself a lot of money while impressing your friends at the same time. Gourmet coffee drinks can vary from lattes and cappuccinos to exotic ice cream drinks. There are also alcohol drinks that feature coffee which can be very relaxing after a stressful day at the office.

Gourmet Coffee Recipes

Chocolate Cappuccino: For the chocoholic who loves their coffee this satisfies both desires.

Ingredients:

Directions

Variation: For a relaxing after dinner drink, add a 2 oz. Shot of Godiva Chocolate Liqueur or other chocolate liqueur.

Iced Latte with Flavor Variations: The traditional latte served up cold and creamy for those hot sultry days when you need a boost.

Ingredients

Directions

Variations: Add any one of the following flavorings to the blender or cocktail shaker. *Coffee syrups available in coffee section of grocer or at coffee shops.

2 oz Vanilla Syrup

2 oz. Chocolate Syrup

2 oz. Hazelnut Syrup

Iced Mint Mocha: This is a wonderful coffee drink for those hot summer days. For a spirited version you can add a liqueur such as Bailey’s Irish Cream.

Ingredients

Directions

Fall Cappuccino: This coffee drink with a touch of cinnamon and cloves invokes those autumn nights when there is just a hint of chill in the air.

Ingredients

Directions

Variations: For more of a coffee drink, you can replace the espresso and steamed milk with 6-8 oz. of strong coffee.

For an adult beverage, add 2 oz. of your favorite brandy

Gourmet coffee drinks can be made without just about any flavorings you can imagine. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Using coffee syrups available online and at your local coffee shop combined with flavorings and spices in your kitchen you can serve up an array of gourmet drinks that would rival even the fanciest of coffee shops.

Have you ever gone with a friend to the local coffee shop online to find out that there is no such thing as “just a cup of coffee” anymore? You stand there in awe and feeling rather out of place as your friend quickly fires off her order, something along the lines of “a grande, skinny, caramel macchiato with a double shot and equal, no whip”. If you felt like you were in a foreign country don’t despair. The lingo is easy to learn and yes you can order just a cup of coffee.

First things first, coffee shops have morphed into gourmet coffee shops. They now offer everything from coffee to lattes and iced cappuccinos. You can get Jamaican coffee, dark roasted, light roasted, chocolate and even pumpkin flavors when they are in season. Before you feel like you are in a foreign land and go running out the door take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with these common terms that gourmet coffee shops are most likely to use.

Gourmet Coffee Lingo

Acidity: The acidity level of a coffee is typically a general overall description of the coffee. Coffees with a high acidity level may be described as having a bright, dry flavor. Good quality coffees should have a higher acidity level; this comes from longer roasting periods.

Arabica Bean: The Arabica bean is the most common type of coffee bean found in gourmet coffees. These beans are of a higher quality than coffee you buy in cans at your local grocer. Arabica beans are rich and bold with a strong aroma.

Bitterness: A coffee’s bitterness factor has more to do with the water it is brewed with than the bean.

Blend: Blends are usually a mixture of coffee beans to create a balanced, unique flavor. Often Arabica beans will be blended with Robusta beans.

Body: The body of the coffee is how it feels when it rests on your tongue. A flavorful, aromatic coffee has more body than a weaker coffee. The body of a coffee is determined by the fat, protein and fiber content of the coffee.

Earthiness: A coffee that is described as earthy usually has a smooth, full body. They are generally from Indonesia and surrounding areas. This term does not imply an organic attribute.

Exotic: If used in a coffee shop it should be implying that there are spicy, herbal, fruity or floral undertones. Oftentimes coffee shops overuse this term in a marketing effort to entice customers.

Varietal: Refers to the region the coffee was grown in.

Espresso: A highly concentrated coffee beverage served in a 2-3 oz. portion. It should have a frothy top layer called the crema. You can sweeten this if you like; there is no right or wrong way to drink it. In drinks that are espresso based (cappuccinos and lattes) you can specify a single, double, triple or quad shot (1, 2, 3, or 4). This determines how much espresso is in your drink.

Cappuccino: Cappuccinos are lighter than coffee due to the amount of milk involved. This drink starts with a shot of espresso and is mixed with hot, steaming milk. The froth from the milk is then floated on top. Cappuccinos come in a variety of flavors.

Latte or Caffe Latte: These are very similar to cappuccinos except that they have more steamed milk than a cappuccino. It resembles an American coffee with a lot of milk more so than it does a cappuccino. Mocha Lattes are a very popular drink made with chocolate added to the latte. Other flavors are available.

Sizes: Depending on the gourmet coffee shop you are at, you may encounter different names for the size of beverage you order. Typically these are short (8 oz), Tall (12 oz) Grande (16 oz) and Venti (20 oz).

Skinny: Skinny drinks have no fat and no sugar, meaning that they are made with fat free milk if milk is involved and no sugar is added.

Ordering a coffee at the local gourmet coffee shop no longer has to be intimidating. Just walk right up and ask for your own double shot and get ready to for your own caffeine jolt. You should now know that your friend ordered a 16 oz. non-fat, sugar free, caramel flavored espresso with a bit of steamed milk with equal added and no whip cream. Gourmet coffee has never been easier or more fun. 

The Basic Cappuccino

The basic cappuccino is a 6-8 ounce beverage. It is composed of about 2-3 ounces of espresso coffee, 2-3 ounces of steamed milk and 2-3 ounces of frothed milk. Powdered cocoa or cinnamon is usually sprinkled on the top to give it that little special touch.Here are some tips and tricks to take your cappuccino to the next level of deliciousness. * In order to properly layer the cappuccino, you should let the milk rest a moment so the foam and milk can separate. * Pour the brewed espresso into a stainless steel pitcher as ceramic or glass cups absorb too much of the heat. The temperature of the espresso actually makes a big difference in taste and the best machines even allow you to regulate the temperature of the coffee as it’s brewing. * To prepare your beverage, use a demitasse cup so you can keep the proportions correct. First pour the steamed milk into the cup until it fills about one third (2-3 ounces of milk). Then slowly pour the espresso into the steamed milk. Finally, spoon the froth in to fill the last few ounces of space. When this is done correctly, the espresso should settle between the milk and the foam. * Generally speaking, the frothed milk should be between about 150 and 170 degree Fahrenheit. To make the frothing easier, you should buy an espresso maker that has a frothing adaptor rather than a wand.Different Types of CappuccinoThe Classic CappuccinoThis type of cappuccino is pretty common in Italy and North America and it’s simply a cappuccino that is only topped with frothed milk (no steamed milk poured into the espresso). You simply top your 1-2 ounces of espresso with 1-2 ounces of foam. Delicious!The Iced CappuccinoThough the iced cappuccino doesn’t differ in ingredients from the basic cappuccino, it is prepared differently. First, you brew your espresso (a single or double shot). Then you put about 5-6 ice cubes into a glass and pour the espresso over them. Stir it up to bring the temperature down. Then pour the cooled espresso into a serving cup and add 2-3 ounces of cold milk. Finally, froth up 2-3 ounces of milk and spoon only the warm froth onto the top.The Milky Way CappuccinoNow we’re getting into the real yummy stuff. If you like chocolate and caramel (and who doesn’t?), you’ll love this one. In order to make a Milky Way Cappuccino, you simply create a basic (or classic) cappuccino and add one ounce of chocolate and one ounce of caramel before adding the milk (you pour the chocolate and caramel into the espresso and then pour the milk).Simple but great!The Almond CappuccinoIf you like almonds, you’ll love this recipe. Once again it’s very simple. Before mixing the steamed milk with the espresso, pour one ounce of vanilla extract and one ounce of almond extract into the espresso. Then simply finish off the Basic Cappuccino and enjoy!The Homemade Frappe CappuccinoA frappe cappuccino is simply a blended (frappe) cappuccino. To make one, you first brew one large shot of espresso and then let it cool. You can put it in the fridge so it cools quicker. Once it is cool, it’s time to get out your blender and pour in the coffee, about 4-5 ounces of milk, 1-2 tablespoons of sugar and about one cup of ice. Blend it up until the ice is crushed and the drink is smooth.Well, I hope that gets you started with making great espresso. However, to make outstanding espresso, you should visit Arniescafe for tasting a wonderful Cappucino.

Amazon.com Review
Uniquely designed, this coffeemaker brews a single serving of fresh gourmet coffee at the touch of a button. Because the machine uses premeasured coffee pods, the system is hassle-free, is easy to clean, and guarantees a flavorful, fresh brew each time. Measuring 13-1/2 by 12 by 8-1/2 inches, the coffeemaker is shaped like a curved cylinder with a round base. Two pod holders are included: a shallow holder that holds one coffee pod for one cup, and a deeper filter t (more…)