Hot Beverages for Cold Days
December, 2009 - Hot Beverages for Cold Days, Gert and Erma’s Coffee Shop
Are you intimidated by coffee shop terms? Don’t feel bad - a coffee shop does have a bit of its own language.
Brewed Coffee: Most everyone is familiar with brewed coffee. Coffee shop coffee is special because it is made from the premium grade of Arabica coffee beans. The names of the coffee refer to the origins of the beans, like Columbian or Nicaraguan. Or they may be blended into a “Breakfast Blend” or “House Blend.” A skilled “roaster” roasts the coffee beans to bring out the best characteristics of that particular bean, which is why some coffees are medium roasted, and others are dark roasted. Did you know that medium roast coffee has more caffeine than the dark roasted? It’s true. More of the caffeine is roasted out of the dark!
Flavored Coffee: The “roaster” can flavor coffee with natural or chemical flavorings. These coffees will have nutty or dessert-like names, such as Vanilla Hazelnut, Cinnamon, Irish Cream, etc.
Espresso: What about Espresso (no x)? The roaster chooses beans that will, when skillfully roasted, make a great espresso. At the coffee shop, these beans are ground to a near powder-fine consistency. The grounds are compressed into a small basket which is locked into position in an espresso machine. There, hot water is forced through the basket, expressing about an ounce of concentrated delicious, strong coffee, called “espresso.” Some people prefer to sip a shot or two of espresso straight, but many drinks use espresso as an ingredient. The most common are:
Latte: A “latte” (la-tay) is made by combining espresso with steamed milk. Adding a flavoring, such as vanilla or caramel, is optional.
Mocha: A “mocha” (mo-ka) is made by combining espresso, steamed milk and chocolate sauce, topped with whipped cream. Variations may include a white chocolate mocha, a caramel mocha or flavored syrups.
Cappucino: A “cappuccino” (cap-u-chino) is espresso combined with frothed (more airy than steamed) milk. Because there is more air, the flavor of the espresso comes through more strongly.
You can personalize your beverage with these variations: decaf espresso, skim or soy milk, sugar-free syrups, or have them over ice rather than hot. In addition, for those who don’t like coffee, other warm beverages include hot chocolate, hot apple cider or chai tea (iced or hot - this is a wonderful spicy drink that does not taste like tea).
Glencoe’s own coffee shop, Gert and Erma’s, offers these and many more options to warm you on cold days. Stop in and talk to the experienced staff to help find just the right choice to satisfy your tastes.