At the risk of losing sleep, we have reviewed the 9 most classic Italian coffees for you

The opportunity for this review actually came from a true story of a fan of our Food and Drink Lab. The story was about a fan who accidentally ordered an espresso in a coffee shop without knowing much about coffee ...

If I had to use a picture to describe this guy's mood at the time, it would probably be like this

It is a very annoying thing to order a coffee that is not suitable for you because you don’t know much about coffee. You don’t want to drink it but you don’t want to waste it. However, it is also very difficult to choose the coffee that is suitable for you. There are indeed many types of coffee. It is impossible for us to try all the flavors and then decide which cup is our true love.

Because of this, we decided to start with the first choice for coffee - Italian coffee , and let our evaluation tell you which Italian coffee is best for you~

Of course, before we understand Italian coffee, we should start with understanding coffee . As for the origin of coffee, according to the verifiable records, it first appeared in the ancient book written by the Roman linguist Roshid Neloy (1613-1707).

Coffee first appeared in a small town called Kaffa in Ethiopia in the 6th century AD. The word coffee originated from here. It is said that because it was found that eating coffee berries can refresh the mind , coffee berries were mainly eaten by Taoists who prayed in the monastery at night to prevent them from dozing off during prayer.

Later, due to the war , coffee was introduced to the Yemen region of Arabia . At that time, the Ottoman Empire was the most powerful country in the Arab region, and coffee was first introduced to this region from Arabia.

Later, gourmets in the Ottoman Empire discovered that fermenting the juice of ripe coffee berries could produce a delicious drink that gave people a high , similar to the feeling of drinking alcohol, but without alcohol.

At that time, Muslims were prevalent in the Arab region, and Muslims strictly prohibited their followers from drinking alcohol. At that time, the only drinks were alcohol and water, so people there urgently needed a drink that could replace alcohol and taste better than water.

As a result, this coffee drink became very popular as soon as it appeared, and was nicknamed "Arab wine" by the locals. Later, the Ottoman Empire promoted and popularized coffee in Arabia in the name of religion and country.

The Arabs loved coffee so much that they kept it hidden for centuries, not wanting to share it with the world.

It was not until the beginning of the 15th century that coffee tree species were successfully brought to India as maritime trade developed , nourishing smuggling organizations and gangs around the world.

Around the 17th century, the Ottoman Empire was defeated by the double agent Kochilsky when it attacked Vienna, Austria, leaving dozens of sacks of coffee beans in Vienna. Coffee began to spread in Austria, Italy and other European countries, and then began to be sold to the world .

After talking about the history, let’s talk about the classification of coffee beans

There are three main types of coffee beans in the world: Liberian beans, Arabica beans, and Robusta beans.

Liberia is basically only available in some West African countries . The quantity is very small and the taste is very bad. It is generally used for research.

Arabica trees are mostly planted at high altitudes. They have a more delicate flavor than the other two species and contain less caffeine.

Robusta trees are mostly planted in low-altitude areas . They are resistant to pests and easy to cultivate. They have the highest yield among all tree species. Most of the raw materials for instant coffee are made from this tree.

Generally speaking, the coffee beans on the market are mainly Arabica beans and Robusta beans.

For the currently popular coffee categories, according to the different process and coffee beans used,

Generally divided into: Italian coffee, American coffee, single origin coffee

Because we are reviewing Italian coffee today, we will mainly talk about Italian coffee . The first Italian coffee machine in history did not appear until 1901. It was designed and made by Luigi Bezzara in Milan, Italy. The original intention of the design of this coffee machine was very clear: "Make coffee in a short time."

Since then, the method of making coffee has undergone a complete change. " High speed and convenience " has become the new trend of coffee shop service. A few decades later, in 1961, with the advent of Faema's commercial espresso machine Faema E61, machine-made coffee began to become popular, and the number of people who love Italian coffee culture began to grow explosively around the world.

Generally speaking, in order to make up for the shortcomings of a single type of coffee beans, Italian coffee now uses a blend of multiple coffee beans to complement each other.

Generally, it is a mixture of Arabica beans and Robusta beans, and espresso is extracted by an Italian coffee machine (steam compression extraction machine) as the base . Coffee with or without other ingredients can be called Italian coffee. Therefore, fancy and non-traditional American coffee can actually be regarded as Italian coffee.

There is generally a formula like this:

Italian coffee = a*espresso + b*water/wine + c*milk/cream d*other (b, c, d can all be zero)

Keywords : multi-variety blending, espresso machine, seasoning can be added

By the way, let's distinguish single-origin coffee. Generally, single-origin coffee has two meanings. The first is " single variety ". It will only use coffee beans from one species of tree, one origin, or even one estate to brew. There will not be a mixture of coffee beans from multiple species of trees. It is generally made by hand-brewed coffee.

The second is " tasting alone ", which means tasting without milk, sugar or any other ingredients. This type of coffee will retain all the original flavors of the coffee, and the taste will be different depending on the brewing method, the quality of the beans themselves, and tasting at different temperatures.

Keywords : hand-poured coffee, single variety, individual tasting

If you have any questions about coffee, please leave a comment.

Well, now that we have explained the knowledge, let’s get into the topic of the evaluation.

We tested a total of 8 classic Italian coffees this time

They are: Cappuccino Caramel Macchiato Mocha Latte Irish Coffee Iced Coffee Caprese Espresso

We rate the drinks based on 6 criteria: appearance, bitterness, acidity, sweetness, aroma, and taste.

The scores represent the degree : 1-3 is mild, 4-6 is medium, 7-9 is strong, and 10 is strong. We counted the final servings of different coffees, as well as the feedback from the on-site friends after tasting, and the evaluation of different coffees by professional baristas.

For reference , we will introduce each of these 8 coffees and recommend corresponding groups or drinking times. Let's get started:

Handmade ice cream - the most beautiful coffee

Kang Baolan

Appearance: Thick cream layer like handmade ice cream

Taste: Sweet on the top, bitter on the bottom

Taste: Clear layers, a little greasy, long aftertaste

Smell: Creamy coffee aroma

Con panna is one of the famous Italian coffee varieties. In Italian, Con means and Panna means whipped cream. Italian coffee usually has espresso at the bottom, so Con panna is made by adding whipped cream to espresso. The tender white whipped cream floats on the dark coffee, and the cream is like a white lotus that grows out of the mud without being stained.

"When I first saw it served, I thought it was wrong. It was obviously a cup of exquisite handmade ice cream." As the most beautiful and particularly pleasing coffee in the venue, it smells like a strong creamy aroma. After removing the cream, the rich milk aroma and the mellow aroma of coffee mix together and spread. The smell is very subtle. After taking a sip, the top layer of cream is sweeter, while the bottom layer of concentrated base coffee is particularly bitter. The layering is particularly obvious . The milky sweetness of the cream, the vanilla flavor, and the mellow bitterness of the coffee will spread on your tongue at the same time. It is simply addictive, and the aftertaste is long. After stirring, the layering will disappear and the taste will be sweeter

The Ultimate Bitterness and Aroma—The Bitterest and Most Aromagenic Coffee

Espresso

Appearance: Thick cocoa butter layer, dark brown, small amount

Taste: Bitter taste

Taste: Greasy and smooth

Smell: mellow and long aftertaste

Italians like to use coffee to refresh themselves after work, but in order to save time, they need a simple and strong cup of coffee. That’s why the representative drink of Italian coffee, Espresso, was created. As the core of Italian coffee, almost all Italian coffee is based on this coffee.

If you like to drink real pure coffee without milk or sugar, in addition to single-origin coffee, I think this cup of espresso is worth ordering. As the first place in the overall aroma and bitterness, the surface of the espresso looks like there is thick cocoa butter with foam, the color is very dark, and the amount is very small compared to other coffees, about 45-60ml . Stir it and smell it. It has a unique and rich aroma of roasted grains without any mixed flavors. Drink a glass of ice water and take a sip. The pure bitterness of the coffee will instantly spread on your taste buds. It is very bitter and directly covers any other taste. Because the cocoa butter is relatively thick, the taste is relatively smooth, but the greasy feeling is also relatively heavy. Friends with a bad heart , I really don’t recommend "drinking it in one gulp".

A must-have for sweet coffee lovers—the sweetest coffee

Caramel Macchiato

Appearance: Caramel ring with thick milk foam

Taste: Milky and sweet

Taste: Smooth and non-greasy

Smell: Milky coffee aroma

Caramel Macchiato is a drink made by adding milk (milk foam), vanilla, and pure caramel to espresso. Macchiato means "mark" in Italian, and "Caramel" means caramel, which means " sweet mark ".

The caramel with various patterns on the surface of Caramel Macchiato is its charm and is very ornamental. Because a lot of milk foam is added, smell it close to the caramel circle. At first, it is full of milk flavor, and then the rich aroma of coffee begins to emanate along with the milk aroma. Do not stir it. Take a bite. Caramel, milk foam, syrup, and coffee enter the mouth in sequence. The layering is obvious , the taste is relatively balanced, and the overall taste is sweet. If you don’t like bitter coffee or prefer coffee with a stronger sweetness and milk flavor, this one is especially recommended

Basic entry-level coffee - the most balanced coffee

Cappuccino

Appearance: Full of milk, cinnamon powder and milk foam

Taste: Balanced sweetness and bitterness, strong milky flavor

Taste: Smooth, not greasy, sweet

Smell: Rich milky aroma

Cappuccino is an Italian coffee made by mixing equal amounts of Italian espresso and steamed milk foam. The color of this coffee is like the turban covered over the dark brown coat of the Franciscan monks who were missionaries to Italy at that time. Cappuccino means turban in Italian. So the Italians named this coffee Cappuccino.

In cappuccino, the ratio of espresso, milk and milk foam is close to 1:1:1 . The top layer of coffee is milk foam with milk foam, and the proportion of milk foam is slightly more than milk. It smells rich in milk aroma. A layer of cinnamon powder is sprinkled on the surface, which can not only drive away the cold, but also make the coffee more sweet and mellow, and also play a certain decorative role. When tasted, it has distinct layers and the various flavors are very balanced, with moderate sweetness and bitterness, relatively light taste, and a sweet aftertaste. As the most balanced coffee in this session, it is recommended for people who are suitable for first-time coffee lovers.

Do you want to add a little tear? - The coffee that is most like a cocktail

Irish Coffee

Appearance: Like a cocktail

Taste: Sweet milk coffee slightly bitter and sour

Taste: Clearly layered, mellow and refreshing

Smell: Strong wine aroma, rich milk aroma

According to legend, this coffee was developed by a bartender at Dublin Airport in Ireland to keep his beloved girl. In fact, it can also be considered a cocktail. When the bartender made Irish coffee for the girl for the first time, he could not suppress his inner excitement and longing for the girl for a long time, so he shed tears during the making process, and the tears also dripped into the coffee. This is where the saying " Want you drop some tears " comes from.

As the only coffee with alcohol in this event, it was very unexpectedly praised by all the friends in the audience! The unique combination of alcohol, coffee and cream is simply addictive. Smell it before drinking, and the milky aroma of fresh cream and the mellow aroma of strong alcohol will hit your nose. Take a sip, and the rich milky sweetness of fresh cream hides the unique spiciness and freshness of 70% alcohol, followed by the bitterness and mellowness of coffee. It has distinct layers, smooth taste, and is slightly sweet overall. It tastes great after stirring, and there is still the aftertaste of alcohol. If you love drinking coffee, please be sure to try this

Coffee milk is a must for breakfast - the coffee with the strongest milk flavor

latté

Appearance: The cream layer is very similar to cappuccino

Taste: Light milk flavor

Taste: Lubricated

Smell: Extra strong milky aroma

Caffè Latte is the world's most popular Italian coffee. Latte means milk in Italian, so Cafe Latte means milk coffee. Yes, it is almost just coffee and milk, with more milk and less coffee . The espresso gives ordinary milk an unforgettable taste.

The ingredients of latte are almost the same as cappuccino, but the proportions are very different. The ratio of espresso, milk, and milk foam is close to 1:2:1 , and hot fresh milk is poured directly into the espresso. It tastes like the originally bitter coffee becomes smooth and sweet , and the hot milk is full of sweetness. The overall taste is lighter than the other types because of the high milk content. The hot milk has the effect of warming the stomach. At the same time, coffee can also refresh the mind. It is very suitable for drinking a cup in the morning.

Chocolate Milk Coffee Trio - The Most Popular Coffee for Women

Mocha

Appearance: The cream layer is very thick

Taste: Milky sweet chocolate

Taste: dense

Smell: Rich milky smell

The name of Mocha coffee originated from the Red Sea town of Mocha in Yemen. This place monopolized the export trade of coffee in the 15th century. In Europe, "Mocha coffee" may refer to this drink or simply to coffee brewed from Mocha coffee beans. It is a mixture of Italian espresso, chocolate, fresh cream and milk.

Similar to the classic Italian latte, it is usually made by mixing one-third of espresso and two-thirds of milk and cream. The proportion of coffee is very low , and chocolate syrup is usually added to it, but it is not. There is usually a layer of cream on the top, which looks a bit thick. Take a sip, cream, milk, chocolate and coffee enter the mouth in turn. The sour, fragrant and mellow coffee blends with the sweetness of warm fresh milk and the sweetness of chocolate syrup. The taste is very wonderful, the layering is very good, and the taste is very dense . It is also a low-caffeine beverage, which should be more popular among women .

A refreshing drink: espresso with ice

Iced Coffee

Appearance: Like Coke with ice cubes

Taste: Bitter and slightly sour

Taste: refreshing and cool

Smell: mellow

This cup of coffee is actually made with Italian espresso and ice water . It does not contain cream or spices like traditional American and Thai coffee. At low temperatures, the strong espresso is diluted by ice water. When you take a sip, the cool, bitter and slightly sour coffee taste instantly hits you. Because of the addition of ice cubes, it has a cool and refreshing taste. At the same time, the coffee temperature is kept low for a long time. The ice water continuously dilutes the coffee, and the more you drink it, the less bitter it tastes. It is not as bitter and greasy as pure espresso. It is a good product to have a cup when you are tired at work to refresh your mind .

OK, the recommendation is complete~

Actually, good taste is a very subjective concept.

So you can choose the coffee that suits you according to your preferences.

Don’t be obsessed with stereotypes. After all, you are the one drinking the coffee, so make it taste good.

In addition, I would like to thank the 10 friends who participated in this event because of your active participation.

We would also like to thank all the friends at FDC Coffee Shop for their perfect assistance. Our evaluation activity was successfully completed