Coffee: The Meaning Behind The Names

Have you ever wondered the difference between a Café Crème and a Cappuccino or a Latte and a Lungo? If so, allow us to be of help…

Over the past few years, London’s love affair with real coffee – artisan, organic, cold-brewed, French-pressed, you name it – has only seemed to deepen. Never before have independent roasters and artisan baristas become such places of pilgrimage for London’s growing community of discerning coffee-drinkers. However, in a world where food and drink trends are in a constant state of flux, there are, increasingly, times when you just can’t beat a classic…

Often referred to as a “timeless” institution and “perhaps London’s most classic restaurant” so say The Nudge, The Wolseley’s menu is familiar to anyone who’s taken a kaffee und küchen in the Grand Cafés of Central Europe – providing the perfect place for Londoners to enjoy a coffee – in whatever form – and a slice of cake…

And as UK Coffee Week gets under way from 29^th April – 5^th May, we thought it timely to take a leaf out of A.A. Gill’s book ‘Breakfast at The Wolseley’ and explain the meaning behind the names…

Affogato ~ meaning ‘drowned’, is espresso served over ice cream
Americano ~ is espresso topped with hot water to the strength of filter coffee
Café crème ~ is an espresso with added steamed milk served in a coffee cup
Cappuccino ~is the much-loved Italian frothy coffee, an espresso shot of coffee served with perfectly foamed hot milk and foam
Corretto ~ meaning ‘corrected’, is espresso with added alcohol, usually grappa, brandy or sambuca
Crema ~ is the nut brown foamy layer on top of a well-made espresso
Doppio ~ meaning ‘double’, is two shots of espresso in one cup
Einspänner ~ is a lungo (see below) topped with whipped cream
Espresso ~ is a strong, short coffee, approx. 45ml; the delicate flavour of the coffee is extracted through high pressure
Latte ~meaning ‘milk’, can be made two ways: an espresso topped with hot milk and a drizzle of foam or a hot glass of milk with an espresso shot poured in to make a 3-layered look
Lungo ~ meaning ‘long’, is an espresso made with more than the usual amount of water (about double) passing through the ground coffee, producing a weaker drink
Macchiato ~ meaning ‘marked’ or ‘stained’, is an espresso with a teaspoon or milk and foam on top
Marocchino ~ is an espresso topped with hot milk and foam, covered in cocoa powder, best served in a glass
Mocha ~ is a rich hot chocolate, topped with an espresso, hot milk and foam
Ristretto ~ meaning ‘shortened’, is an espresso made with less water, yielding a coffee that has more essential oils and flavour with less caffeine and potential bitterness, a more full-bodied potent taste

An excerpt from ‘Breakfast at The Wolseley’ by A.A. Gill