Coffee happens to be the world’s most loved hot beverage with millions around the world starting their days with a cup of espresso or cappuccino coffee. We all know that coffee is the generic name for the beverage made with the help of coffee beans or coffee powder while there are many different types of these beverages depending upon the ingredients used as well as the procedure to make the beverage. It is when we are in Coffee Day or barista and the waiter asks us whether we would like to have espresso or cappuccino that we are confused. This article attempts to highlight the differences between espresso and cappuccino.
Espresso
Espresso is the name of the machine as well as the beverage produced with the help of this machine using ground coffee and hot water. Coffee powder is placed inside the machine and very hot water at very high pressure is forced upon this ground coffee so that it extracts all the flavor of the coffee. The beverage thus produced is almost syrupy that consists of both the dissolved as well as solid coffee powder. This process of making coffee produces cream, as well as the oils contained in coffee, released and converted into a colloid. Espresso is made using an espresso machine that makes use of electric pump to create the pressure required to turn coffee powder into espresso.
Water is heated to 190-200 degree Fahrenheit and made to pass on ground coffee at a high pressure of 8-10 atmospheres.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is a kind of beverage that is made using espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk, all three being in one third proportions. Espresso is taken along with steamed milk as both are poured in a cup with frothed milk added to good effect at the top of the beverage so produced. Cappuccino is characterized by the presence of foamed milk at the top that is presented in many artful ways by the barista when you order this beverage.
What is the difference between Espresso and Cappuccino?
• Espresso is the basic beverage made with ground coffee by forcing hot water at high pressure over it.
• Cappuccino is produced by taking espresso, steamed milk and froth milk in one third proportions.
• The cream in espresso is produced as the oil in the coffee powder is released and converted into colloid.
• Espresso is dark brown in color with no milk whereas cappuccino contains both hot milk as well as foamed milk.
• Espresso is the most popular coffee beverage around the world. It is also the name of the machine making this beverage.
• Espresso is believed to have more coffee flavor than cappuccino as high pressure hot water extracts all flavor from the coffee powder.
• Cappuccino can be made by adding steamed milk to espresso.