Every espresso drink on any menu is two ingredients - espresso and milk. The ratio and texture of the milk determine the name. That is it. No mystery. Here is the full lineup.
Espresso
The base. A single shot is about one ounce of concentrated coffee extracted under nine bars of pressure in twenty-five to thirty seconds. A double - the standard at most shops, ours included - is two ounces.
Nothing else in the cup. Nowhere to hide.
Macchiato
Espresso with a small mark of steamed milk or foam. "Stained" in Italian. Two ounces of espresso, a teaspoon of milk. This is not what Starbucks calls a macchiato. That is a flavored latte served upside down.
A traditional macchiato is barely larger than a straight espresso.
Cortado
Equal parts espresso and steamed milk. Two ounces of each. No foam. The milk cuts the acidity without covering the coffee. This is our most ordered drink. If you want espresso forward and smooth, start here.
Flat White
Five to six ounces. A double shot with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam - velvety, not frothy. Stronger than a latte, larger than a cortado. Australian in origin.
The texture is what sets it apart. Dense, smooth, integrated with the espresso rather than sitting on top of it.
Cappuccino
Equal thirds - espresso, steamed milk, foam. About six ounces total. The foam is thicker than a flat white and the drink is lighter in body.
In Italy, this is a morning drink. Nobody orders one after noon. We do not enforce that rule. But now you know it exists.
Latte
The most milk of any espresso drink. Eight to twelve ounces of steamed milk with a thin layer of foam, one or two shots of espresso. The canvas for flavor additions - vanilla, honey, lavender, seasonal syrups. If you want your coffee to taste like something other than coffee, this is your drink. No judgment.
Americano
Espresso diluted with hot water. The origin story - supposedly American soldiers in Italy diluted their espresso to approximate drip coffee. Smoother than drip, less concentrated than espresso, larger cup.
If you want black coffee and the shop does not brew drip, this is the move.
All of these are on the menu at Moon Wolf Provisions. We pull every shot with beans from Eiland Coffee Roasters - scored, graded, and roasted in Richardson. 920 Custer Road.
