Moving beyond the standard shot of espresso opens up a world of flavor and texture. From the rich crema of a straight espresso to the milky canvas of a latte, each drink offers a unique experience. The foundation of any great espresso drink, however, starts with quality beans, the right equipment, and perhaps a touch of sweetness.
To help you craft the perfect cup at home, we’ve curated a selection of essential products. This roundup covers everything from renowned coffee blends and versatile machines to portable makers and classic flavor syrups, giving you the tools to explore the full spectrum of espresso-based beverages.
Essential Gear and Ingredients for Your Home Espresso Bar
- Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend
- illy Classico Espresso Ground Coffee
- De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine
- Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
- AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
- Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
- Torani Caramel Syrup for Coffee and Cocktails
- Monin Vanilla Syrup for Coffee and Cocktails
Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend
As a cornerstone for many espresso enthusiasts, the Lavazza Super Crema blend is known for its medium-bodied profile and generous crema. This blend of Arabica and Robusta beans from Brazil and Indonesia offers a smooth taste with notes of honey, almonds, and dried fruit. Its balanced character makes it an incredibly versatile choice for both straight espresso and milk-based drinks.
Purchasing these beans whole ensures you capture the full spectrum of flavors and aromas right before brewing. Grinding them fresh allows you to dial in the perfect extraction for your specific machine or method, resulting in a superior cup of coffee that forms the ideal base for any recipe you want to try.
illy Classico Espresso Ground Coffee
For a consistently smooth and balanced espresso, illy Classico is a time-tested favorite. This medium-roast coffee is made from 100% Arabica beans, selected from nine different origins around the world. The result is a complex yet approachable flavor profile with notes of caramel, orange blossom, and jasmine, with a clean finish and a rich, dark crema.
illy’s pressurized canister helps protect the pre-ground coffee from oxygen and light, preserving its freshness from the first cup to the last. This convenience makes it an excellent option for those who do not have a grinder but still want a high-quality, reliable espresso experience at home.
De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine
The De’Longhi Stilosa offers an accessible entry point into the world of home espresso. This compact machine is designed for simplicity, featuring a manual milk frother that gives you control over the texture of your milk for cappuccinos and lattes. Its single-button operation for brewing simplifies the process, letting you focus on the result.
With its 15-bar pump pressure, the Stilosa is capable of extracting a quality shot of espresso with a good layer of crema. Its sleek design doesn’t take up much counter space, making it a practical choice for smaller kitchens or for anyone looking for a straightforward, no-fuss espresso machine.
Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine
The Breville Bambino Plus is a compact powerhouse that delivers professional performance in a small footprint. It stands out with its rapid heat-up time, going from off to ready to brew in just three seconds. This feature is perfect for busy mornings when you need a quality coffee quickly without a long wait.
Its automated milk frothing system is a significant benefit, allowing you to achieve perfectly textured microfoam for lattes and flat whites with the push of a button. The Bambino Plus also features a pre-infusion function, which gradually increases water pressure at the start of extraction for a more balanced and flavorful shot.
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
The AeroPress is a uniquely versatile and portable brewing device that can produce a concentrated coffee similar in strength and flavor to espresso. Its immersion and pressure brewing method results in a smooth, low-acidity cup that forms an excellent base for Americanos or faux-lattes. It’s remarkably fast, easy to clean, and nearly unbreakable.
Ideal for travel, camping, or small kitchens, the AeroPress requires no electricity and gives you full control over every variable, including brew time and pressure. Its affordability and ability to make a rich, full-bodied coffee have made it a cult favorite among coffee aficionados worldwide.
Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
For the espresso purist on the go, the Wacaco Nanopresso is a hand-powered portable espresso maker that delivers genuine pressure. Its innovative design can generate up to 18 bars of pressure, which is sufficient to produce a real espresso shot with a satisfying crema, all without batteries or electricity.
Extremely compact and lightweight, the Nanopresso is the perfect companion for road trips, the office, or hiking. It comes with a built-in foldable cup and is simple to operate and clean. For anyone who refuses to compromise on coffee quality while away from home, this device is a game-changer.
Torani Caramel Syrup for Coffee and Cocktails
No caramel latte or macchiato is complete without a quality syrup, and Torani is a trusted name in the industry. This syrup delivers a sweet, buttery caramel flavor that mixes seamlessly into both hot and iced espresso drinks. It allows you to easily recreate your favorite café-style beverages in your own kitchen.
Made with pure cane sugar, this syrup adds a consistent and familiar flavor that can also be used in desserts, cocktails, and more. A bottle of Torani Caramel Syrup is a simple way to add a custom touch of sweetness and flavor to your daily coffee routine.
Monin Vanilla Syrup for Coffee and Cocktails
Monin Vanilla Syrup offers a classic and versatile flavor that complements the natural notes of espresso beautifully. Its taste is derived from the infusion of real vanilla, providing a rich and aromatic sweetness that is less artificial than some alternatives. It’s the essential ingredient for a perfect vanilla latte or to add a hint of flavor to a straight shot.
Like its caramel counterpart, this syrup is incredibly easy to use and can enhance a wide variety of drinks. Whether you’re making a hot beverage or an iced coffee, a dash of Monin Vanilla provides a smooth, well-rounded flavor that is both comforting and sophisticated.
What to Look For in 8 Different Types Of Espresso Drinks To Try Next
When I first started getting into coffee, the espresso menu felt like a secret code I hadn’t been given the key to. I knew I liked coffee, but the differences between a macchiato and a cappuccino were a mystery. If you’re in the same boat, this guide is for you. I want to help you navigate the world of espresso so you can confidently pick your next drink. The main thing to pay attention to is the ratio of espresso to milk and foam. This single factor creates the vast spectrum of drinks you see on cafe boards.
Let’s start with the basics. An espresso shot is the foundation. It’s a small, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely-ground beans. From there, we add steamed milk and milk foam in different proportions. If you prefer a strong, unadulterated coffee hit, you’ll want to look at drinks with less milk. A macchiato is literally just an espresso “stained” or “marked” with a tiny dollop of foam. It’s for when you find a straight shot too intense but don’t want a milky drink. A step up in milk is the cortado, which balances espresso with an equal amount of warm milk to cut the acidity, resulting in a small, smooth beverage.
If you enjoy a more balanced coffee, the middle-of-the-road options are your best bet. The flat white is a favorite of mine. It has a double shot of espresso and is topped with steamed milk that has a microfoam texture—velvety and integrated, not dry and fluffy. It’s richer and stronger than a latte. Speaking of the latte, this is probably the most popular espresso drink. It’s one part espresso to two or more parts steamed milk, finished with a light layer of foam. It’s creamy, mild, and a great canvas for latte art.
For those with a sweet tooth or a preference for frothy textures, the milk-heavy drinks are the way to go. The cappuccino is a classic, known for its equal parts of espresso, steamed milk, and thick, airy foam. It feels light and is often dusted with cocoa or cinnamon. Then there’s the mocha, which is essentially a chocolate latte. It combines espresso with steamed milk and chocolate syrup, making it feel like a dessert. Finally, if you’re not in the mood for hot coffee, the americano (espresso and hot water) is a clean, simple choice, while an iced latte provides that creamy, caffeinated chill. Think about your preferred coffee strength and texture, and you’ll find your perfect match among these 8 different types of espresso drinks to try next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between a latte and a cappuccino?
The core difference comes down to the foam. Both drinks use espresso and steamed milk, but their structure is distinct. A cappuccino is made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and thick, dry foam. This gives it a light, airy texture and a strong coffee flavor that cuts through the milk. A latte, on the other hand, has much more steamed milk and only a thin layer of microfoam on top. The result is a creamier, milder coffee drink that is often used as a base for latte art. So, if you want a frothier, stronger experience, go for a cappuccino. If you prefer a smoother, milkier coffee, the latte is your drink.
I find straight espresso too bitter. Which drink should I start with?
This is a very common starting point, and I was there too. The bitterness can be intense if you’re not used to it. I would highly recommend starting with a latte or a flat white. The latte has a high volume of steamed milk, which mellows out the espresso’s bitterness and creates a very approachable, creamy drink. The flat white is a bit stronger in coffee flavor because it has less milk, but the microfoam integrates so smoothly that it still significantly softens the espresso’s edge. Both are fantastic gateway drinks that will help you appreciate the coffee flavor without being overwhelmed.
Is there a significant caffeine difference between these drinks?
This is an excellent question, and the answer depends more on the number of espresso shots than the type of drink itself. A standard single shot of espresso has about 64 milligrams of caffeine, while a double (doppio) has around 128 milligrams. Most medium to large drinks, like lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites, are typically made with a double shot. So, a 12-ounce latte and a 6-ounce cappuccino could have the same amount of caffeine if they both use a double shot. The difference is in the milk volume and foam, not the caffeine content. If you need a bigger kick, you can always ask for an extra shot in any drink.
What exactly is a “macchiato” compared to the one at big chain cafes?
This is a point of confusion for many people, and I understand why. A traditional macchiato, which means “stained” or “spotted” in Italian, is a simple drink: one or two shots of espresso “marked” with just a teaspoon of milk foam. It’s a small, strong coffee drink served in a tiny cup. The versions you find at large chain cafes are often caramel macchiatos, which are essentially vanilla lattes with caramel drizzle and the shots poured on top. They are much larger, sweeter, and milkier. If you order a macchiato at a specialty coffee shop, you will almost certainly get the small, traditional version.
Can I make these espresso drinks without an expensive machine at home?
Yes, you can get surprisingly close! While a high-quality espresso machine is the gold standard, there are affordable alternatives. A Moka pot brews a strong, concentrated coffee that makes a decent base for milk drinks like lattes. For the milk, you can heat it on the stove and then use a simple handheld milk frother to create foam. Another option is a French press; you can actually use it to froth warm milk by pumping the plunger rapidly. You won’t get the exact pressure-extracted crema of a true espresso, but you can absolutely create tasty, satisfying versions of these 8 different types of espresso drinks to try next without a major financial investment.