Coffee Decoded: A Quick Guide to Specialty Coffees

Ever wonder what the difference is between a cappuccino and a macchiato? Ever feel confused when looking at all the coffee varieties and fancy names? There’s no doubt coffee has evolved over the years: it’s no longer just with or without sugar, milk or cream. It remains the most popular beverage in the country (after tap water) and is consumed by 65 percent of Canadians each day according to the Coffee Association of Canada.

While mornings are still the time of day most people drink coffee (25 percent), a growing number of coffee addicts are enjoying it after-lunch and afternoons, and there are now even cocktails made with coffee. So before you start personalizing your own coffee, it would be useful to learn a thing or two about the different types of coffee. Here’s your survival guide from the experts at Van Houtte to make it in the coffee world:

• Americano: A classic Americano is prepared with two shots of espresso and about 12 ounces of water. Simple and tasty.

• Cappuccino: Rich coffee, warm milk, creamy mousse. Simple yet intense. Perfect to wake you up.

• Caramel Macchiato: The name says it all: a perfect mix of coffee, with a taste of buttery caramel. A great way to feel like a kid in a candy store again.

• Espresso: Espresso was originally conceived as a faster way of making coffee, hence the name “espresso”, meaning “express” in Italian. This was done by forcing hot water through a finely ground blend of coffee at high pressure resulting in faster extraction. The result: a rich beverage that is thicker than regular coffee, with a delicious cream on top.

• Mocaccino: Coffee and chocolate mixed together. Two great tastes brilliantly united. Not sure whether to have hot chocolate or coffee? This one’s for you.

• Vanilla Latte: Rich coffee with a hint of vanilla. Tastes as good as it smells.

You don’t need to be a barista to enjoy these different types of coffees at home thanks to the new Van Houtte Specialty Collection which offers 4 new specialty coffees designed for Keurig K-Cup systems available on Keurig.ca, in grocery stores and certain retailers.

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