Espresso Day: 10 ways to enjoy drinking your coffee and delicious recipes to try

The love of coffee has always been more than gastronomical. It is a celebrated pop-culture icon around the globe, and some would even call it a way of life. It is no wonder that November 23 is dedicated to celebrating arguably the famous method of brewing coffee, the espresso. Tracing its origins to Italy, the bold espresso also serves as the foundation for several coffee-based beverages. "The trademark of espresso is its strong aroma and the nice crema on top which makes it more smooth and palatable. Across the world, people enjoy drinking freshly brewed espresso. It is also the basic element of all espresso-based beverages including your favourite cappuccino, lattes, and iced coffee," shares Abdul Sahid Khan, head trainer, Lavazza India.

Among aficionados, how you drink your coffee can lead to spirited debates. To add to your existing range of coffee-making skills, we've asked the expert to share 10 ways to drink your aromatic espresso, and also share three recipes to celebrate Espresso Day in style.

Espresso Macchiato

Espresso macchiato is an easy and simple way to make coffee with just two ingredients: espresso and milk foam. Milk foam makes it more creamy and smooth, which is perhaps why the Espresso Macchiato is among the most liked espresso-based drinks.

Caffe Americano

American soldiers, during World War II replicated Americans' favourite drip coffee by adding water to the iconic Italian espresso shot, as they found the traditional Italian espresso to be very strong and caffe americano was born. In simple words, espresso is diluted with hot water to make caffe americano.

Lungo

Lungo is a long Italian coffee consisting of one single shot of espresso with twice the amount of hot water (60 ml) forced through the ground coffee. It is an espresso made with more water than usual. This will be 60 ml coffee with a little diluted version of an espresso.

Cortado

Cortado means cut in Spanish, indicating that the espresso is cut or diluted with milk. This Spanish-origin espresso drink is made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk.

Espresso Martini

If you have been waiting for a stronger espresso-based drink, then the Espresso martini is right up your alley. This coffee cocktail is made using espresso, coffee liqueur, and vodka. Espresso is shaken with ingredients in a cocktail shaker and served in a martini glass.

Affogato

The Italian coffee-based dessert is made with just two ingredients - espresso and milk flavoured or vanilla gelato. Freshly brewed hot espresso is poured over the cold gelato ice cream.

Espresso con panna

This is a shot of espresso with a generous amount of whipped cream on top. This espresso drink is traditionally served in a small glass with a spoon. The spoon allows you to scoop the whipped cream with the espresso to enjoy a balanced flavour throughout.

Flat white

There is a lot of dispute over whether the flat white originated in Australia or New Zealand. A flat white has steamed milk and double espresso shots with a little bit less microfoam than a latte.

Cafe mocha

This sweet espresso drink is a favourite among Indians. It's prepared with a silky latte mixed with chocolate sauce. Sometimes it's also served with an additional topping of whipped cream. It is usually served in a glass and not in a mug.

Doppio
Doppio meaning ‘double' in Italian, is a double shot of espresso made using 18 to 20 grams of coffee powder. It has nice crema on top which adds to the flavour. It's the ideal coffee for anyone that loves espresso but wishes their drink would last longer.

Now that you've learned about the 10 different ways to drink your espresso, it is time for some

Roasted Almond Mocha
For those seeking a vegan smoking hot coffee, this is the ideal balance of nutty and chocolate flavours.

Ingredients
45ml espresso shot
15ml dark chocolate syrup
150ml almond milk
Roasted almond flakes for garnish
Whipped cream to topping

Method
1. Extract freshly brewed espresso into your favourite mug.
2. Add dark chocolate and mix well with espresso.
3. Steam and froth almond milk and pour it into espresso.
4. Top it with whipped cream and roasted almond flakes.
5. Garnish with some more dark chocolate sauce.

Cardamom Vanilla Latte
This Indian chai-inspired espresso coffee is aromatic and extremely easy to make at home using capsule pod espresso with steamed milk.

Ingredients
30ml Espresso shot
150ml milk
15ml vanilla flavour
Small pinch of cardamom
Dash of cinnamon
Whipped cream from garnish (optional)

Method
1. Extract freshly brewed espresso into your favourite ceramic cup.
2. Add a pinch of cardamom and a dash of cinnamon into the cup, and mix well with espresso.
3. Steam and froth milk and pour it into espresso making some latte.
4. For creamier options, top it with whipped cream.

Irish Coffee IB
If you prefer something cooler and bolder, whipping up some of this ice-blended espresso is worth a try.

Ingredients
60ml espresso shot
100ml sweetened cream
20ml irish flavour
1 small Cadbury bar
4-6 ice cubes
Whipped cream for garnish

Method
1. Brew espresso using darker roasts like puro gusto or gusto crema.
2. In a blender add all the ingredients with fresh espresso and blend it smoothly.
3. Pour it into a glass and garnish with whipped cream.
4. You can replace the Irish flavour with 30ml of Irish whiskey.

Also Read: Whip up these iconic on-screen cocktails at home