Coffee & Barista
Espresso, cappuccino or latte: the complete guide to choosing your coffee in Quebec
Don’t know the difference between a ristretto and a lungo? Between a flat white and a cortado? This Carrera Café barista guide demystifies Italian coffee vocabulary and helps you order with confidence.
The Espresso
The base of everything
Espresso is the starting point of the entire Italian coffee culture. A small amount of hot water (about 30 ml) is forced under high pressure through finely ground coffee. The result: a concentrated, intense drink topped with a dense, golden cream called crema.
Espresso sheet
Volume
25-30 ml
Extraction
25-30 seconds
Intensity
Very strong
Milk
None
The Cappuccino
The perfect balance
The cappuccino is the most iconic morning drink in Italy. It consists of three elements in equal proportions: an espresso, hot milk, and milk foam. Its texture is thicker than a latte, and its taste more pronounced. It is the favorite drink of Italians before 11 a.m.
Cappuccino sheet
Volume
150-180 ml
Structure
1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk, 1/3 foam
Intensity
Medium-strong
Ideal
In the morning
The Latte
The mildest and most versatile
Latte (or café latte) is the mildest of espresso-based coffees. It contains a higher proportion of micro-textured milk, giving it a silky texture and a sweeter flavor. It is also the ideal base for added flavors: vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, lavender.
Latte sheet
Volume
240-360 ml
Structure
Espresso + micro-textured milk
Intensity
Mild
Versions
Hot or iced
Other coffees
Ristretto, lungo, flat white, cortado
Ristretto
Very short extraction, 15-20 ml. More concentrated and less bitter than a classic espresso. Sweet and intense flavor.
Lungo
Long extraction, 60-80 ml. Lighter on the palate, slightly more bitter. Close to a filter coffee but with crema.
Flat White
Double ristretto + small amount of micro-textured milk. Very concentrated, very short. The milk espresso.
Cortado
Espresso + small amount of warm, non-textured milk. The softened espresso, in its purest form.
How to choose
According to your preferences
If you like it intense
→ Ristretto or espresso
If you like it balanced
→ Cappuccino or cortado
If you like it mild
→ Latte or flat white
If you want the full experience
→ Latte Pole Position Carrera
Barista tip
"Never be intimidated by the menu. The best way to learn what you like is to try. Start with a cappuccino if you don’t know. And if you’re adventurous, just tell me: 'make me something good.' I’ll find what suits you."
Marco, barista at Carrera Café, Petit-Champlain
Come try it for real
Carrera Café, the coffee school at Petit-Champlain
Rue du Petit-Champlain, Québec. Our baristas are here to guide you through your order.
See our coffee menu
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