All our coffee is served with two shots by default. We’re not some fancy coffee shop, just a motorway service station that makes coffee to go. We have some regulars who order a decaff with an extra shot. I explain thats going to have three shots total, and they’re happy with it.
But I keep thinking, if you have three shots of decaff, isn’t that going to be as strong as a normal coffee? Whats the point?
Please forgive my ignorance
A ‘shot’ is a portion in coffee speak, like a shot of vodka is a standard measurement. A flat white has two shots of espresso as standard, for example. Decaf espresso/coffee would be one or two shots of decaf coffee, still won’t have any (well, much) caffeine, just makes the flavour stronger.
I actually thought we were talking about shots of alcohol at first, because I’ve heard of people putting that in their coffee. Didn’t quite make sense why you’d sell every coffee with alcohol, though…
So all of this assumes it’s being mixed with milk or water, right? Because otherwise having two or three shots wouldn’t alter the taste because it would just be more of the same
Yes, there are many types of coffee produced with milk or water, as well as with ice and other ingredients. Some are produced with steamed milk, others with foam, a mixture of the two, one or two shots, in different amounts, with flavoured syrups, ice, or just with a certain amount of water to bulk it out.
You can have a double espresso (two shots only, nothing else), but even that can be short or long, which means there is less or more water used when creating each shot of espresso. Short espressos are popular in Italy, usually cost a euro, and would be taken standing up and finished in a minute or two (or even instantly); the amount would be about the same as an alcoholic shot.
It’s interesting to me because for me the coffee (not espresso) as is the default, with no added water. So the idea that it’s assumed it is mixed threw me off. Here the assumption the coffee is “regular” (drip, french press, basically not espresso) and if you want water or milk in it, that’s extra thing. Nobody puts in water in that coffe though hah, it’s just whether you want milk and sugar.
Ah yeah that’s your kind of standard home or office coffee, not something you’d get in a cafe really (or at least not the main one they would serve).
Here I think it’s the typical coffee you’d get if you don’t specify anything else. Espresso based fancy milk foam sugary things are getting more popular though.
Ah yeah if you go to a non-cafe place then that’s what you’d get unless they invested in a fancy machine.
Do try a flat white sometime though, or a piccolo latte (no sugar or such heathenly things though!).
I’ve tried a “flat white” but it mostly tasted like regular coffee with milk imo. If a bit milkier than I’m used to.
Ensure it has two shots, may have to reduce the milk or get a piccolo instead. It’s quite hit and miss here.
I’m aware of how espresso drinks work. I was picturing the decaf being brewed decaf, not an espresso drink. I guess OP does mean an americano or a cappuccino or something. So in terms of flavor, it contributes, in terms of caffeine, it does not.