Espresso Recipe

An iced americano is a double espresso poured over cold water and ice — clean, bold, and more complex than regular iced coffee. It takes 3 minutes to make at home and tastes sharper and brighter than anything from a drive-through. The key detail most home recipes get wrong: cold water goes in first, then espresso on top. This preserves the crema as a thin aromatic layer on the surface instead of dissolving it on impact with ice. ...

A caramel macchiato is espresso poured over vanilla-flavored steamed milk, finished with a caramel drizzle. Unlike most espresso drinks where espresso goes in first, the caramel macchiato is assembled upside-down — milk and vanilla go in first, espresso goes on top — which is what creates the distinctive layered look and the name (“macchiato” means the milk is “marked” by the espresso). It’s one of the most popular espresso drinks in the world, largely thanks to Starbucks. But the homemade version is better: fresher espresso, real vanilla, and you control the sweetness. ...