Hey, NoHo, It’s National Espresso Day 11/23

National Espresso Day!!

National Espresso Day can also be called: “Please don’t call it an x-presso OR “A macchiato doesn’t have caramel and whipped cream” Day.

Get ready for Sunday, November 23, 2014, North Hollywood. Why? We celebrate National Espresso Day, that’s why! It is the base of many coffee drinks and is something most of our NoHo residents can’t live without.

So what exactly is an espresso? It’s a concentrated coffee topped with a delicate coffee foam, called the crema. It’s served in a small ceramic cup to keep it warm. Espresso means “fast” in Italian. That’s exactly how long it should take to make an espresso – 30-40 seconds.

The “inventor” of the espresso, Luigi Bezzera, was the  owner of a manufacturing plant and wanted to make his coffee faster (some say for his employees to take shorter “coffee breaks”). Whatever the reason we are happy he invented a machine that added steam pressure to the process that resulted in a stronger and more intense coffee. Want more espresso history? Visit our friends at National Espresso Day. 

Did you know that “Although the actual caffeine content of any coffee drink varies by size, bean origin, roast method and other factors, the caffeine content of “typical” servings of espresso vs. drip brew are 53 mg vs. 95 to 200 mg.” – Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso If you’ve ever traveled to Italy you’ll know that there are many types of espresso you can order. If you haven’t been yet, not to worry, here are some common ones. Please note the authentic caffe macchiato.

· Caffe ristretto — a shot of creamy espresso that can sit anywhere from 1/2 inch to 1 inch in an espresso cup and has a strong flavor which may be too strong for some people.

· Caffe lungo — a more drinkable, longer coffee shot, known as double shot in some regions.

· Caffe macchiato — a drop of milk is added to espresso coffee. The barman will then ask you if you want latte caldo, hot milk or latte freddo, cold milk. (See, no caramel or whipped cream!)

· Caffe e latte — espresso and milk in more or less equal parts minus the froth typical of a cappuccino.

Con panna – with whipped cream

How are you “Espress-ing” yourself on National Espresso Day?

Try this easy and yummy recipe for Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Seven Minute Frosting from NoHo’s own foodies The Duo Dishes.

Drink up North Hollywood and enjoy #NationalEspressoDay!

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Author: Lisa Bianconi

Editor of www.nohoartsdistrict.com