I love sipping my coffee in the morning, gathering my thoughts and making my to do list for the day.  Nothing beats a quiet cup of coffee alone to start the day before the kids wake up and craziness takes over.  I'm not going to lie though I don't just stick to drinking coffee in the morning I'm an all day coffee drinker and if someone leaves a pot out I'll probably drink the whole thing.  I just can't get enough!  So for those of you wonder all about coffee here is a little boot camp for the coffee drinkers out there.

Boot Camp for Coffee Drinkers

So we go to a local coffee house and we order cappuccinos, cafe mochas, lattes and espressos. It isn't the paper cups that make these drinks taste so good. It's the recipe and of course the prettiness factor. Baristas all have a style of their own and every cup will taste different because of the roast, the grind, the amount used, the water, the temperature and many other things. We have all tried to make these coffee delights at home the way we think they are made, but do we really know the real way they are supposed to be made to extract the enchanting flavors correctly?

Here is a simple list of how to make the basic coffee based beverages

Cappuccino: Equal parts of steamed and frothed milk and espresso. The milk goes on top of the espresso. Dust with nutmeg, cinnamon or chocolate powder or shavings.

Cafe Mochas: The easiest way is to use a good brand of hot chocolate, throw in a shot of espresso and top with whipping cream and chocolate powder or shavings. It looks the best if you put it in a tall glass and use a long handled spoon. For a finishing touch add a saucer and a napkin. Or make a latte and toss in a chocolate flavored shot.

Lattes: Foam & steam milk to 140-degrees. The ratio is 50% espresso and 50% milk. Pour the milk down the side of the cup so it infuses with the espresso. The difference between this and a cappuccino is a latte blends the two things together, whereas the cappuccino keeps them separate.

Espressos: We've all had bad espresso, that is if you drink it. There are many reasons why this is. The number one reason is an unfavorable bean. If you like espresso you are likely a connoisseur of coffee and know what constitutes a good bean. Anyway, to make a good espresso you must do the following:

• Use a fine grind
• You must tamp the espresso down firmly
• You must use a high pressure machine or stove top model
• You must not try to make too much at once
• You must see the creama on the top, which is a golden-brown foam
• You must use an appropriate espresso cup to keep the temperature from dissipating too quickly

It all boils down to making coffee the way your flavor buds react to the taste. If you like it a particular way, then make it that particular way. However, if you have guests over they may just like the basics or might be up for a fun latte!  Surprise your friends next coffee date and host it at your house, they'll be surprised at your new expertise.

Sip and enjoy friends! Cheers to a perfect day.

How do you like your coffee?