little sip

Cup Notes 02 · Coffee

One little shot.
Three café favorites.

Espresso, Americano and latte share a starting point. Follow a little shot from the espresso machine into three familiar cups.

Coffee1-minute film2-minute read

By Little Sip ·

Watch the film ↓Read the field notes ↓View transcript ↓
60 seconds · Narration, music & on-screen captions
Original illustration and music · Generated narrationOpen the video directly ↗

The field notes

Espresso, Americano, latte.
What connects them?

A café menu can make three drinks look like three separate worlds. Espresso, Americano and latte begin with the same brewing method. The differences become easier to follow when you start with the shot.

  1. Espresso

    The starting point

    A small, concentrated coffee. Enjoy it on its own, or use it as the foundation for another drink. Different coffees and roast styles can be used to make espresso.

  2. Americano

    Espresso + hot water

    Combine espresso with hot water. The added water makes the coffee less concentrated while keeping espresso as the starting point.

  3. Latte

    Espresso + steamed milk

    Combine espresso with steamed milk. Milk becomes a large part of the finished cup, giving it a different character from espresso alone or an Americano.

Next time you browse a café menu, notice what is added to the espresso. A little water, a little milk—and a different cup to explore.

Read the narration Full video transcript

Espresso, Americano, latte. One little shot connects them.

Espresso names a brewing method, not a special bean. Different coffees and roasts can be used.

First, grind the beans finely. Then press the grounds into the basket of a portafilter.

The machine pushes hot water through those packed grounds under pressure. Watch the coffee flow into the cup.

That's espresso: a small, concentrated coffee, ready to enjoy on its own or build into another drink.

Combine espresso with hot water for an Americano. The water makes the coffee less concentrated.

For a latte, add steamed milk to espresso. Recipes and serving sizes vary between cafés and places.

One brewing method, three familiar cups. Which one would you like to explore next?

Follow the coffee · Sources

  1. National Coffee AssociationEspresso as a brewing method: coffee, grind, tamping and pressure.
  2. La Marzocco HomeThe Beginner’s Guide to Espresso Drinks: espresso, Americano, latte and variation between recipes.

A beginner’s overview, with simplified brewing illustrations. Sources checked October 27, 2026.

A little more familiar with your cup.

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