What is a shaken espresso?
A shaken espresso is a chilled coffee beverage made by shaking espresso shots with ice and usually a sweetener in a cocktail shaker. The shaking process chills the espresso rapidly, creates a frothy texture, and slightly dilutes the coffee.
Here's a breakdown of key aspects:
- Preparation: This involves pulling one or more shots of hot espresso and immediately combining it in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Ingredients: The basic ingredients are espresso, ice, and an optional sweetener like simple syrup, sugar, or flavored syrups. Some variations include adding a splash of milk or cream after shaking.
- Shaking: Shaking the ingredients vigorously is crucial. This creates a desirable frothy%20texture and chills the beverage quickly.
- Serving: The shaken espresso is typically strained into a glass, often a coupe or martini glass, to remove the ice. Sometimes, the ice is included, depending on preference.
- Taste: A shaken espresso offers a bolder coffee flavor compared to iced coffee. The shaking process also aerates the espresso, contributing to a smoother, slightly sweeter taste.
- Variations: Many variations exist, incorporating different syrups, liqueurs, or toppings like chocolate shavings or cinnamon.