November 7, 2026

WEEKLY MENU 11.08.26

We’re giving caffeine a little extra love during the Weekly Menu 11.08.26~

National Cappuccino Day starts the Weekly Menu 11.08.26 out right! Sunday, November 8th is the big day, and I’m there for it. I drank coffee for many, many years, until I had to give it up because it bothered my stomach so much. I happily switched to tea in the morning and skipped all things coffee (except Coffee Ice Cream, because, come on). I’ve slowly returned to it, because I reacquired a taste for it after I quit drinking alcohol. Lots of people get more into sweets (and I’m not completely immune), but I started mainlining (decaf) iced coffee like it was my job. I love coffee hot or cold, but I have to admit, besides the iced coffee that I make for myself after lunch almost every day, the coffee that someone ELSE makes is my fave.

I’ve been partial to lattes, cappuccinos, and even tried an affogato yesterday, which is made with espresso. I don’t enjoy straight espresso – it’s too bitter for me, but I’m game for almost everything else. What’s the difference? Glad you asked! The following was found on ProCoffeeGear.com – and this is just the tip of that iceberg.

Espresso is the foundation of most cafe drinks. It is a small, concentrated shot made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee. If you want to pull these at home, a good home espresso machine is where it starts. These drinks are mostly espresso, with little or no milk. If you are pulling them for customers instead, a cafe espresso machine with a proper steam boiler is the starting point.

Espresso: a single 1 oz shot of concentrated coffee, and the base for nearly everything below.

Ristretto: a shorter, more concentrated shot with a bolder, slightly sweeter flavor.

Doppio: simply a double shot of espresso.

Americano: espresso loosened with hot water for a longer, smoother drink.

Long Black: like an Americano, but with the espresso poured over the water to keep the crema.

Macchiato: espresso marked with a small dollop of milk foam.

Cortado: equal parts espresso and steamed milk for a balanced, mellow cup.

Flat White: similar to a latte but smaller, with a higher coffee to milk ratio and silky microfoam.

Red Eye: a cup of drip coffee with a shot of espresso added for an extra kick.

Milk-Based Coffee Drinks

Add steamed milk to espresso and a whole second menu opens up. The difference between these drinks is mostly how much milk goes in and how much foam sits on top.

Cappuccino: equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam for a light, airy drink.

Latte: espresso with plenty of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam, smooth and mild.

Mocha: a latte with chocolate syrup or cocoa stirred in.

Breve: a latte made with half and half instead of milk, which makes it richer and creamier.

Piccolo Latte: a small latte with a strong espresso base.

Gibraltar: a cortado served in a small glass, popular in specialty cafes.

Milk does a lot of the heavy lifting in these drinks.

ProCoffeeGear.com

Coffee is versatile, baby!

Weekly Menu 11.08.26

We’ve got an absolute banger for dessert during the Weekly Menu 11.08.26 – it’s a Cranberry Turtle Bar that goes great with coffee, so that’s how we’re celebrating National Cappuccino Day. Might I stop by a ubiquitous cafe earlier in the day for a cappuccino (because i don’t have a milk steamer in house)? Quite possibly. Yum.

Sunday dinner is all about the comfort – I’m trying again with the quaint/old timey appetizer of Cheese Triscuits. It sounded good last week, but Triscuits never made it to the list, so of course they didn’t make it into the cart. They are literally a Triscuit (any cracker will do, but Triscuits are my fave) topped with a slice of cheese, then popped under the broiler until it’s ooey and gooey. I’m planning on making the super easy crusty bread recipe this week too. I’m not sure why I didn’t make that last Sunday.

Speaking of the grocery store, I’ll peruse the master Thanksgiving Dinner list and start stocking up this week. I make sure to keep everything together in one place, so I don’t lose it before Thanksgiving week. Oy. Check out the plan to get you started: