Glossary
There are many terms and expressions in the coffee and tea world that may be difficult to understand to the novice. We have compiled a list of the most commonly used terms for you. Click a letter below....
Terms begining with 'E'
Earthy
An unclean smell or taste that can be specific, such as sourness or mustiness, or a more generalized taint that reminds one of eating dirt. The spicy "of the Earth" taste of Indonesian coffees.
Espresso
A one-ounce shot of intense, rich black coffee made and served at once. A pump-driven machine forces hot water through fine grounds at around nine atmospheres of pressure.
Espresso Breve
Espresso with light cream.
Espresso can Panna
A shot of coffee topped with whipped cream.
Espresso Lungo
A shot that is pulled long for a bit of extra espresso. While many believe that this maximizes the caffeine, in most shops it merely produces a bitter cup.
Espresso Macchiato
Espresso with a minimal amount of steamed milk on top.
Espresso Ristretto
A shorter draw. The goal being a thicker and more flavorful espresso.
Exotic
Unusual aromatic and flavor notes, such as berry or floral.
Earl Grey
A black China tea treated with the oil of bergamot which gives the tea a scented aroma and taste. It was said to have been blended for and named after the 2nd Earl Grey when he was prime minister of Britain by a Chinese mandarin after the success of a British diplomatic mission to China.
Earthy
Normally caused by damp storage of tea but can also describe a taste that is sometimes 'climatically inherent' in teas from certain regions.
Empty
A liquor lacking fullness. No substance.
English Breakfast tea
A name for the tea blend which originally applied to China Congou tea in the United States of America. In Britain it was a name applied to a blend of teas from India and Sri Lanka; today it is used to include blends of black teas producing a full-bodied strong flavoured colourful tea.
Estate
A tea growing property or holding that may include more than one garden under the same managership or ownership. In the past tea estates where known as plantations.
Even
Teas true to their grade, consisting of pieces of leaf of fairly even size.