h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That's the only time I'd ever heard the word "perry" (apart from as in "Mason", that is) - Babycham - the "Genuine Champagne Perry". I thought it was very much a ladies' drink.

Seems a long road from cider?

Appletise then, Linda!

Actually, I wonder what it's like with a measure or three of vodka?

Aha, appletise - oh yes, I do like that. mmmm...

Appletise comes a close second to vodka & vimto

I reckon vodka and strongbow would be a fine combination ... both of them make me extremely hyper-active, give me more than the usual amount of verbal diahorrea and just to really make things lively, neither of them give me a hangover ...

Foul person. That doesn't sound like a good combination at all.

If champagne is too dry, why not go for Asti Spumente (sp?) as it is sweet already. I think that the itallians add a lump of sugar too, just in case...

I haven't got a sweet tooth at all

OK, hands up, Asti is not a stylish beverage - or even one I like - how about a nice Chablis

Down at the Brickskeller, the other day, some of my friends were enjoying Ace pear cider, berry cider, and apple cider. I got a Black russian since I was late and had to catch up quickly.

My mother, who lived in swinging Londres in the hey day of the Coffee Bar and the time of Espresso Bongo informs me that 'in her day' an Espresso was 'frothy coffee' and the word capuchin didn't feature on the menu. Is this a stylish re-branding and switch of names, or the onset of Alzheimer's?

What is the meaning of espresso? I seem to remember while i was in Italy (some 15+ years ago) drinking Ristresso (sp) - is this the real term? Which is the 'genuine' term and why do we use Italian words to describe coffee?

Espresso is a thick coffee, drunk black and in very small amounts, with quite a lot of sugar added, if you like that.

It is similar to the mocca that you get in the Arab countries, Israel and Greece only doesn't have so many coffee grinds at the bottom.

Espresso comes from the Italian "to express" - i.e. to squeeze something out of something. Hot water is passed through the coffee grinds under pressure.

Cappuccino is a hood. The Capuccini were hooded monks. The word is used for the frothy milk on the top of the coffee. It is basically an espresso, poured into a big round cup and then topped up with milk which has been frothed up by squirting steam into it - again using pressure.

It is best to sweeten the coffeed before you put the frothed milk on the top, as otherwise you have to stir it afterwards and that unfroths the milk.

These are what the Italians understand by the words "espresso" and "Cappuccino" and as they are Italian words, it is probably the safest bet. Espresso is drunk at all times in Italy, but you are scorned if you have a cappuccino at any time other than breakfast.

There is at least one entry on the subject. Put "coffee" in the search bar above, or go straight to A592832. As a search reveals 9 edited entries on the subject, and masses of others, it is better to go that way. A571916 is an unedited entry but with very useful info about drinking coffee in Italy.