Ellinikos Kafes: Traditional Greek Coffee vs Espresso

Both drinks start from finely ground coffee served in a small demitasse, yet they build character in very different ways. Ellinikos kafes slowly heats the grounds with cold water in a briki, pulled off the heat just as the thick kaimaki foam climbs the rim; the grounds stay in the cup and settle into sediment, and sweetness is optional, from plain sketos to glykos. Espresso pushes water through a tamped puck in 25-30 seconds, giving a concentrated shot under a dense, reddish-brown crema about 3-4mm thick, best drunk at once.