ZHITSHO CAFÉ LEXICON

Espresso [es-PRESS-oh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "EX-presso" (There is no "X"!)

What it is: A small, concentrated shot of pure black coffee.

Latte [LAH-tay]

💡 Mistake: Saying "LA-tee" or "Late"

What it is: Espresso mixed with a generous amount of steamed milk and a light layer of foam.

Macchiato [mah-kee-AH-toh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "Ma-chee-a-to"

What it is: Italian for "stained." An espresso "stained" with a tiny drop of foamed milk.

Mocha [MOH-kuh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "MO-cha" (like chiyya/chai)

What it is: A delicious blend of espresso, hot milk, and chocolate syrup/powder.

Cortado [kor-TAH-doh]

  What it is: Equal parts espresso and warm steamed milk to reduce acidity.

Mojito [moh-HEE-toh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "Mo-JI-to" (In Spanish, "J" sounds like "H")

What it is: A refreshing fizzy drink made with mint leaves, lime juice, soda, and sugar.

Matcha [MAH-chuh]

What it is: Finely ground green tea powder from Japan, rich in antioxidants and bright green in color.

Croissant [kwah-SOHN]

💡 Mistake: Saying "Kroy-SANT" (The "t" at the end is silent!)

What it is: A buttery, flaky, crescent-shaped French pastry.

Bruschetta [broo-SKET-tuh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "Broo-SHET-ta"

What it is: Toasted garlic bread topped with chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs.

Quesadilla [kay-suh-DEE-yuh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "Kway-sa-DIL-la" (In Spanish, "LL" sounds like "Y")

What it is: A grilled tortilla stuffed with melted cheese, veggies, or meat.

Panini [puh-NEE-nee]

What it is: An Italian grilled sandwich pressed warm between two hot plates.

Focaccia [foh-KAH-chuh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "Fo-CAK-chia"

What it is: A soft, fluffy Italian flatbread topped with olive oil, herbs, and garlic.

Jalapeño [hah-luh-PAY-nyoh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "Ja-la-PEE-no"

What it is: A medium-spicy Mexican green chili pepper used in burgers and pizzas.

Gelato [juh-LAH-toh]

💡 Mistake: Saying "Ghee-la-to"

What it is: Italian-style ice cream that is denser, smoother, and lower in fat than regular ice cream.

Affogato [ah-fuh-GAH-toh]

What it is: Italian for "drowned"—a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with a hot espresso shot.

Tiramisu [tee-ruh-mee-SOO]

What it is: An Italian coffee-flavored dessert made of ladyfinger biscuits dipped in coffee, layered with whipped cream.

Macaron [mah-kuh-ROHN] vs. Macaroon [mak-uh-ROON]

Note: They are two different sweets!

Macaron [mah-kuh-ROHN]: Delicate French meringue sandwich cookie filled with cream.

Macaroon [mak-uh-ROON]: Chewy, dense sweet biscuit made from shredded coconut.

Parfait [par-FAY]

  💡 Mistake: Saying "Par-FAIT" (Silent "t")

  What it is: A layered dessert served in a glass with yogurt/cream, fruit, and granola.

Mozzarella [mot-suh-REL-luh]

💡 Pronunciation tip: The double "zz" sounds like "ts" (mot-suh-...).

What it is: A soft Italian cheese known for its mild flavor and super stretchy melt on pizzas and garlic bread.