<p><a href="https://italian.stackexchange.com/q/13527/3378">In Italian</a> a &quot;shot&quot; is called a &quot;little cup&quot; (<em>tazzina</em>; <a href="https://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/tazza" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>tazza</em></a> = 50 mL cup). <em>Espresso</em> means fast, because it's made quickly.</p>
<p>According to p. 4 of the <a href="http://www.inei.coffee/files/File/istituzionale_inei_hq_en.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Certified Italian Espresso and Cappuccino</em></a> guide by the <a href="http://www.inei.coffee/en" rel="nofollow noreferrer">National Italian Espresso Institute (<em>Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano</em>)</a>, a Certified Italian Espresso shot has these parameters:</p>
<pre><code>Necessary portion of ground coffee              7 g ± 0,5
Exit temperature of water from the unit         88°C ± 2°C
Temperature of the drink in the cup             67°C ± 3°C
Entry water pressure                            9 bar ± 1
Percolation time                                25 seconds ± 5 seconds
Viscosity at 45°C                               &gt; 1,5 mPa s
Total fat                                       &gt; 2 mg/ml
Caffeine                                        &lt; 100 mg/cup
Millilitres in the cup (including froth)        25 ml ± 2,5
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-11T23:21:40.297Z
2021-12-25T20:29:58.700Z
2021-12-25T20:29:58.700Z
Geremia
<p>A "shot" in this context usually means one ounce, or so, of espresso. So a cup of coffee with two extra shots would be a cup of coffee with approximately two ounces of espresso added.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T22:53:54.243Z
2015-01-27T22:53:54.243Z
apaul
<p>They are referring to a &quot;shot&quot; of espresso.  The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso#Brewing" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Italian standards</a> are that it is a volume of 25 mL  plus or minus ten percent.  Additional shots in a drink indicate more espresso flavor and a higher caffeine content.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T22:55:53.640Z
+1 I should have guessed this was based on a metric measure.
apaul
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-01-27T22:53:45.747Z
2021-04-12T09:09:34.457Z
2021-04-12T09:09:34.457Z
Suspended User
<p>I have visited Starbucks lots of times for their delicious coffee. As I stand in line, I hear people order coffee with like extra <strong><em>shots</em></strong>. I tried searching up what it means but to no avail.  Here's an example of what I hear people say:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I would like some coffee with two extra shots please!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What does the word "shot" mean in the coffee language? Yes, I have looked in the dictionary but no help was given.</p>

<espresso><terminology>
What is a shot?
Anthony Pham
# What is a shot?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-27)

I have visited Starbucks lots of times for their delicious coffee. As I stand in line, I hear people order coffee with like extra ***shots***. I tried searching up what it means but to no avail. Here's an example of what I hear people say:

> I would like some coffee with two extra shots please!

What does the word "shot" mean in the coffee language? Yes, I have looked in the dictionary but no help was given.

**Tags:** espresso, terminology


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-27. Score: 24 | Accepted answer

They are referring to a "shot" of espresso. The [Italian standards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso#Brewing) are that it is a volume of 25 mL plus or minus ten percent. Additional shots in a drink indicate more espresso flavor and a higher caffeine content.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: +1 I should have guessed this was based on a metric measure.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-27. Score: 9

A "shot" in this context usually means one ounce, or so, of espresso. So a cup of coffee with two extra shots would be a cup of coffee with approximately two ounces of espresso added.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-11. Score: 0

In Italian a "shot" is called a "little cup" (tazzina; tazza = 50 mL cup). Espresso means fast, because it's made quickly.
According to p. 4 of the Certified Italian Espresso and Cappuccino guide by the National Italian Espresso Institute (Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano), a Certified Italian Espresso shot has these parameters:
Necessary portion of ground coffee              7 g ± 0,5
Exit temperature of water from the unit         88°C ± 2°C
Temperature of the drink in the cup             67°C ± 3°C
Entry water pressure                            9 bar ± 1
Percolation time                                25 seconds ± 5 seconds
Viscosity at 45°C                               > 1,5 mPa s
Total fat                                       > 2 mg/ml
Caffeine                                        < 100 mg/cup
Millilitres in the cup (including froth)        25 ml ± 2,5


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