What Are the Differences Between Coffee Types? 

Do you remember those times when you stood behind someone ordering their favorite coffee drink at Starbucks, and felt lost because you couldn't tell the difference between the many kinds of coffee drinks? They seemed like professional baristas ordering their exact favorite cup while you were left in the dark. Well, those days are over. It's easy to define your preferences if you know what the different types of coffee drinks consist of. Let's explain the various types and how to define your taste.

To begin, it's mainly about the ratio of espresso to steamed milk and milk foam, along with the drink's temperature, either hot or cold. Sometimes, other ingredients like chocolate or ice cream are added, which define the taste and the name of the coffee cup. Most cups have Italian, French, or Spanish names. Let's cut to the chase and get started. Here are the main types of coffee cups:

1. Ristretto: a short shot of a more concentrated espresso, made with a finer grind of the same amount of ground coffee using half as much water. Espresso is more diluted than ristretto.

2. Espresso: A shot of intense, concentrated coffee made by pressuring hot water through finely-ground coffee beans.

3. Lungo: Made by pulling a shot of espresso using double the volume of water.

4. Americano: A shot of espresso diluted by adding hot water after being extracted, giving it a similar strength but different flavor from traditionally brewed coffee.

5. Latte: A single shot of espresso combined and totally mixed with steamed milk and a small layer of foam is finally added on top.

6. Double Latte: A latte with double shots of espresso.

7. Flat white: Similar to a latte, but with less foam added and a higher ratio of espresso to milk, usually two espresso shots are used.

8. Cappuccino: A shot of espresso with equal parts of steamed milk and milk foam distinctly layered. More intense than Latte.

9. Dry Cappuccino: Less steamed milk and more foamed milk. Bone-Dry cappuccino has no steamed milk at all, jut the foamed layer over espresso.

10. Mocha: (Also called mochaccino or mochachino). A warm latte with added chocolate syrup or cocoa powder, sometimes whipped cream as well.

11. Macchiato: A shot of espresso with a smaller amount of foamed milk than latte and cappuccino and much stronger flavor as well. It has a small standard serving of 1.25 ounces(37ml).

12. Café Noisette: An espresso with a dash of hot milk added instantly before drinking. It’s the same as macchiato but with milk not foamy milk.

13. Cortado: Similar to a macchiato, but with roughly equal amount of steamed not frothed milk.

14. Doppio: A double shot of espresso.

15. Irish coffee: Coffee with Irish whiskey, sugar, stirred well and topped with whipped cream.

16. Café Bombòn: Hot espresso shot added to creamy condensed milk in a 1:1 ratio.

17. Affogato: An Italian word which means drowned. It’s simply a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of vanilla gelato.

18. Cold brew: A concentrated Coffee drink made by steeping coffee grounds in water for 12-24 hours.  It is often with a ratio of 1:4 to 1:8 coffee ground to water. This is much stronger than drip coffee which is usually of 1:16 to 1:20 ratio.

19. Nitro cold brew: Cold brew infused with nitrogen to create a sweet flavor without sugar and a creamy, velvety texture.

20. Pour over: Coffee made by slowly pouring hot water over coffee grounds in a paper or metal filter and collected in a cup below.

21. Red Eye Coffee: Brewed coffee topped off with one shot of espresso.

22. Black Eye Coffee: Brewed coffee topped off with two shots of espresso.

23. Dead Eye Coffee: Brewed coffee topped off with three shots of espresso.

24. Frappe: An iced drink made using instant coffee, milk and sugar.

25. Frappuccino: The name comes from combining the two names; cappuccino and frappe. Here are some easy recipes.

A-Caramel Frappuccino: One cup of cold brewed coffee added to one cup low-fat milk, three tbsps. white sugar and two cups crushed ice. Add one third cup caramel sauce and coffee syrup, all are blended together on high speed until smooth. Topped with caramel sauce.

B-Café Vanilla Frappuccino: Coffee, whole milk, ice, coffee syrup and vanilla bean powder are blended and topped with whipped cream.

C-Espresso Frappuccino: 1 or 2 shots of espresso, ice, whole milk and coffee syrup are blended till smooth. No whipped cream on this one.

D-White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino: Coffee, ice, whole milk, coffee syrup and white chocolate syrup are blended and topped with whipped cream.

E-Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino: Ice, whole milk, coffee, crème syrup, strawberry puree and funnel cake flavored syrup are blended then topped with whipped cream.

F-Mocha Frappuccino: whole milk, coffee syrup, crushed ice, coffee and mocha sauce are blended till smooth and topped with whipped cream.