12 Most Popular Types of Coffee Drinks: Know Your Coffees

While for many of us coffee automatically means a beverage with milk and coffee beans, others like it without any milk or creamer. Some forms of the drink, like cappuccino and latte etc, are comparatively more popular in India. However, there are various types of coffee beans and roasts as well as popular drinks that are made using coffee. These include varying amounts of coffee, milk, water, and sometimes other ingredients too. In this blog, we will share with you the most popular types of coffee drinks and how they are made. 

12 Different Types Of Coffee Drinks Around The World

People in different parts of the world prepare their coffee drinks differently. While Italians have their own versions, Americans have their own. The Vietnamese make it in a completely unique way, and the people of South India have their own types of coffee techniques. Read this blog to know your coffee types and know exactly what to order the next time you go to a fancy coffee shop.

Read this blog about different types of coffee roasts and coffee beans.

Espresso

Espresso is a popular drink coffee that people drink independently or use as a base for other coffee drinks such as a macchiato or a latte. To prepare an espresso, boiling water is forced with pressure through tightly packed, finely ground coffee beans. It is usually made best with an espresso machine but can also be made with a French Press. 

Doppio

Espresso is supposed to be drunk in shots. While a single shot of Espresso is just that – an Espresso, a double shot of Espresso is called a Doppio. So basically, Doppio is just 2 ounces of Espresso or, in other words, a large Espresso.

Latte/Iced Latte

Latte is a popular coffee drink made with milk, milk foam, and espresso. First, pour a shot of espresso into the cup and top it up with steamed milk. Top it up with lots of milk foam, and voila, your latte is ready. For an Iced Latte, all you have to do is take lots of ice cubes in a tall glass, pour the espresso on top, followed by the milk!

Cappuccino/Iced Cappuccino

Cappuccino is an Italian coffee drink made using Espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam in equal ratios. First, espresso is poured into the cup, followed by an ounce of steamed milk, and then some milk foam. The difference between a Latte and a Cappuccino is that a Latte contains higher quantities of steamed milk. Also, in a latte, the espresso and milk can be mixed before topping it up with the milk foam. However, in a cappuccino, the three ingredients aren’t mixed and are essentially served as they are.

Black Coffee or Cafe Noir

Black Coffee is just water and coffee, served without milk or cream. There are many different ways to prepare black coffee. The popular methods include the pour-over method, drip method, steep & brew, the French Press, etc. Read our blog on how to make black coffee at home easily.

Americano

This coffee is basically a diluted, less concentrated and less intense Espresso. It is made by pouring a shot of espresso into a large coffee cup and then topping it up with hot water. The legend has it the Americano became popular during the 2nd World War in Europe because American soldiers wanted a less intense version of the Espresso.

Macchiato

A Macchiato is made by adding a splash of milk foam or steamed milk to a regular espresso. It is different from a latte or a cappuccino only because of the lesser amount of milk or milk foam added to this drink. While Macchiato originated in Italy supposedly in the 1980s, Portugal too has its own form of Macchiato known as Cafe Pingado. Cafe Pingado means coffee or espresso with a pinch of milk.

Vietnamese Coffee (Iced or Hot)

Vietnamese  Coffee can be had hot as well as iced. The Hot Coffee is called “cà phê sữa nóng”, while the cold is known as “cà phê sữa dà”. Vietnam is the second largest producer of Coffee in the world. The coffee grown in Vietnam is dark, full-bodied, strong, and has depth in its flavour. The Vietnamese coffee is prepared using Vietnamese Robusta coffee prepared in a ‘Phin’, and then mixed with sweet condensed milk.

Cortado

A Cortado is a coffee made with equal parts of espresso and steamed milk. Cortado is among the most popular types of coffee in Spain, Portugal, and the Latin American cultures. Americans also refer to this type of coffee as ‘Gibraltar’. 

Mocha

Also sometimes known as Mocha Latte, the Mocha is a chocolate-flavoured coffee drink. It is made by pouring a shot of espresso into a cup, topped with chocolate or cocoa syrup, topped with steamed milk and milk foam or whipped cream. It’s a great combination of strong coffee with the sweet and dark flavour of chocolate beans.

Flat White

The Flat White, which originated in Australia, is like a cappuccino but minus the milk foam. It is made using espresso and topping it up with 1.5 or sometimes 2x the amount of steamed milk.

Affogato

Well, one could debate if affogato is a dessert or a drink, and both sides would win. Affogato is made with a scoop (or two) of Vanilla gelato or milk-based ice cream, topped with (or drowned in) espresso or doppio. You’ll find affogato in the dessert section at some cafes or the coffee menu in others. 

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