Mornings are defintely incomplete without a perfect cup of coffee to kickstart the day, and honestly, a few more cups to help get through the rest of the day can be essential too. But what is a ‘perfect” cup? That depends.
All coffee has at least one of the three basic components: espresso, steamed milk, and foam, but what you make from there is an almost endless possibility.
Because there are many types of coffee available, it can be difficult to decide which is right for you. Luckily, it can be narrowed down fairly quickly and easily by considering the following:
- Do you need a lot of caffeine to feel energized, or will any amount of espresso help wake you up?
- When you sit down for social interactions with friends or colleagues, do you need a strong cup of Joe. or is enjoying a blend of flavors good enough?
- Finally, how important to you are the health benefits of drinking coffee?
Let’s Talk Coffee Types
With the above questions in mind, consider whether you like your coffee hot or cold. It is a matter of preference, really, but there are key differences between the two brews. Hot coffee is significantly more bitter with the best aroma, for instance. Iced coffee is less acidic and offers a greater range of flavors thanks to its versatility.
You are also less likely to burn your tongue in the mornings if you drink iced coffee, but drinking hot coffee means no potential brain freeze.
There are hundreds of pros and cons to both brews, but regardless of your choice, know that you will still get about the same amount of caffeine you need to seize the day.
You also don’t need to worry about making your preferred type of coffee especially if you have a super automatic espresso machine at home. A barista bot in your kitchen will be the one to do all the work no matter what coffee type you like. From grinding whole beans to choosing the liquid volume and temperature – having quality coffee equipment makes it easier to try what each type of coffee has to offer.
So here is our list of the different types of coffee drinks available today, and the types of coffee flavors we think you should try! We will also go over the types of coffee beans and types of coffee drinks!
Quick Answer: 15 Types Of Coffee
- Americano
- Black Coffee
- Cappuccino
- Espresso
- Latte
- Macchiato
- Mocha
- Cold Coffee Variety
- Affogato
- Cold Brew
- Frappuccino And Frappe
- Iced Coffee
- Mazagran
- Iced Latte
- Nitro Cold Brew
Hot Coffee Variety
It defintely can be very overwhelming when thinking about the many types of coffee that are available. Hot coffee, for instance, has a wide variety despite boiling down to having three common ingredients: espresso, steamed milk, and foam.
Everything else added to the hot drink is based on personal preference. You can get anything from cappuccinos to mochas, or whatever might tickle your fancy. You will be surprised by what possibilities are available to you. There are many coffee names you might not know, so we will also name them all, with a detailed coffee name!
Americano
An Americano is a shot of espresso that is diluted with hot water and completed with a light layer of cream at the top.
Americanos are rich, intense, and distinctive in taste. The strength of the drink is dependent on the number of espresso shots you add. For many, it is the ideal way to indulge in the smoothness of espressos while maintaining the consistency of a drip-brew.
One of the best benefits of drinking Americanos is the lower-calorie and nonexistent fat counts compared to regular coffee.
There are a few variations of the Americano since its initial appearance. One such variation is the lungo, which extracts the espresso shot longer. This extended time adds more volume, but also comes with more bitter flavors.
Another variation is the Caffe crema, which is basically a lungo that is extracted even longer. A third is red-eye. otherwise known as. “a shot in the dark.”
When making the red-eye. Baristas will use drip coffee instead of hot water to dilute the espresso. Americano is one of the popular types of coffee, and if your wondering what kind of coffee you should try, Americano is one of them!
Black Coffee
Black coffee is the simplest and healthiest coffee type available. The ground coffee beans are steamed by hot water within a drip machine, and that is it. Because it is served as is, the coffee will taste strong, and be at its most bitter.
Many coffee drinkers consider black coffee as an acquired taste because of how bitter and ashy it comes. The health benefits to this simple brew are tempting and may make up for the extreme bitterness. Like eating dark chocolate or drinking certain alcohols, it takes time to adjust to the taste so you can discern the finer flavors hidden beneath that extreme first impression.
According to studies and medically reviewed publications, black coffee can improve memory, metabolic activities, and one or two cups a day greatly reduce developing cardiovascular diseases. It is also believed that black coffee burns fat.
Black coffee is one of the different coffee drinks on the market, but one of the best!
Cappuccino
Cappuccinos are a fan favorite when visiting coffee shops. This is especially the case because of the latte art decorations that are often drawn into the steamed milk foam.
This popular drink is made by layering a balanced ratio of espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam in that order. This is to ensure the cappuccinos’ bold and rich flavors, as well as to maintain its thick, foamy texture. It is common to add flavored syrups and other toppings, such as chocolate powder, to further sweeten the deal.
Popular flavored syrups are caramel, chocolate, and vanilla, but the possibilities are not limited to these three. It has been revealed through medical studies that a cup of a cappuccino a day without exceeding 180 ml. Provide excellent health benefits.
Such benefits include significantly preventing heart problems and bad cholesterol, while also improving digestion and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Cappuccino is one of the best types of coffee, and one of the most well-known coffee types ever.
Espresso
Espresso is not necessarily a type of coffee, but a way to make coffee. The difference is the amount of water used to make espressos versus regularly brewed coffee.
Because they are made with a shot of water instead of a liter of water per cup of ground coffee, espressos are basically highly concentrated coffee. Because of this, you can expect espressos to have a more heightened array of flavors compared to your regular cup of coffee.
This can mean stronger, toastier, and more bitter cups, which flavors that will be amplified depending on the coffee roast. Regardless, you can expect thicker and creamier textures than coffee, almost like what you see with cappuccinos.
Like with other variations of coffee, there are health benefits when drinking a cup or two a day, and with the added benefit of having little to no calories. Espressos are packed with antioxidants, providing ample protection against infections. Drinking espressos every day can also provide a significant improvement in your concentration and memory.
Latte
Thanks to their versatility in customization, Lattes are among the most popular coffee choices. Anything from sweet to herbal can be added to them, and latte art can be added to complete the drink. Lattes are similar to cappuccinos because they are also made with espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam.
The ratio of ingredients is what separates the two drinks; however: while cappuccinos have equal ratios, lattes have more steamed milk. The ingredients in lattes are also mixed together instead of being layered, like what can be found in cappuccinos. Compared to cappuccinos and the many other espresso-based drinks, lattes are not very strong in taste.
This is because they are heavier with milk than coffee. Due to being milkier than their counterparts, they are sweeter than most coffee, though still not as sweet as you will find in mochas.
This especially becomes the case when shots of flavor, such as pumpkin spice or hazelnut, are added. Also, while cappuccinos are frothy due to the milk foam, lattes are creamy and smooth thanks to the extra helping of steamed milk.
A cup a day can aid in burning fat, and with more natural flavors such as beetroot or turmeric, you can improve your memory and relieve muscle aches.
Macchiato
A fan favorite of coffee drinkers who enjoy the bitterness that naturally comes in coffee. There are two different ways to make this drink: more espresso than milk to make an espresso macchiato, or more milk than espresso to make a latte macchiato.
That said, macchiatos are similar to lattes and cappuccinos, and it is not uncommon for people to mistake the three for each other as it is.
The more popular macchiatos bear the most similarities with lattes because they are both heavies with milk. Popular drizzles to add to the creamy drink are vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut.
The difference between macchiatos and its counterparts is the order in which the ingredients are added.
For example, lattes add milk to the espresso, but macchiatos do the reverse: espresso is added to milk. In terms of taste, it is generally agreed that macchiatos are more aromatic, and are considered a fair compromise between the strength of espresso and the lighter touch of a cappuccino.
The espresso macchiatos have a generally bolder and richer taste than cappuccinos, while the latte macchiatos make for fair competitors with lattes in terms of sweet, creamy goodness. The benefits of drinking macchiatos include preventing high blood pressure, maintaining liver health, and promoting weight loss.
Mocha
Mocha, which is actually short for mochaccino, is another popular coffee variation, right up there with a latte, and for a good reason.
It is a top choice when you want to satisfy your sweet tooth needs. This is another type of espresso beverage, and aptly named for its pleasant combination of sweet chocolate meeting the roasted goodness coffee Mochas are made with the expected shot of espresso and hot milk, but completed with chocolate additions, and whipped cream at the top.
The chocolate additions are typically syrups, and other sweeteners such as cocoa powder or sugar Mocha coffees often taste far stronger than cappuccinos and lattes. It is regularly mistaken as a stronger, more sugary latte with more calories. Some people are daring to say it is basically a hot chocolate with one or more shots of espresso.
Drinking a cup of mocha daily offers health benefits worth looking into. A very generous, very crucial health benefit mochas offer helps with combating depression, which is a health condition affecting more and more people around the world.
Other great benefits to drinking mochas include keeping your liver healthy, overcoming insomnia, and keeping your bones strong. Due to the combination of coffee and chocolate, you can expect immediate energy.
Cold Coffee Variety
The above-addressed coffees were only examples of what hot coffees can be found at a cafe, or made at home. There are many more possibilities in that category, just as there are many possibilities in the cold coffee category. As popular as hot coffee is, especially when starting the day. Cold coffee offers benefits that can’t be disputed.
A cool but energizing drink in summer, for instance, cannot be beaten by a hot cup. It is also proven to be easier on your stomach than hot coffee. Due to how acidic hot coffee is, your acid reflux is more likely to get irritated, and you may struggle with indigestion or heartburn.
These concerns do not apply to cold brews such as frappuccinos or iced lattes, due to the significant decrease in acidity.
Affogato
Affogato technically is not a beverage, but it is still coffee-based. Affogato is actually a dessert that is meant to either be slowly sipped or enjoyed with a spoon. It is typically made with vanilla gelato or ice cream as the primary dessert and completed with a shot of hot espresso.
It is a coffee lover’s all-in-one after-dinner drink, coffee, and dessert. Because its base is the dessert, it is considered a cold brew, though arguments can be made that it is a hot brew because the shot of espresso is technically hot.
Affogatos balance the beloved rich and toasty taste of espresso with the creamy sweetness of the chosen dessert. The ice cream is usually a choice of vanilla, caramel, or mocha. If you choose to use a gelato instead, you will usually see vanilla or hazelnut. In some instances, you could also find versions of affogatos to have a shot of alcohol, such as amaretto or Bicerin.
The benefits of enjoying this coffee-dessert are the anti-cancer properties and the neutralizing of toxins in your body. It also makes a generally nice midday pick-me-up when you want to treat yourself while still getting the caffeinated energy provided by coffee.
Cold-brew
Cold brew coffee is a popular type of coffee all in itself, too. It is also an extremely popular type of coffee.
Put simply; it is ground coffee beans that are steeped in room temperature water for 6 to 36 hours, all depending on how strong you want the brew to be. After it has steeped long enough, it is filtered so you can add cold milk or cream.
When ready, it should taste sweeter, albeit milder, compared to other cold coffees. It is also the least acidic cold coffee. While it is true that cold brew coffees have less caffeine to them compared to the hotter types of coffee, that does not mean cold brew is weaker than its counterpart.
One of the pluses to making cold brew coffee is the capability to store it for up to two weeks. The concentrate will last the full two weeks, allowing you more time to spend elsewhere in the morning.
This can defintely be a lifesaver if you ever find yourself running late. Another great benefit of choosing cold brew over hot coffees is the potential improvement to your cholesterol. It has been shown in medical research that this unfiltered brew lowers the production of cholesterol that narrows and reduces blood flow.
Frappuccino and Frappe
The word. “Frappuccino’*. is trademarked by Starbucks, meaning it cannot be used by other companies.
In spite of this, companies and the general public have chosen to call all drinks like the Frappuccino. “frappe.” which is originally the name of a setting on blenders. The two words are often used in place of the other, and though they are not technically the same thing, they can be made to appear the same.
Frappuccinos are often compared to milkshakes, which is understandable. A Frappuccino is basically just an iced cappuccino that was blended into a milkshake.
Thus, they are creamy, smooth, and light, just like milkshakes. Because it is still coffee, however, rest assured that you will still get the desired caffeine fix.
On the flip side, frappes are blended ice drinks served with flavored syrups and whipped cream at the top. It is literally just a general name for a blended, iced drink. Either way. Both types of drinks are often topped with desired flavored syrups and whipped cream.
You can typically find caramel or mocha Frappuccinos or frappes available at any shop that sells coffee. Much like the other cold types of coffee, you can expect your Frappuccino or frappe to be refreshingly sweet, with icy aftertastes of whipped cream if you added it.
Iced coffee
There is a common belief that iced coffee is just hot coffee that has been refrigerated, and while there may be places where this actually happens, it turns out.
This is not actually true. Granted, it is okay to turn hot coffee into the cold. For many, that may be the easier means to get a hold of iced coffee. It just is not the official means of making iced coffee. It turns out. Iced coffee has its own brewing method that involves cold or room temperature water.
Ideally, a cold coffee brewed best is one that has little to no bitterness or sourness and is the smoothest coffee you will ever enjoy.
You can also expect your iced coffee to be stronger than a regular cup of hot Joe. Though cold coffee can have less caffeine than its warmer counterpart, the ratio between coffee and water is actually greater in iced coffee, thus making it stronger.
It is also naturally sweeter than the hot coffee types, requiring fewer additives to improve the taste.
Iced coffee is great for coffee drinkers whose stomachs are more sensitive than the average person’s. This cold beverage, like the other cold brews, is smoother to drink, meaning it goes down easier.
Iced espresso
There are two common ways to make an iced espresso. One way to make an iced espresso is literally just making a freshly brewed espresso and letting it be chilled in the freezer to produce that cool, refreshing goodness. The other common means to create the iced espresso is to cool the freshly brewed espresso with cold milk, and then serve it with ice.
Iced espressos are still espressos, so you can expect it to be strong and energize you as expected. Compared to the other colder coffee types, you can expect to get the most caffeine out of this beverage. Much like the other cold coffee types, an iced espresso will taste sweeter, smoother, and less acidic than its hotter counterpart.
It should not taste sour. If it does, then the coffee wasn’t properly extracted. This happens when the water runs through the coffee too quickly.
One of the best benefits of drinking espresso, regardless of whether it is hot or cold, is the ability to drink it without adding anything to it.
Espressos do not need the addition of creams, flavored syrups, or sugars, in general, to taste great and provide the energy you desire. There are arguments that drinking an espresso, hot or cold, is one of the better health choices you can make when your looking for that daily dose of caffeine.
Iced latte
An iced latte is a fairly simple drink to make, similar to an iced coffee. To make iced lattes, you just need to blend a chilled espresso drink, the desired amount of sweetener, milk, and ice.
Once the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, you can pour the final product into a glass and add whipped cream if desired. You know it is just right because it will taste like a milder version of its hotter counterpart, the regular latte. It will still be very sweet, but it will not be as creamy as the hotter coffee type.
Also, like its hotter counterpart, iced lattes can be a healthy beverage. It mainly depends on the kind of milk you choose, and how much syrup you add for flavor. Also, iced lattes will be stronger than regular coffee thanks to the shot of espresso used to make them.
The benefits to be gained from iced lattes are the same with hot lattes, such as an increased focus and metabolism rates. The main difference is the reduced acid reflux when drinking the colder coffee type.
Mazagran
Mazagrans is an interesting combination of coffee, ice. Lime juice, and water. It can be a strange experience the first time you try it. But it may quickly grow on you. Originally, the mazagran was mixed with some alcohol, such as brandy or rum. Many believe the mazagran is even the origin of iced coffee.
Nowadays, you can still get rum with it, but it is not as common a find nowadays. Today, you will find your mazagran is made with two. Hotshots of espresso poured over ice, with water added at the end to instantly cool it down.
Afterward, you add a slice of lemon or lime and can either call it done or complement it with some sugar syrup for a taste of sweetness. The choice to add rum. which is the most common choice of alcohol, is a nod to traditions.
Without the added sweetness of the sugar syrup, expect the mazagran to be strong thanks to the shots of espresso. Despite this, the drink will still taste refreshingly sweet though some prefer the extra sweetness from the sugar syrup. In some cases, the mazagran has been considered an iced coffee type of lemonade.
Nitro Cold Brew
The nitro cold brew is similar to the original cold brew coffee, except it is made with nitrogen. This gives the coffee more of a rich, creamy finish that is reminiscent of nitro draft beers like the Guinness. Because of this, you will be greeted with a thicker, frothy texture.
Similar to draft beers, it even has a fizzy feel to it. This particular coffee type is even poured through a nitro tap to complete the style. The nitrogen gas that is added through the tap completes the cold brew by producing a richer, silkier taste that goes down smoothly.
Because it is served without ice, the nitro cold brew will contain more caffeine than other cold coffee types.
The ratio between coffee grounds to water also increases the caffeine content in the nitro cold brew. There are even claims from certain companies that nitro cold brew has a greater caffeine content than regular hot coffee types.
Like with the other coffee types, both hot and cold, health benefits to enjoying a cup of nitro cold brew include increased metabolism while also reducing the risk of type two diabetes. Nitro cold brew coffee is also less acidic because it brews at lower temperatures, making it easier on the acid reflux and digestion.
Conclusion
No matter the season, there will always be a perfect copy to start and finish your day. From hot types of coffee to cold, there is bound to be a brew that you will absolutely want to try. There are thousands ways to make and enjoy your coffee, so if you have time, explore the possibilities and see what you love the most. Enjoy the listed coffee types, and more.
