30 Different Types Of Coffee: All You Need To Know

Do you prefer sticking to your black coffee or experimenting with different varieties? Read on to learn more about different types of coffee that are worth trying.

types of coffee
There are many different types of coffee to try.

C-o-f-f-e-e! The word is enough to evoke a sensation of freshness and vibrancy, don’t you think? Are you aware of the different variations you can try for your favorite beverage? Have you experimented with different beans, different ratios, different brewing methods, etc.?

I know some people who would say that no matter which type of coffee they drink, they should feel happy and alert after drinking it in the morning. Interestingly, the different regions and cultures have a significant impact on how coffee tastes and smells.

Have you ever wondered how many different types of coffee exist and what makes them unique? Let’s put the different types of coffee drinks under the magnifying glass and explore the best options.

Most Popular Types Of Coffee

1. Arabica

Arabica and Robusta are the two main types of coffee beans. If you prefer your coffee black, served straight without any fuss, Arabica is the most popular choice.

Most coffee connoisseurs prefer Arabica beans for their rich, sweet, and flavorful taste. You can make pretty much any kind of coffee drink with Arabica coffee.

2. Robusta

Robusta is cheaper than Arabica but much stronger and loaded with much more caffeine. Robusta beans have a bitter taste and are mostly used for espresso drinks and instant coffee mixes, but it’s also used for Vietnamese coffee.

3. Espresso

Espresso is a coffee of Italian origin. It is brewed by forcing a small amount of hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee. The process is referred to as pulling a shot.

The resulting beverage is thicker than regular coffee and has a higher concentration of dissolved solids. Espresso is the base for many kinds of hot coffee drinks or can be enjoyed on its own.

Not to forget the majestic crema that makes espresso so popular. Crema also adds a rich flavor and tempting aroma to the espresso. You might also be wondering, does the AeroPress make real espresso?

4. Café Latte Or Café Au Lait

types of coffee
Café Latte Or Café Au Lait is milkier than cappuccinos.

Also known as café au lait in northern Europe, lattes or caffé lattes are espresso drinks prepared with a substantial amount of foamed milk. The beverage is milkier than cappuccinos, and many coffee drinkers prefer to flavor their lattes. A typical café latte includes one shot of espresso, foamed milk, and a little foam often shaped into latte art.

5. Macchiato

The macchiato is a single or double espresso topped with heated or foamed milk. Italian in origin, this style of coffee is referred to as “marked” or ‘stained. There are two main variations of macchiato – latte macchiato and espresso macchiato. Both these types involve staining one element of milk and espresso duo.

The average size of macchiato has a two-to-one ratio of highly concentrated espresso to steamed milk. Milk adds sweetness and enhances the flavor of espresso. The traditional form of macchiato includes about one shot of espresso with two teaspoons of milk steamed with slight foam to leave a visible stain or mark.

6. Doppio

Have you ever heard the term “doppio” in a coffeehouse? Does that make you wonder what it means?

It is an Italian term that refers to a double shot that is extracted with the help of a double coffee filter. This is not to be confused with a lungo, which is an espresso made with extra water.

So, what you get is a double shot of espresso. Today, a doppio is the standard size for espresso in several coffeehouses, which is why the caffeine content of a latte may be more than an espresso shot. The espresso machine in these establishments may be able to brew two espressos at once to save time.

7. Cappuccino

Cappuccino is one of those types of coffee that is shrouded in various misconceptions. Named after the color of the robes worn by Capuchin monks, the cappuccino is a shot of espresso blended with equal parts steamed and frothed milk.

A well-made cup of cappuccino has a strong coffee flavor with a dash of sweetness emerging from the naturally occurring lactose found in milk. It may sometimes be flavored with syrup and other additives.

8. Americano

When the American soldiers were stationed in Italy during World War II, they were intimidated by the strong, full-bodied flavor of coffee consumed by the native coffee drinkers.

As Americans are raised on drip coffee, the taste of concentrated strong coffee is unfamiliar to their tastes. Hence, they started adding water to dilute espresso, and the famous watery black drink was born and was named an Americano.

To make an Americano, you need two cups. Pull a shot of espresso into one cup, put some hot water in the other cup, and pour the espresso into the water to get a dilute drink. You can see the light brown creamy substance on the top that retains the rich flavor of coffee oils.

9. Long Black

The long black gets a bad reputation but is definitely one of the most balanced coffees you can enjoy. It comprises espresso and hot water. To make a long black, you will need to pour hot water into a teacup. The amount of water you add to the beverages should depend upon your preferred strength.

If your coffee machine does not have a tea spout, use a kettle to pour hot water and let it cool for 30 seconds before you add a double shot of espresso. Serve it immediately to maintain the crema. When made well, the long black is a properly balanced drink, not as concentrated as an espresso.

Interestingly, both Americanos and long blacks are prepared by mixing espresso and hot water, but the resulting brew looks and tastes different. The difference is due to the method by which they are mixed together.

A long black is made by adding an espresso shot to hot water, so it retains the crema on the top. An Americano, on the other hand, is prepared by adding hot water over a shot of espresso to get a diluted brew. In my opinion, the long black retains the flavor of espresso better and tastes richer.

10. Caffè Mocha

The caffè mocha is a variant of the caffè latte that is inspired by a Turin coffee beverage known as Bicerin. In Italy and France, it is known as the mocha latte. It basically comprises one-third espresso, two-thirds steamed milk, and chocolate syrup, chocolate powder, or cocoa powder.

Just like cappuccinos, mochas also comprise milk froth on the top. They are often served with whipped cream and topped with a dusting of cocoa and cinnamon powder. In some coffee houses, baristas may add marshmallows on the top to enhance the flavor. Another variant is the white mocha made from white chocolate.

11. Frappe

The frappe is a foamy and tasty drink. To make a frappe, you must blend instant coffee, milk, water, and sugar. This is not to be confused with the frappuccino you can find in Starbucks, which doesn’t always contain coffee, and certainly isn’t made from instant coffee.

12. Flat White

The flat white coffee is also an espresso-based drink with steamed milk, hence the name. It is an option much loved and preferred by people seeking a dairy-based beverage with a strong coffee flavor. It contains a small portion of steamed milk, topped with a layer of microfoam.

How is it different from a latte and cappuccino? A flat white is served in a 160ml cup, while a latte is served in about 240ml cup. Learn more in our flat white vs. latte guide.

While the cappuccinos may be served in a similar size cup, the key difference lies in their composition. A cappuccino uses dryer foam that has bigger bubbles that sit on top of the coffee. The flat white comprises one or two shots of espresso topped with velvety foam on the top.

13. Black Coffee

People often ask me – how black coffee is different from normal coffee, and I say black coffee is normal coffee! When you start including cold milk, sugar, and other crazy things, the coffee becomes complicated.

Black coffee is the pure, original form. You can brew black coffee in almost any kind of coffee maker, such as in a French press using ground coffee and near-boiling water.

14. Drip Coffee

Drip coffee, also known as filter coffee, is one of the oldest methods of brewing coffee from the era when electrical appliances were only for the rich and affluent masses. The method involves pouring not-so-scalding water into a filter containing freshly ground coffee.

Today, there are two ways to brew drip coffee – with a filter cone (pour-over method) and a drip coffee machine. There’s a lot of hype surrounding the pour-over method, as it is one of the easiest ways to make a perfect cup of coffee without any mess.

When making drip coffee, you need to pay attention to the grind size to ensure that you do not under or over-extract your coffee. If the grind is too fine, the steeping time will be longer, resulting in bitter coffee, and if the grind is too coarse, the water will pass quickly, resulting in under-extraction.

15. Turkish

turkish coffee with different kind of foods
Turkish coffee has an intense flavor, strong taste, and a special method of preparation.

Turkish coffee is derived from Arabica beans, and it is composed of extremely fine grind coffee beans. This type of coffee has become popular around the world for its intense flavor, strong taste, and special method of preparation.

Traditionally, Turkish coffee is made in a cezve, which is a small copper pot with a long handle. To make one cup of coffee, you need to combine one cup of water with two teaspoons of instant coffee.

If you want your coffee to taste sweet, add one or two sugar cubes based on your preference. Boil the mixture until the foam rises, and take off the heat before it is about to spill.

An interesting Turkish ritual is to serve coffee with a glass of water to allow you to clean your palate before you enjoy coffee. Furthermore, Turkish coffee without them is considered unacceptable.

16. Irish Coffee

You may not have been to the Emerald Isles, but if you are a coffee lover, you have probably heard about Irish coffee. In simple words, Irish coffee includes black coffee topped with sugar, whipped cream, and Irish whiskey.

This beverage starts with black coffee, and then you add one to two tablespoons of sugar. If you don’t like sugar in your coffee, you may leave it out.

Add some booze, which is typically Irish whiskey in this case. Top it off with some whipped cream to get that perfect creamy and rich taste.

17. Café Creme

This coffee drink is extremely popular in France and other parts of Europe. It is harder to find café crème in the US because it is difficult to make them here.

This beverage comprises slightly more than one shot of espresso blended with a small portion of hot, heavy cream. Although the brewing method sounds easy, the difficulty in recreating the taste boils down to the type of milk used.

French milk is unpasteurized in nature, so you get a creamier and sweeter flavor. When the milk is pasteurized, it gets a cooked flavor that alters the delicate taste that makes café crème so unique.

18. Vienna Mocha

Is it coffee or ice cream? Keep guessing as you relish the mouth-watering taste of Vienna Mocha, one of the most non-traditional types of coffee with whipped cream on the top. This is a fun twist to your regular espresso shot.

To make Vienna Mocha, you need to take one espresso shot in a 150 ml cup and add whipped cream to add a rich flavor to the beverage. If you are both a coffee and ice cream fan like me, you are sure to love this deadly combo.

19. Mazagran

Mazagran (also known as café mazagran) is a sweetened coffee drink that has its origins in Algeria. The beverage is made with strong coffee poured over ice, and the drink is typically served in a narrow glass. It is often referred to as coffee prepared with water instead of milk. It is served in a tall glass with a separate container of water to mix with coffee.

The Portuguese versions of Mazagran are made of espresso, lemon, rum, and mint, while the Austrian versions are served with ice cubes. In some cases, a previously sweetened espresso may be used to quicken the brewing process. Mazagran is often known as the original iced coffee.

20. Borgia

Italian coffee is delicious, and when you add whipped cream, hot chocolate, and a dash of citrus, it becomes Borgia. It is a slight deviation from mocha, and orange zest is used instead of chocolate shavings to top the cream.

To prepare Borgia, you need one cup of strong coffee, then add a cup of hot chocolate to it. Top it up with whipped cream and garnish with grated orange peel for a citrus flavor. So, you have four different layers of flavors to burst into your mouth.

21. Dirty Chai Latte

If you love chai tea and coffee, then a dirty chai latte is the best of both worlds. It’s simply a chai latte with an added espresso shot. Most coffee shops will serve you a dirty chai latte even if it is not mentioned on the menu; you just need to ask for it.

22. Piccolo Latte

To understand the Piccolo latte, you need to know what is a ristretto shot. A ristretto is an espresso in an intense form. It uses the same brewing process but with half the quantity of water, resulting in a darker and stronger version of coffee.

Now, coming back to a Piccolo latte, it is a ristretto shot (about 20 ml) topped with warm and creamy milk in a 100 ml glass. This type of coffee is extremely popular in Australia and Spain.

23. Affogato

A scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in a hot shot of espresso.

Coffee or ice cream? You decide! Some kinds of coffee are more like desserts. But one thing is for sure this fatal combination will make you a fan of this incredible style of coffee. Affogato is an Italian term that means drowned, and it takes its name from the way this type of coffee is made.

To make Affogato, you will need a scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in a hot shot of espresso. Interestingly, the cafés in Italy recognize Affogato as a dessert, while outside Italy, it is mainly categorized as a beverage. It may have different flavors of ice cream, such as honeycomb, berries, and coconut instead of vanilla. 

24. The Eyes

The Eyes refer to four different types of coffees – the Redeye, Lazyeye, Blackeye, and Deadeye with extreme caffeine content. It includes espresso with some more coffee, which may be filter or drip style. In the drip method, hot water is poured over freshly ground coffee beans through a filter.

25. Corretto

The Corretto is another Italian style of coffee containing a shot of espresso mixed with liquor, which may be grappa, sambuca, or brandy. Outside Italy, this beverage is known as espresso corretto and it is ordered as “corretto alla sambuca,” “caffè corretto alla grappa,” or “corretto al cognac,” depending upon the type of liquor used.

A similar type of coffee is known as carajillo in Spain, kaffekask in Sweden, and karsk in Norway. The espresso’s natural bittersweet flavor perfectly complements the warming alcohol.

26. South Indian Filter Coffee

Do you want to drink coffee as the South Indians do? This type of coffee has a strong milky decoction, and it is made using a stainless steel coffee filter.

The coffee is usually served in a traditional tumbler or dabarah. In a country that thrives on instant coffee, the filter style is a welcome change.

The Indian coffee filter comprises two cups, and one sits over the other. The upper top cup has holes, and it holds the coffee grounds. When water is poured through it, the strong decoction is collected in the bottom vessel.

When the coffee is brewed, it is poured back and forth between the tumbler and dabarah to cool it and mix the additives, like sugar and hot milk. This also helps in aerating the beverage and creates a nice foam on the top.

27. Yuanyang

After India, let’s talk about this incredible and popular style of coffee from Hong Kong. It is an energizing beverage that gives you an irresistible combination of freshly brewed coffee and milk tea. Yuanyang goes by different types of names, such as Yinyong, Yuenyeung, Yin Yang, or Yingyong.

For business purposes, I always visit Tsui Wah Restaurant in Hong Kong, and their Yuanuang milk tea is the best. If you ever travel to Hong Kong, you will discover that each Yuanyang maker has their own secret recipe that captures the unique essence of this amazing beverage. To make Yuanyang, you simply need to mix one cup of Bolivian drip coffee (extra strong) with Hong Kong Milk Tea in a ratio of 1:1.

28. Ristretto

The meaning of ristretto in Italian is restricted, and it describes the preparation process in which less hot water is added to create the perfect ristretto.

Only a small amount of hot water gets added to half a shot of espresso to lessen the bitterness and ensure a sweeter taste. Ristretto is traditionally served in a demitasse cup and is loaded with caffeine.

29. Cortado

Cortado is a Spanish invention. The word cortar means to cut, and that is what the Spanish did to create the cortado. By adding just the right amount of warm steamed milk to the espresso, the Spanish gave it that velvety texture and unique flavor. You might also be interested in these types of coffee packaging.

30. Cold Brew Coffee

The frappe may be a type of iced coffee, but cold brew is a whole other thing. Cold brew is made when coffee is steeped in cold water for a prolonged period, resulting in a milder brew that still perks you up. Iced coffee is made from coffee initially hot brewed.

It also has lower acidity than hot brewed coffee. You can also find nitro cold brew infused with nitrogen gas for a softer flavor.

Author

  • Cian Murray

    Cian Murray is an experienced writer and editor, who graduated from Cardiff University’s esteemed School of Journalism, Media and Culture. His work has been featured in both local and national media, and he has also produced content for multinational brands and agencies. Find Cian on muckrack.com.