You know how to make a simple cup of coffee, but what about a Vietnamese Cha Phe Sua Da? And do you know the difference between a macchiato and a cappuccino? There are quite a few types of coffee drinks, so it comes as no surprise that they can be difficult to keep straight. The options are nearly endless, but keep in mind that they’re essentially all varying combinations of coffee, milk, and sugar.
Whether you’re looking to understand the menu at a coffee shop or brew a new drink at home, we are here to help. Take a close look at the coffee drink chart above and keep reading for our list of the 22 different types of coffee drinks.
Top 22 Types of Coffee Drinks:
1. Black coffee
This is the simplest type of coffee drink you can make, as it comes straight out of your choice of coffee maker. It is plain coffee with nothing added.
2. Black coffee with cream
To make creamy black coffee, simply add milk, cream, or half and half to your coffee. This will smooth the flavors and tone down any bitterness from your coffee beans.
3. Black coffee with cream and sugar
Add milk, cream, or half and half with a helping of sugar to your black coffee. This is an appealing combination for many coffee drinkers who prefer smooth, easy-drinking coffee.
4. Cold brew
Low acidity and sweet, cold brew coffee is made by adding coarsely ground beans to cold water and letting the mixture brew for several hours. You can also make a cold brew mocha!
5. Iced coffee
Unlike cold brew, iced coffee is chilled hot coffee. Refrigerate your freshly brewed black coffee, add ice and maybe a splash of cream or sugar, and there you have it.
6. Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee is made by repeatedly boiling very finely ground coffee with sugar. This process produces a frothy, lightly textured drink.
7. Nitrous coffee
Nitrous coffee is a fairly recent invention. Typically poured out of a tap like a glass of beer, nitrous coffee is cold brew with added nitrogen. This makes for a sweet, smooth drink with light carbonation.
Espresso Drinks:
Here are the basic types of espresso drink options. For a comprehensive list, take a look at our guide to the 21 types of espresso drinks.
8. Single or double espresso
The basis of all espresso drinks is a shot of espresso, made by pushing pressurized hot water through finely ground, tightly-tamped coffee. You can pull short and long (single and double) shots, which are one and two ounces respectively.
9. Cappuccino
A typical cappuccino is one-third espresso, one-third hot milk, and one-third milk foam. You can also order a dry cappuccino, which will be made with less milk.
10. Caffé Latte
A coffee shop favorite, the caffé latte, often shortened to latte, is made with one-third espresso and two-thirds hot milk. It’s generally topped with microfoam and may be sprinkled with cinnamon, cocoa powder, or brown sugar.
11. Mocha
A mocha is a latte that has been sweetened with chocolate syrup or cocoa powder. You can also try adding other caramel or peppermint syrups.
12. Espresso Macchiato
“Macchiato” means “stain” in Italian. This drink gets its name from the mark made by a swirl of foamed milk when it’s dropped into an espresso shot.
13. Latte Macchiato
The second version of a macchiato is more common in the United States, especially at coffee shops like Starbucks. To make one, combine a third to half a cup of steamed milk with a single or double shot of espresso.
14. Americano
Americanos are an approximation of black coffee that’s made with espresso. To make one, you add hot water to a single or double shot of espresso. This results in a cup of coffee with a similar strength and caffeine content to a cup of black coffee, though it will have a different flavor and mouthfeel.
Espresso and Coffee Drinks:
15. Red eye
A good choice if you’re trying to stay up all night or get up early, a red eye is a cup of hot black coffee topped with a shot of espresso.
16. Black eye
A black eye is an even stronger option. To make one, brew a cup of hot black coffee and add a double shot of espresso.
17. Dripped eye
The dripped eye is the strongest of the three, consisting of a cup of black coffee with three added shots of espresso.
18. Lazy eye
The lazy eye dials the caffeine content back. To make one, add a shot or two of espresso to a cup of decaffeinated coffee.
Other Coffee Drinks:
19. Irish coffee
A classic, cozy dessert drink made by mixing hot black coffee with Irish whiskey and Baileys Irish Cream. For a more decadent drink, top with whipped cream and add flavored syrups.
20. Affogato
Not quite a drink, the affogato is a decadent, easy-to-make dessert. Pour a shot of espresso over ice cream and you’ll have a creamy, caffeinated treat.
21. Cha Phe Sua Da
Vietnam’s version of creamy iced coffee, this drink is made with dark French press coffee and sweetened condensed milk. To make it, add two or three tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk to a glass and then set up the Vietnamese French press (phin). Mix the coffee and milk and pour the mixture over ice.
22. Green coffee
Last on our list of types of coffee drinks is green coffee. Made with green, unroasted coffee beans, green coffee is an herbal, tea-like beverage with light levels of caffeine. To make it, boil green coffee beans in water.
Conclusion
You’ve taken a look at our coffee drink chart and our guide to the 22 types of coffee drinks. Now you know the difference between a red eye and a lazy eye, and you can make or order everything from a basic black coffee to a latte macchiato with confidence. It’s time to get out there and enjoy your next great cup of coffee!
Featured image credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
Table of Contents
- Top 22 Types of Coffee Drinks:
- 1. Black coffee
- 2. Black coffee with cream
- 3. Black coffee with cream and sugar
- 4. Cold brew
- 5. Iced coffee
- 6. Turkish coffee
- 7. Nitrous coffee
- Espresso Drinks:
- 8. Single or double espresso
- 9. Cappuccino
- 10. Caffé Latte
- 11. Mocha
- 12. Espresso Macchiato
- 13. Latte Macchiato
- 14. Americano
- Espresso and Coffee Drinks:
- 15. Red eye
- 16. Black eye
- 17. Dripped eye
- 18. Lazy eye
- Other Coffee Drinks:
- 19. Irish coffee
- 20. Affogato
- 21. Cha Phe Sua Da
- 22. Green coffee
- Conclusion
