If you have ever been to a café or coffee shop, you know that the menu is quite overwhelming. As there are so many types of coffee drinks and flavors to choose from. It will have you standing in one spot for minutes, trying to figure out what each coffee term means.
But even a bad cup of coffee is better than no cup of coffee at all.
David Lynch
Types of Coffee Drinks
Not all coffee is brewed in the same way. Brewing styles can cause the flavors and strength of the drink. Here are a few brewing styles that you may recognize in a coffee shop:
Cold Brew
Coarsely ground coffee is placed in room temperature water and allowed to steep for an extended period of time. This gives it a less bitter, highly caffeinated brew
Drip Brew
Ground coffee is added to a brew basket and placed in an automatic coffee machine for this brewing style. Gravity is used to pass water through the grounds, resulting in a traditional cup of coffee.
Pour Over
This style is achieved by pouring boiling water slowly through coffee grounds as they sit in a filter basket made from filter paper. The coffee then drips into a single cup, resulting in a potent brew.
Espresso
You’ll need an espresso or cappuccino machine. These machines pass pressurized hot water through a filter containing dark roasted finely ground coffee beans. This produces a highly concentrated coffee shot. This is mostly used as the base of coffee drink
Ristretto
This is brewed in a similar method to the espresso, by allowing pressurized water to pass through the coffee grounds. However, you would use half the amount of water. The shorter brewing cycle creates a more concentrated and darker shot of espresso.
Most coffee drinks comprise three common ingredients: espresso, steamed milk, and foam but are in different quantities.
Espresso
- also known as a short black, and consist of plain highly concentrated black coffee
Double Espresso
- Basically the same as a regular espresso just a double. It could also be called doppio. This drink is highly concentrated and strong
Red Eye
- The purpose of this drink is to add a boost of caffeine to your regular cup of coffee. It’s basically a regular drip-brewed coffee with an extra espresso shot.
Black Eye
- The black eye is just the doubled version of the red eye, which is a regular cup with a double espresso, it’s very high in caffeine.
Americano
- These drinks are popular breakfast drinks and are believed to originate during World War II. Soldiers would add water to their coffee to extend their rations farther. The water dilutes the espresso while still maintaining a high level of caffeine.
Long Black
- The Long Black is similar to the Americano, but it’s said to be originated in New Zealand and Australia. It generally has more crema than an Americano.
Macchiato
- The word “macchiato” means mark or stained. This is in reference to the mark that steamed milk leaves on the surface of the espresso as it is poured into the drink. Flavoring syrups are often can be added to the drink according to the customer’s preference.
Cappuccino
- This creamy drink is usually consumed at breakfast time in Italy and is loved in many areas of the world. It is usually drunk for satisfaction and comfort because of its thick foamy layer and additional flavorings that can be added to it eg. chocolate.
Flat White
- A flat white is very similar to a cappuccino but more milk is used and it lacks the foam layer and chocolate powder. To keep the drink creamy rather than frothy, the steamed milk from the bottom of the jug is used instead of from the top.
Mocha
- This drink is considered to be a hybrid between coffee and hot chocolate. The chocolate flavor gives it a rich and creamy taste and cuts the acidity of the espresso. This drink is normally topped with whipped cream.
Iced Coffee
- Starbuck is very popular for its iced coffees. These drinks have become very popular in the summertime in the United States. There are many different ways to make iced coffee. Some shops choose to interchange milk with water in their recipe. Often, different flavoring syrups will be added per the preference of the customer.
We hope this helps and saves you from spending more time in the queue than you already have to.
