Types of Coffee Drinks

First, Types of Coffee Beans

There are four main types of coffee beans. They include Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa and Liberica. Coffee brands will typically put a label telling you which coffee beans were used for their product. In U.S. supermarkets, you’ll typically find two types of coffee beans for sale: Arabica and Robusta. You may be wondering, is there a difference between Arabica and Robusta? There definitely is.

Arabica: Arabica is the most popular type of coffee, hands down and accounts for over 60% of the world’s coffee production. Depending on who you ask, many coffee enthusiasts prefer using Arabica beans due to its taste. Typically used for black coffee, Arabica beans have a sweeter, more complex flavor that you can drink straight. Funny thing is, even though it’s the most popular, it doesn’t have as much caffeine as Robusta.

Note that the quality of the Arabica bean diminishes when served cold or with creamer. It is best served hot, perhaps brewed with the pour-over or drip coffee technique. [I usually buy Maxwell House Colombian coffee, which is a type of Arabica coffee, medium roast. So is Folger's Black Silk, which is a dark roast.]

Robusta: While Arabica is the most popular, Robusta is a cheaper and stronger type of coffee bean and comes second to Arabica as the world’s most produced coffee. Because of its bitter flavor, you’ll typically see Robusta used for espresso drinks and in instant coffee mixes. If you’re looking for a cup of joe to fix that Monday morning lag, go with a coffee that was made with Robusta beans.

This is a perfect coffee for cream and sugar lovers! A good quality Robusta will not lose flavor when adding milk or sugar (making it a great candidate for Vietnamese Coffee and Iced Coffee).

Liberica: Liberica is harder to come by. The beans are said to have a unique aroma, consisting of floral and fruity notes, with a full body that possesses a smoky taste; those who have had Liberica coffee say that it is unlike any coffee they have ever tasted—with many saying it does not even taste like coffee, stating that it tastes too “woody”.

Excelsa: Although Excelsa has been recently re-classified as a member of the Liberica family, the two couldn’t be more different; it differs so much from Liberica that some members of the coffee community still think of it as a separate species. It accounts for a mere 7% of the world’s coffee circulation. It is largely used in blends in order to give the coffee an extra boost of flavor and complexity. Excelsa is said to possess a tart and fruity body—which are flavors reminiscent of a light roast—that also somehow has dark, roasty notes. This mystery lures coffee drinkers from around the world to try and seek out the varietal.

Types of Coffee Drinks

Whether you’re a coffee newbie or you consider yourself a coffee connoisseur, there are so many types of coffee drinks to discover. Here are some of the most popular types ordered by coffee lovers nationwide.

Black: Black coffee is as simple as it gets with ground coffee beans steeped in hot water, served warm. And if you want to sound fancy, you can call black coffee by its proper name: cafe noir. Since it isn’t doctored up with milk or sugar, the quality of coffee is especially important. Treat yourself to a coffee subscription box to find your favorite style.

Latte: As the most popular coffee drink out there, the latte is comprised of a shot of espresso and steamed milk with just a touch of foam. It can be ordered plain or with a flavor shot of anything from vanilla to pumpkin spice.

Cappuccino: Cappuccino is a latte made with more foam than steamed milk, often with a sprinkle of cocoa powder or cinnamon on top. Sometimes you can find variations that use cream instead of milk or ones that throw in flavor shot, as well.

Americano: With a similar flavor to black coffee, the americano consists of an espresso shot diluted in hot water. Pro tip: if you’re making your own, pour the espresso first, then add the hot water.

Espresso: An espresso shot can be served solo or used as the foundation of most coffee drinks, like lattes and macchiatos.

Doppio: A double shot of espresso, the doppio is perfect for putting extra pep in your step.

Cortado: Like yin and yang, a cortado is the perfect balance of espresso and warm steamed milk. The milk is used to cut back on the espresso’s acidity.

Red Eye: Named after those pesky midnight flights, a red eye can cure any tiresome morning. A full cup of hot coffee with an espresso shot mixed in, this will definitely get your heart racing.

Galão: Originating in Portugal, this hot coffee drink is closely related to the latte and cappuccino. Only difference is it contains about twice as much foamed milk, making it a lighter drink compared to the other two.

Lungo: A lungo is a long-pull espresso. The longer the pull, the more caffeine there is and the more ounces you can enjoy.

Macchiato: The macchiato is another espresso-based drink that has a small amount of foam on top. It’s the happy medium between a cappuccino and a doppio.

Mocha: For all you chocolate lovers out there, you’ll fall in love with a mocha (or maybe you already have). The mocha is a chocolate espresso drink with steamed milk and foam. It’s also called mochaccino or mocha latte. Its name comes from the city of Mocha (or al-Makha) in Yemen which was the major marketplace for coffee from the 15th century until the 18th century.

Ristretto: Ristretto is an espresso shot. It uses less hot water which creates a sweeter flavor compared to the bitter taste of a traditional shot of espresso or a doppio.

Flat White: This Aussie-born drink is basically a cappuccino without the foam or chocolate sprinkle. It’s an espresso drink with steamed milk.

Affogato: The affogato is an excuse to enjoy a scoop of ice cream any time of day (and any time of year in my opinion). Served with a scoop of ice cream and a shot of espresso, or two. The affogato is extra delicious served over a brownie, as a Brownie Affogato Sundae.

Café au Lait: Café au lait is perfect for the coffee minimalist who wants a bit more flavor. Just add a splash of warm milk to your coffee and you’re all set!

Irish: Irish coffee consists of black coffee, whiskey and sugar, topped with whipped cream.