Coffee is one of those things that has become part of our daily life. One reason for coffee’s popularity is that it’s a drink everyone can enjoy. It’s a simple pleasure that can bring friends and family together. There are so many different styles, tastes, and brews of coffee. Here we’ll talk about some of them, ones you are familiar with and ones you may never have heard of.
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Drip/Filter Coffee Variations
These delicious coffees can easily be made at home with a regular drip coffee maker with ground coffee beans. There’s no need to go to a cafe or coffee shop for them.
Black Coffee
A standard coffee brew that many people love. Just pick your favorite coffee. Find out more about how to make the best black coffee.
Black Coffee With Cream
If you don’t enjoy black coffee, adding milk or cream is perfectly ok. Read more about the different types of dairy and non-dairy coffee additions.
Black Coffee with Cream and Sugar
If you like your coffee to have a sweet taste, you can add sugar or some other kind of sweetener. If you are trying to cut down on sugar, learn more about alternative sweeteners.
Café Au Lait
This style of coffee is often served in the South. If you’ve been to Café Du Monde in New Orleans, you have seen it on the menu. Café au lait is usually made with equal parts of regularly brewed coffee and milk, but there isn’t a set rule regarding this ratio. Read more about café au lait.
Cold Brew Coffee
This is ground coffee steeped in cold water in the refrigerator for approximately 10 to 12 hours. Cold brew coffee is so smooth because it is low in acid. If you enjoy cold coffee without bitterness, this is the drink for you. Check out my thorough guide and learn how to make cold brew coffee.
Iced Coffee
Many people turn to iced coffee during the warmer months as a way to cool off and still enjoy the flavor and energy-boosting effects of coffee. However, making excellent iced coffee involves a bit more than just throwing some ice cubes in your coffee. Dunkin has an innovative way to make iced coffee, they add extra coffee to the brewing process so that when you ice melts, the coffee remains strong. Try the Dunkin method of making iced coffee.
Espresso-Based Drinks
Espresso is different from ordinary coffee because the water goes through the coffee as steam, giving you that signature espresso taste. Super-strong coffee will work for making a latte, but if you want an authentic espresso flavor, you need the right tools.
If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can still make espresso-based drinks at home. The best coffee makers to use are a Moka pot, AeroPress, or French press, in that order.
You can also get by with espresso powder such as Medaglia D’Oro Instant Espresso.
Many of these espresso-based drinks involve steamed or frothed milk. Learn how to froth milk at home without an espresso machine.
Affogato
If you see this tasty treat on the menu, you may want to order one for dessert or as a special treat on a hot day. Affogato is a delicious combination of espresso, vanilla ice cream, and a shot of liqueur. Learn more about making an affogato.
Americano
This style of coffee was created in Europe when Italians watered down espresso for Americans who were used to their coffee having more volume. Simply put, Americano is an espresso-based brew with hot water added to give it the volume of a drip but with an espresso taste.
Use 1 part espresso to 2 parts water. Pour the espresso into the water, rather than the other way around, to prevent burning the coffee. Get detailed information on how to make an Americano.
Café con Leche
Café con Leche is Spanish for coffee with milk. It’s a common drink in Latin America and Spain. It consists of equal parts of espresso and scalded milk. Sugar or sweetener may be added for taste. Learn more and how to make cafe con leche.
Cappuccino
This drink’s silky magic is not beyond the grasp of home baristas. It just takes some practice with water, steam, and foam. You don’t necessarily need an expensive espresso machine with a built-in steaming wand. However, if you did get one as a holiday gift, see how to use an espresso machine to make the perfect cappuccino. And, if you don’t have an espresso machine, find out how to make a cappuccino without an espresso machine.
Cortado
Derived from the Spanish word for cut, a cortado is a small-sized hot coffee beverage made with half espresso and half warm milk. The milk primarily serves to reduce the acidity of the espresso. The milk is steamed but doesn’t have as much milk foam or froth as some Italian coffee drinks. Learn how to make a cortado with an espresso machine or moka pot.
Doppio
Doppio is a double shot of espresso and is suitable for veteran espresso imbibers early in the morning before a twelve-hour workday! Find out how to make doppio with an espresso machine. You can also make doppio with a Moka pot.
Espresso con Panna
Espresso con Panna means espresso with cream in Italian. It’s also known as Café Viennois in France and the United Kingdom. It’s a double shot of espresso topped with a dollop of whipped cream.
Flat White
Flat White: A flat white originated in Australia and is a super-strong espresso topped with creamy milk froth. A flat white also serves as a great base for other espresso-based beverages, like Baileys Flat White. Learn how to make the perfect flat white coffee.
Galão
This is a Portuguese version of a latte that’s often accompanied by pastel de nata, a type of custard tart. The Galão is created with one part espresso and three parts steamed milk. Read how to make a Galao.
Latte
The latte is a beloved way to drink coffee everywhere. A simple combination of coffee and milk creates this delicious and popular drink. The preferred ratio is 1 part coffee to 4 parts milk. This drink also allows you to get creative with latte art. Pour the steamed milk into a glass with the foamed milk on top. Leave this for 30 seconds and then pour the espresso into the glass. Get more in-depth info on making lattes.
Macchiato
A classic Italian macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with a dollop of steamed milk. Macchiato means “stained” in Italian, and it’s easy to see why. The steamed milk makes a white mark (stain) on the espresso. See how to make a macchiato with an espresso machine or a macchiato without an espresso machine.
Mocha
This is an irresistible blend of coffee and chocolate. If you want to liven up your morning cup of coffee or combine coffee and dessert, a mocha latte is perfect for you. Check out this mocha recipe for the proper ratio of espresso, milk, and chocolate syrup and easy instructions.
Ristretto
A ristretto is a short (restricted) espresso shot that is made to be more concentrated, richer, and sweeter. Basically, a ristretto shot is made like an espresso but uses less water. Many people regard the ristretto as the ultimate coffee experience. Read more about it and how to make a ristretto.
Other Types of Coffee
Dalgona Coffee
Dalgona coffee is made by whipping instant coffee powder, sugar, and hot water until it becomes creamy. This mixture is poured over cold or hot milk. Learn more about it and how to make Dalgona coffee.
Nitro Coffee
This is simply cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen, a colorless, odorless gas. If this sounds strange, think about how we regularly put gases into cold drinks. For example, carbon dioxide is what gives sodas their characteristic bubbles and why we refer to them as being carbonated. Read more about nitro coffee.
Can you make nitro coffee at home? The answer is yes – you will need a whipped cream dispenser and a pressurized nitrous oxide cartridge. Find out how to make nitro coffee.
Turkish Coffee
This is a coffee brewed by slowly heating very finely ground coffee in cold water up to the boiling point. A unique Turkish coffee pot (called a cezve), mostly made of copper, has traditionally been used. However, nowadays, automated Turkish coffee machines are available. Read more about it and how to make Turkish coffee.
Coffee Cocktails
What’s a better way to keep the party going than spiked coffee? Mixing caffeine and alcohol is a popular choice for those who want to indulge in a combination of two of the world’s most popular enjoyments. Here are just three coffee cocktails if you fall into this category of coffee drinkers.
Irish Coffee
The ingredients for this delicious hot coffee drink couldn’t be simpler – brewed coffee, Irish whiskey, dark brown sugar, and heavy cream. This coffee cocktail is also wonderful for brunch, after dinner, or anytime in between. And it’s obviously just made for St. Patrick’s Day – sweet, creamy, boozy, and divine. Get the Irish Coffee recipe.
Old Duck Blind (ODB)
This is a hunting-inspired spiked coffee drink made with hot coffee, bourbon, Kahlua, cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla. You get a beautifully layered coffee cocktail that tastes as good as it looks. Get the Old Duck Blind recipe. ODB is part of a family of hunting camp cocktails.
Southern Limerick
This is a Southern-style Irish coffee, a warm, creamy, boozy drink that is delightful to sip. It is made from coffee, rye whiskey, demerara syrup, amaro liqueur, and angostura bitters, finished off with floated cream on top. Read about how this fabulous cocktail was created and how to make a Southern Limerick.
Equipment You Will Need
The equipment you need depends on the type of coffee you are making. Here’s the full list:
- Coffee grinder
- Coffee scale
- Drip coffee maker
- Moka pot – Check out the inexpensive Bialetti Moka Pot that allows you to make espresso at home, just like the Italians do.
- AeroPress
- French press
- Espresso machine – The Mr. Coffee Espresso System with milk frother is a relatively inexpensive and dependable espresso maker. Nespresso espresso machines are pod-based and work similarly to Keurigs but are more specialized. The Nespresso Pixie won’t take up too much space on your kitchen counter.
- Hand frother
- Milk thermometer
- Espresso cups
- Irish coffee mugs
- Whipped cream dispenser and pressurized nitrous oxide cartridge for making nitro coffee
- A cezve or Turkish coffee machine for making Turkish coffee
Fancy Coffee Recipes
Has your enthusiasm for coffee drinks been enhanced? Here are some more fancy coffee recipes and coffee cocktails for you to try:
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