Coffee is not just a drink; it’s an aromatic delicacy full of flavors you only experience after having it. Earlier, it used to be a simple beverage, just like tea. But over the years, it has become necessary for the new generation. Coffee lovers would agree that it’s not just the flavors they enjoy but the distinctive fragrance infused in this aromatic drink.
Different types of coffee are available. When you visit a cafe, navigating the menu and deciding a type is tricky. Sometimes, you want to try different coffee flavors but drop the idea as you don’t know much about them.
Well, this article will introduce you to different types of coffee, helping you become familiar with their flavor.
History
Coffee is brewed from the roasted seeds of a tropical evergreen coffee plant, often called coffee beans. It is said that beans originated from Ethiopia in 700 AD by Kaldi, an Ethiopian goat herder. Further, they crossed the red sea into Yemen in the 15th century.
The port at which beans first arrived was called Mocha, from where the word ‘Mocha coffee’ existed. By the 17th and 18th centuries, they spread across the east – towards India & Indonesia– and the west into Italy and other parts of Europe.
A Bit More About Coffee!
A cup of coffee boosts your daily energy level and helps you feel more alert. Studies have shown drinking it not only increases focus and productivity but helps in building overall energy levels throughout the day.
From drinking to making coffee has changed significantly over the years. Earlier, it was like taking a cup of milk, mixing a spoonful of coffee with it, and having it like other hot beverages.
But gradually, it upgraded into a foam coffee where people started enjoying light foam on top. Another slight shift is when people experienced the phase of beaten coffee, an advanced version of the basic one.
Well-known baristas like CCD, Barista, Starbucks, and many others opened their outlets in different parts of the world. They started selling the same drink in newer varieties. Also, they created a different picture of how coffee is supposed to be consumed ideally.
With this, many cafes, bakeries, and coffee shops existed. At first, these places became a hub for intellects, corporates, and students. Also, they became small meet-and-greet areas for office meetings, friends, and couples.
Along with the coffee, they started enjoying their ambiance, infused with the peculiar aroma of freshly roasted beans, and expressed their great interest in the coffee-making process.
Do you know?
More than 49% of people drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily.
In short, this beverage has become a culture and go-to option for many people to energize themselves in the morning or at night.
A cup of hot java in winter energizes your body, giving you much-needed relief, and a jar of chilled, thick cold coffee refreshes you in the hot summers.
It has many health benefits, too –
- Refreshes your mind and body
- Good for the skin
- Reduces stress and depression
- Lowers the risk of heart disease
- Helps to reduce weight
- Suitable for liver functioning too
We all know how to make a simple cup of coffee. But have you tried making fancy varieties at home that you get in cafes? Also, can you tell the difference in varieties consumed all over now?
The answer would probably be NO. Though we all love trying different varieties, we hardly know the exact difference in their taste, texture, making, and much more. Whenever we visit any cafe, we get confused, and many questions just swipe our mind, like-
- Which variety to order?
- What are the differences in their taste?
- What are the names of these varieties?
So on and so forth. To clear out all the if and buts, let us now discuss all kinds of coffee below.
Types of Coffee Beans
In the U.S., two types of coffee beans are popular and available for sale. They are as follows:
1. Robusta
Robusta is made from the beans of the Coffea Canephora plant. It originated in central and western sub-Saharan Africa. It is the second most popular coffee in the world. It tastes earthy and has a bitter grainy-like flavor. It contains more caffeine than Arabica.
The caffeine content in the Robusta bean is around 2-2.7%. It is best suited for espresso due to its strong and bitter flavor.
2. Arabica
Arabica is made from the beans of the Coffea Arabica plant. It originated in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia and is popular worldwide. Brazil is the largest producer of Arabica.
You can use it for many coffee beverages. The caffeine content in arabica beans is less as compared to robusta beans. It has a slightly sweet flavor with a chocolate, nuts, berries, and caramel tint.
Difference Between Robusta and Arabica Beans
| Basis | Robusta Beans | Arabica Beans |
| Origin | Mainly grown in the eastern hemisphere | Originates in Southwestern highlands of Ethiopia |
| Taste | Earthy, bitter grainy-like flavor | A slightly sweet flavor |
| Caffeine | Has more caffeine content | Has less caffeine content compared to Robusta |
| Cost | Less costly as it matures fast and is produced more than Arabica | Pretty expensive than Robusta |
| Suitable | Best suited for black coffee, espresso shot, and Americano | Ideal for cappuccino, mocha, flat white, and a lot more. |
Different Types of Coffee
Hot and cold are two coffee types. Let us discuss them in detail below.
Hot Coffee Beverages
1. Espresso
Espresso came from Italian caffe espresso, which means ‘pressed out’. It is a concentrated form of coffee brewed from grounded beans. Generally, it is served in small cups. Also, it serves as a base for many other coffee types.
The texture of Espresso is strong and thick. It has high caffeine content because it is not diluted but pure in a liquid state. It contains 29-100 mg of caffeine in a single shot.
How to make it?
- Grind your beans into a fine powder.
- Transfer the filled portafilter to a flat surface.
- Distribute the grounds evenly with a finger.
- Use a tamper to tamp down the grounds to create a compact disk of espresso.
- Lock a portafilter into the espresso machine.
- Put the vessel underneath.
- Start your shot, and your espresso is ready within 25-30 secs.
2. Americano
Caffe Americano is prepared from espresso and hot water. The ratio of water and espresso can be equal or ⅓ espresso to ⅔ water. In americano, espresso should always be added first as it mixes in and creates a more mellow taste.
How to make it?
- Add a single shot of espresso to a cup.
- Pour hot water on the top (ratio mentioned above).
Enjoy! Your cup of Caffe Americano.
3. Cortado
Cortado is a Spanish coffee variety. It originated in Barcelona, Spain. Cortado is an espresso-based drink. It contains steamed milk and espresso in a ratio of 1:1.
Steam milk on the top reduces acidity. The milk we add to the cortado is steamed; it doesn’t have much froth or foam. But still, it gives a solid and rich flavor due to the micro-foam generated when we add steamed milk.
How to make it?
- Extract two shots of espresso.
- Slowly pour steamed milk on top of your espresso ( in a ratio of 1:1).
- Your cortado is ready.
4. Cappuccino
Cappuccino is an espresso-based drink that originated in Austria and later got popularized in Italy. It is a perfect combination of espresso, steamed milk, and foam.
A perfectly made cappuccino should be rich, not acidic. It has a mildly sweet flavor from milk. In cappuccino, espresso, steamed milk, and foam have equal proportions ( ⅓, ⅓, and ⅓ ), containing more milk than any other espresso drink but less milk than a latte.
How to make it?
- Make an espresso shot using an espresso machine.
- Add an espresso shot to a cappuccino cup.
- Now steam the milk where the milk is hot but not simmering.
- Then pour steamed milk on top of the espresso.
- Take a frother and froth some small portion of milk in it.
- Now, add that milk foam on top of the steamed milk.
- Sprinkle some chocolate powder on top.
- And your perfect cappuccino is ready.
5. Macchiato
The term ‘macchiato’ means ‘marked’ and ‘stained’. It is an Italian, espresso-based coffee drink that contains a shot of espresso topped with a small amount of steamed or foamed milk. The ratio of the milk in the macchiato is less than in the espresso shot, allowing the espresso to rule the taste. In contrast, a cortado’s milk ratio is more than the espresso shot.
Macchiato stands between espresso, which is pretty strong, and cappuccino, which has a mild flavor.
There are two types of macchiato:
- Espresso Macchiato – is an espresso shot diluted with 1-2 teaspoons of milk. It has the highest ratio of espresso to milk. And milk is added as a stain to compliment the macchiato.
- Latte Macchiato – it is a sweeter, layered espresso beverage. In latte macchiato, an espresso shot is added to steamed milk and layered with foam on top to give a smooth and creamy texture.
How to make it?
- Grind your coffee beans.
- Extract an espresso shot using an espresso machine.
- Steam a small amount of milk.
- Now, using a frother, froth the milk until milk doubles in size.
- Pour the steamed milk on top of the espresso.
6. Flat White
Originating from Australia and New Zealand, a flat white is an espresso-based drink containing a single or double shot of espresso topped with micro-foamed milk for a smooth and creamy taste. It has a ratio of ⅓ espresso and ⅔ milk, providing an intense flavor of espresso with the richness of milk.
How to make it?
- Brew two shots of espresso
- Steam the milk to a level until tiny foam starts to foam
- Pour steam milk on the top of the espresso
7. Lungo
It is an Italian-style, espresso-based drink, using espresso as a base. Generally, a regular extraction takes 25-35 seconds and fills 1-2 fluid ounces, while lungo takes 45-60 seconds and fills 5 fluid ounces.
Water is added during the brewing process. So, when lungo is extracted from an espresso machine, it forms a distinct cream on the top, giving it a slightly bitter taste but not as bitter as espresso.
One of the exciting facts about espresso and lungo is that they are made with the same amount of ground coffee; the main difference lies in the amount of water used to make them.
How to make it?
- Fill and tamp portafilter with finely ground coffee.
- Pull 1-2 shorts of lungo (Let the water run longer than the usual espresso shot).
And your drink is ready.
8. Latte
Originating in America during the 80s, Latte is a milk-based drink similar to the cappuccino. A perfect latte consists of two shots of espresso, steamed milk, and a thin layer of frothed milk. The milk mixes with the overall mixture to give a smooth, creamy texture.
Caffe latte, cappuccino, and macchiato look very similar, but a slight difference makes them altogether different coffee drinks.
A cup of cappuccino; espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam is distributed evenly as separate layers. The Caffe latte has more steamed milk on the top of the espresso and a skinny layer of milk foam on the top. Macchiato contains just a splash of steamed milk on top of the espresso.
How to make it?
- Brew an espresso shot from an espresso machine.
- Steam the milk.
- Pour the steamed milk on top of an espresso.
- Spoon some milk foam he top.
9. Galao
Galao is a Portugal drink comprising espresso and foamed milk. It is very similar to a caffee latte and cappuccino. The espresso and foam milk ratio is like ¼ espresso to ¾ foamed milk. The only difference that makes galao different from espresso and a caffe latte is that it contains foam milk in double the quantity compared to the other two. And it is usually served in tall glasses.
How to make it?
- You require ¼ espresso and ⅔ milk.
- Brew ¼ espresso from the espresso machine.
- Steam the milk.
- With the help of the frother, froth the milk.
- Pour espresso and frothed milk together into the glass.
- And your galao is ready to serve.
10. Mocha
It is made up of a specific type of coffee beans. These beans stem from plant species called ‘coffee arabica’ that originates in Mocha, Yemen.
Mocha is chocolatey, consisting of espresso, chocolate syrup, steamed milk, and whipped cream.
How to make it?
- Extract 60ml espresso shot from an espresso machine.
- Now, add 30ml of chocolate syrup on top of the espresso.
- Add 30ml steamed milk on top of the chocolate syrup.
- Add whipped cream or milk foam(using a frother) on top.
Garnish it with chocolate sprinkles.
11. Cafe au Lait
Originated in France, Cafe au Lait is made using brewed coffee and steamed milk in a ratio of 1:1 with no froth or foam on top. It looks pretty similar to a cafe latte, but has a slight difference. In a caffe latte, espresso is used as a base. In contrast, in a cafe au lait, the base is made with a french press or drip machine.
How to make it?
- Take a french press and add two spoons of coffee grind into an empty press.
- Boil the desired amount of water, and pour hot boiling water into the press.
- Stir the mixture and allow it to sit for 4-5 mins.
- After that, gently push the plunger to the bottom of the press.
- Get the freshly brewed french press coffee.
- Now, steam the desired amount of milk in a pan.
- Using a frother, froth the milk a bit.
- When the milk is a little foamy, add that on top of the freshly brewed french press coffee.
Your cafe au lait is ready to serve.
12. Irish Coffee
It is an alcoholic beverage made with coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream. The coffee must be strong, and the whiskey should be Irish. The base is a french press.
A fine layer of cream floats on the drink to ensure it doesn’t sink; blend the cream before layering it.
How to make it?
- Heat the mug and add sugar to it.
- Pour the hot coffee on top of it and stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Now, pour Irish whiskey on the top.
- Blend the cream and top it on the drink to float.
Sprinkle some cinnamon powder on top, and enjoy!
13. Instant Coffee
It is made with real coffee beans. The soluble content of the beans is extracted, then the water is removed so that powder is left. It is essentially dehydrated for our convenience.
No residue is left; it completely dissolves into a rich, delicious drink.
How to make it?
- Take some milk and put it on a boil.
- Add one tablespoon of instant coffee to it.
- Stir it to dissolve completely, and wait for it to boil.
- Pour the drink into your mug.
And nowadays, aficionados have started experimenting by adding flavors to instant coffee powders. Some tasty flavors are Hazelnut, Caramel, Chocolate, Mint, Vanilla, Butterscotch, cookie, and even Blueberry. There is no end to this kind of flavoring scene, and more & more brands are coming up with exciting ones each day.
14. Filter Coffee
It is made famous in South India and is now available everywhere. It is made by pouring hot water over coffee grounds and letting the resulting brew drip through a filter.
Cold Coffee Beverages
1. Iced coffee
It is an espresso-based drink made by brewing coffee and then pouring it over ice. It can be made with or without milk/cream.
People add variations according to their taste. In Australia, they use flavored syrups, cocoa powder, beans, and cream.
How to make it?
- Extract an espresso shot.
- Let it cool completely.
- Now, take a glass with some ice cubes, and pour an espresso shot in it.
- Add cold milk and cream ( ½ and ½ ) to the espresso.
- Add some granulated sugar to it.
2. Cold Brew
Originated in ‘Kyto,’ Japan, cold brew is one of the most popular drinks in the city. It is made by slowly steeping grounded coffee beans in room-temperature water for at least 6 hours.
When the beans are pressed like this, they extract a strong concentrated coffee that needs to be mixed with water or milk, according to your taste. The ratio of coffee to water is 1:5.
One of the main differences between cold brew and iced coffee is that the base we extract in the latter is hot, and then we bring it to room temperature; on the other hand, the base of cold brew is already at room temperature.
How to make it?
- Grind coffee beans to form a coarse powder.
- Combine the powder with water (water at room temperature).
- Leave it overnight, and the following day, strain it.
- Then serve it either with ice and water or with milk.
3. Nitrogen Coffee
It infuses cold brew with nitrogen, giving a creamy and beer-like smooth texture. It is very similar to cold brew, but you infuse cold brew with nitrogen gas before pouring it into a glass with some special equipment.
How to make it?
- Prepare cold brew concentrate.
- Mix it with water.
- Transfer the cold brew to the keg of the nitro cold brew coffee maker.
- Shake the keg for at least 20 seconds.
4. Frappucino
Frappaciuno combines two words, “frappe” and “cappuccino,” where frappe means milkshake and cappuccino means a type of coffee. It is a blended iced coffee drink with coffee or crema as a base blended with ice and milk and added ingredients like syrup, flavor, spices, and whipped cream to make it more interesting.
How to make it?
- Prepare an espresso or just regular coffee.
- Combine it with milk, sweetener, and ice in a blender
- Blend it all.
- Then pour it into your glass
Garnish it with whipped cream and some syrups, and enjoy!
5. Mocha Frappucino
It is very similar to frappuccino. The entire recipe of this drink is very similar to a frappe; just the extra addition that makes it mocha is chocolate syrup.
How to make it?
- Whisk heavy cream and vanilla syrup to make whipping cream.
- Blend chocolate sauce, ice, milk, instant coffee, sweetener, and frappuccino syrup.
- Pour it into a glass.
Garnish it with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
Conclusion
This article gives you insights into the maximum types of coffee available in the market. Still, this industry is growing at an exponential rate. Now and then, we see a new flavor of instant coffee or the launch of a new brand. Recently, a brand started to offer ground coffee beans infused with Whisky in similar wooden Barrels.
There’s no end to its scope, and we hope to see this industry reach the heights it deserves.
Keep enjoying your warm cuppa daily!
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