Coffee is the single most popular drink on the planet. There is a very wide variety of coffee drinks, which means there is just about something for everyone.
Before choosing your favourite, it is best to first learn about the different types of coffee out there.
The 2 Types of Coffee Beans
1. Robusta
There are mainly 2 kinds of coffee beans used for brewing, and the easier one to grow is the Robusta bean. It has very high caffeine content, tastes extremely bitter, and is often perceived as the lower quality of the two. This is why they are cheap and often used for instant coffees.
2. Arabica
Conversely, Arabica is generally more expensive than Robusta as it is harder to grow. It is seen as the higher quality bean, with lower caffeine content and a mellow taste.
Types of Hot Coffee
1. Black Coffee
Black coffee can be considered one of the most fundamental forms of coffee. It is simply brewed from ground coffee without any additives such as sugar or milk.
2. Decaf
All coffee beans contain caffeine. However, various methods can be used to remove most of this caffeine content. The resulting caffeine-free beans are then used to create decaf coffee.
3. Espresso
Many people mistake espressos and black coffee as one and the same. However, espresso is a much thicker liquid with a very strong and concentrated flavour. This is because the beans are grounded to a much finer texture than black coffee, before being brewed with a higher ground-to-water ratio.
4. Cappuccino
Cappuccinos are espresso-based beverages, with an espresso, steamed milk, and foam ratio of 1:1:1. You can also add a bit of cinnamon on top.
5. Cafe au Lait
A very simple drink to make, you only need to add frothed or steamed milk to a cup of coffee using a 1:1 ratio.
6. Latte
It is made of the same ingredients as a Cappuccino, but with a different ratio. It is usually made of 2/3 steamed milk and 1/3 espresso, with just a thin film of foam on top. You can further customise it by adding pumpkin spice, vanilla, or hazelnut.
7. Flat White
A flat white is similar to a latte, just without the layer of foam on top. It is also often more velvety than lattes as the milk is usually micro-steamed.
8. Cortado
The Cortado is a Spanish-inspired drink. It is made of 50% espresso and 50% steamed milk without any foam.
9. Red Eye
Packs a lot of caffeine making it perfect for pulling an all-nighter, Red Eye consists of brewed coffee and a shot or two of espresso (5:1 ratio).
10. Macchiato
Macchiato is made by adding a tiny amount of milk foam to a shot of espresso. No wonder it literally means “stained with milk” in Italian!
11. Irish Coffee
Can’t decide whether to drink coffee or alcohol? Now you can do both as the Irish Coffee is made from black coffee, sugar, and whiskey with a bit of whipped cream on top.
12. Mocha Latte
This one is perfect for those with a sweet tooth. You can create a mocha latte simply by adding sugar and chocolate (syrup, powdered, or melted) to a fresh cup of latte.
13. Americano
Another simplistic drink, Americano consists of a shot of espresso mixed with warm water.
Types of Cold Coffee
I4. ced Coffee
Brew a cup of hot coffee, add ice and sweeteners, and voila you have yourself iced coffee.
15. Frappe
Frappe is a unique type of beverage as it is the only coffee drink to be blended. You can blend any type of coffee with ice to create this refreshing drink. Don’t forget to add syrup, whipped cream, or milk if you want.
16. Cold Brew
The most popular type of coffee over the last few years, cold brew is created by brewing ground coffee with room-temp or cold water instead of the usual hot water. You can either do this by allowing water to drip onto the coffee or submerging the coffee in the water.
17. Nitro Cold Brew
Inspired by the beer industry, nitro cold brew involves infusing nitrogen into your coffee. This creates a bubbly drink similar to, of course, beer!
18. Iced Latte
Last on this list is another easy one to make. Simply follow the latte instructions and add ice!
