The Different Types of Coffee Explained
Do you know your espresso from your Americano or your doppio from a macchiato? There are so many different types of coffee that it can be sometimes tough to understand which is which and what some of the terms mean. Some of them sound so similar, that they get confused. We explain the different types of coffee and what you should actually be ordering.
It all starts with an Espresso
Espresso is the basis of pretty much all the different types of coffee. What starts off as an espresso can be quickly applied to make all of the modern coffees we know and love. From your macchiato to an Americano, they are all a form of espresso in one way or another.
What is an Espresso?
An espresso is a single shot of coffee. It is produced by pushing hot, pressurized water through finely ground, tightly packed coffee beans. What you get is a very full-flavored, strong, small shot of dark coffee. Its high concentration means it’s not for the faint-hearted. Just a one-ounce espresso shot contains 64mg of coffee, much more than a black coffee which is only 12.5mg per ounce.
You will find it served in tiny cups, no more than a good mouthful, and the basis of many other popular coffees including the Americano (a dilute espresso). To make an espresso coffee, approximately six to eight grams of finely ground coffee are required.
How to Make the Perfect Espresso
The Many Espresso Based Coffee Drinks
Starting with a single shot of espresso, you can make the following drinks by adding more or less water, dairy products, and other ingredients. We take a look at the full range and what they contain.
- Doppio
- Ristretto
- Cappuccino
- Caffé Latte
- Piccolo Latte
- Flat White
- Mocha
- Espresso Macchiato
- Latte Macchiato
- Americano
- Lungo
- Cortado
- Red Eye
- Black Eye
- Dripped Eye
- Lazy Eye
- Affogato
- Espresso Con Panna
- Galao
The Various Espresso Drinks Explained
Now that you know the various espresso-based drinks, let’s take a look at what is in them and discover a little more about them.
What is a Doppio?
The word doppio is Italian for double and refers to a drink compiled of two espresso shots. It’s that simple – one not enough to give you that morning kick? Order a Doppio. Containing the same concentration of coffee and water per shot, it’s the same as an espresso, there is just more of it. To order a single espresso shot simply ask for ‘un caffe’, for a double, ask for a doppio.
What is a Ristretto?
For an in depth overview of this Italian drink, we have written a rather long article which can be found here. But, if you don’t have time to read that with your morning coffee, we will give you the short version. A Ristretto is a “narrow coffee” – a short shot of concentrated coffee. Using the same amount of coffee as an espresso, the difference is the amount of water. It is made with half the water of an espresso and a finer grind. It is made using a of 1:1 – 1:2 of coffee to water. The literal Italian translation is a “narrow coffee”.
What is a Cappuccino?
Take one shot of espresso, steamed milk, and foam in equal parts, mix them together and you have a cappuccino. Of course, there is an art to it, one which is normally performed by a trained barista. This drink came to Europe and America in the 80s and gets its name from the colouring which is similar to that of the Capuchin Friar robes.
What is a Caffe Latte?
Not dissimilar to the cappuccino, a caffe latte, or latte as it is often referred to is 2 shots of espresso which equates to one-third of the drink, 2/3 steamed milk with a cm of foam on the top. Unlike the Cappuccino, this drink originates in America. Be careful though – ordering a latte in Italy will simply get you a coffee with milk. A latte is often served in a tall glass as opposed to a cup or a mug.
What is a Piccolo Latte?
A piccolo latte is a shot of ristretto served in a glass and then topped up with steamed milk. This version of a latte originates from Australia with both Melbourne and Sydney laying claim to the drink. The drink came to pass as baristas wanted to test their coffee roasts when mixed with milk without having to create a full sized latte. It is created by pouring the ristretto into a demitasse glass, and then adding 80 mls of steamed milk, poured at height from an angle to ensure the coffee and milk mix well.
What is a Flat White?
We could start this by asking what the difference is between a flat white and latte. It is made using a smaller amount of steamed milk than a latte and a thin layer of foam. It is the drink for those that like to enjoy the strong flavour of an espresso but that aren’t ready to make the switch to a coffee without milk.
What is a Mocha?
For those with a sweeter tooth that like their coffee with a hint of chocolate a mochaccino (mocha for short), is a version of a latte. Shot of espresso, chocolate powder or syrup, then mil or cream. The likeness to a latte comes from the fact that it is 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk with the addition of chocolate flavouring. The chocolate can either be dark or milk, depending on personal preference.
What is an Espresso Macchiato?
Also known a caffé macchiato, and espresso macchiato is either a single or double espresso topped with a small amount of foam. The word macchiato literally translates to marked, stained or spotted therefore a macchiato is an espresso stained or marked by foam. Many Italians will drink a cappuccino in the morning followed by a macchiato to kick start the afternoon. To create the ideal macchiato, you will need a 2:1 ratio of espresso to milk.
What is a Latte Macchiato?
A Latte Macchiato is a layered drink consisting of a shot of espresso , a lot of steamed milk and foamed milk on the top. It is served in a tall glass as opposed to a small espresso cup.
What is a Galão?
A version of espresso from Portugal, the Galão is a shot of espresso combined with foamed milk, Ratio wise it’s ¼ espresso and ¾ foamed milk.
What is an Americano?
Moving away from the milky coffees, an Americano is an espresso topped up with water. It is an extremely popular coffee served across the world to those who like their coffee longer and a little less punchy. It is said to have originated in Italy during the war when American soldiers preferred their coffee less strong than a straight espresso. In truth, Italians aren’t fans of the Americano – they prefer their coffee straight up as an espresso and in fact, call an Americano ‘dirty water’.
What is a Lungo?
It may come as no surprise that the word Lungo is Italian for long therefore a Lungo literally means a long espresso. It is a long shot espresso made with twice the amount of water as a normal espresso. Generally, it contains about 20g or coffee and 3-4 oz of water. Made using the same method as an espresso, the extraction process is longer with the grind being slightly coarser than an espresso.
What is a Cortado?
Take one shot of espresso and an equal measure of steamed milk and you have yourself a cortado. For those who find a neat espresso a little to acidic, it’s just the right amount of milk to remove the bitterness without making it too milky. The word cortado comes from the Spanish verb cortar which means to cut. The cut applies to the milk cutting through the espresso. Originating in the Basque region of Spain, the drink quickly gathered popularity and now can be found served in coffee shops around the world. In fact, it’s due to the different countries finding their own versions of the different types of coffee, that the list has grown so much.
OK – are you with us so far? Well, now you are going to have to concentrate a little as this next batch of coffees can become quite easily confused. For example, if you order a Dead Eye instead of a Red Eye coffee, you are going to regret it! You may be awake with the caffeine jitters for much longer than you were prepared for.
What is a Red Eye Coffee?
The different types of coffee go on…. When you think about it, It’s possibly the most widely consumed beverage in the world so stands to reason that so many different variations have evolved over the years. And so we come to the Red Eye. Simply put, a Red Eye is a brewed coffee with a shot of espresso on top so if you like coffee with your coffee then you will like this. The name originates from America when the drink was named after the Red Eye overnight flight. If you needed a drink to keep you awake through the night, this was it. It is also referred to as a Shot in the Dark or a Black Hole.
What is a Black Eye Coffee?
Similar to the Red Eye, the Black Eye is 2 shots of espresso poured over a brewed coffee. Some suggest that the name is derived from being compared to a punch in the face – it’s a coffee with a punch. Perhaps it’s a play on the Red Eye which uses one shot of espresso instead? One thing is for sure, it certainly packs a punch and is the ultimate wake me up!
What is a Dripped Eye?
A Dripped Eye coffee is also known as a Dead Eye coffee. Here is the theme…. Red Eye – 1 shot, Black Eye – 2 shots and Dead/Dripped Eye – 3 shots. It’s the strongest coffee you will find on our list of the different types of coffee.
What is a Lazy Eye?
Confused yet? Simply put, it’s the same as a red or black eye in that it uses one or two shots of espresso but this time the brewed coffee is decaffeinated. We’re a bit confused by this concept but hey – someone came up with it.
And for dessert? These next espresso based drinks in our list of different types of coffee is more dessert like and would be enjoyed as a sweet pick me up or an after dinner treat.
What is an Affogato?
If you Google the word affogato, it translates to ‘drowned’. It’s a dessert as opposed to a drink and refers to gelato or icecream being literally drowned in espresso. Originating in Italy, its incredibly easy to prepare if you can make an espresso.
What is an Espresso Con Panna?
Translated to coffee with cream, an espresso con panna is an espresso topped with cream. The thick dollop of whipped cream gives it that dessert theme and makes it the perfect post dinner treat.
There are many different types of coffee that we could probably go on and perhaps we will add more in the future but for now, we think that’s more than enough to meet pretty much everyone’s taste. Let’s be fair – there are no right and wrongs when it comes to the type of coffee that you prefer. If there were, there wouldn’t be so many variations available. From a single shot of espresso to a shot of coffee topped up in a tall glass with steamed milk, there is something for everyone. You may discover that over time you tastes change and that you prefer a less sweet, stronger coffee than you previously liked. However you enjoy your coffee, the key is that you enjoy it.
