Coffee can be daunting, considering all of the different types of beans and drinks available. But it doesn’t have to be! All it takes is a little time and minimal effort (promise!) to arm yourself with some above-average coffee knowledge. One read through this unpretentious guide to coffee, and you’ll be ready to confidently walk into any grocery store or coffee shop to get your fix—whether it’s a bag of Arabica whole beans or a cortado to go. Oh, and we have some recs for the best coffee beans to grind then brew at home and best coffee makers should you need a place to start for home brews.
Types of Coffee Beans
There are two main types of coffee beans that you need to know: Arabica and Robusta. Those are the ones you typically find in grocery stores. The names come from the species of coffee trees the beans grow on. Let’s dig into the distinctions, shall we?
Arabica
Arabica is the most popular by far, and it’s no wonder—the coffee boasts a mild, sweet taste. It has a lower caffeine content compared to Robusta, and you can easily drink it black or fashion it into any coffee drink you want. It also makes up most of the world’s coffee production, even though it’s fairly complex to produce because of its specific growing conditions. Most coffee that’s considered specialty is Arabica.
Robusta
Robusta is the second-most mass-produced coffee. It has much more caffeine than Arabica, but the trade-off is in the taste. It’s often bitter and has fewer lipids and sugars than Arabica beans, meaning it’s not as high-quality. Since it’s cheaper and easier to produce, it’s also cheaper for you to buy. You’ll often find it in espresso or instant coffee blends.
Types of Hot Coffee Drinks
So many types of coffee drinks exist, not to mention all of the variations and additives you can put in them. Unless you’re on a mission to try every type of coffee drink possible, which would probably take extreme dedication over…decades, knowing the most popular coffee drinks is a good place to start. From an americano to a ristretto, take note of these common coffee drinks.
Black
Black coffee is as basic as it gets! It’s ground coffee beans steeped in hot water and served right after it’s brewed without putting any milk, creamer, or other add-ins into it.
Americano
An Americano is made by diluting espresso with hot water, meaning it’s similar in strength but different in flavor from traditionally brewed coffee. The taste depends on how many espresso shots are used and the amount of water that’s added.
Espresso
Typically served as a shot or used as the foundation to most coffee drinks, espresso is a thick, concentrated version of coffee. To get that caffeine-packed shot, espresso machines pressurize and shoot near-boiling water through finely-ground beans.
Doppio
You may be drinking this and not even know! A doppio is simply a double shot of espresso.
Latte
A latte is made with espresso, steamed milk, and only a bit of foam on top. It’s one of the most popular coffee drinks. You can get it plain or with a flavor shot, and ideally if you’re ordering at a coffee shop (or can do it yourself), it’ll feature cool latte art on top!
Cappuccino
At its core, a cappuccino is made of espresso with more foam than steamed milk. Some variations even use cream instead of milk, and it’s often served with a dusting of cinnamon or cocoa powder on top.
Cortado
This smaller coffee drink is roughly made of half espresso and half steamed milk. This reduces the acidity of the espresso. And while the milk is steamed, it’s not super frothy like other drinks can be.
Macchiato
Similar to a cappuccino, a macchiato contains espresso but with a smaller amount of steamed milk—meaning it’s stronger. Fun fact: Macchiato means “stained” or “spotted” in Italian.
Flat White
Originated in Australia (or New Zealand, depending on who you ask), a flat white is made with espresso and a small amount of steamed milk with a thin layer of microfoam on top. It’s comparable to a latte, but it’s smaller and has more coffee in it.
Galão
This Portugual-born drink is served in a tall glass and contains roughly one quarter espresso and three quarters of foamed milk.
Ristretto
For a super-concentrated drink, go for a ristretto. It’s espresso made with the same amount of coffee a normal shot contains but half the amount of water. It’s also called a "short shot."
Lungo
Lungo is the opposite of a ristretto. It’s a long shot of espresso, meaning more water is used and it has a more bitter taste than a typical shot or ristretto.
Cafe au Lait
This drink is made by pouring hot milk instead of cold milk into strongly brewed coffee (not espresso!). It usually contains equal parts of both.
Affogato
Affogato is the perfect treat for those who are both coffee and dessert lovers. It’s a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream doused in a shot of hot espresso.
Irish Coffee
Don’t be fooled by the name; Irish coffee is actually a coffee-based cocktail. It consists of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sometimes sugar that’s stirred and topped with cream.
Types of Iced Coffee Drinks
Yes, you can get a few of the aforementioned hot coffee drinks iced, like a latte. But let’s go over a few of the basic ones that start hot and some that are meant to be cold from the very start.
Iced Coffee
Coming in at the most basic, this drink is regularly brewed hot coffee poured over ice. You can drink it black or add milk, cream, or sugar.
Iced Espresso
Iced espresso is similar to iced coffee, but it starts with freshly brewed espresso that you pour over ice. Add a splash of milk, cream, or sweetener if you so desire!
Cold Brew
As its name suggests, cold brew is, well, brewed cold. It’s made by steeping coffee in cold water for a long period of time—typically around 12 to 24 hours. Drink it straight or add cold milk or cream.
Nitro Cold Brew
Served from a tap, this drink is made of cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas through a pressurized valve. The drink has a velvet-like texture and a frothy layer on top, but it doesn’t contain any dairy or sugar.
Frappuccino
This Starbucks-trademarked beverage consists of coffee or a cream base that’s blended with ice and often flavored syrups. It’s usually topped with whipped cream and spices.
