Your Ultimate Guide to Different Types of Coffee

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Your Ultimate Guide to Different Types of Coffee

I bet you won’t have a good morning without having a fresh cup of coffee. However, it would be hard to find a variety of espresso-based drinks. Out of so many choices which one would you choose?

The basic types of coffee are Cappuccino, Espresso, Americano,  Latte,  Macchiato, Mocha, Flat White,  Affogato, Iced Coffee and  Irish Coffee.

Arabica coffee is a form of coffee beans that originates in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia. This makes up about 60% of coffee production in the world. The plant is an evergreen shrub known as Genus Coffea. It is a part of the botanical family “Rubiaceae. “

Robustas coffee comes from Central and Western Saharan Africa and makes up to 40% or more of the worldwide coffee production. Called as “conilon,” it is classified as a flowering plant species in the Rubiaceae family. It is widely known as Coffea Robusta.

Are you a coffee lover and want to try the different types of coffee? Here’s our complete guide to the types of coffee.

Cafe Americano

The coffee originated during the second world war. When the American troops were posted in Italy, they were not familiar with the strong taste of espresso that was available in Europe. Hence they diluted it with hot water to get a similar taste. However, due to rationing the extremely hot water would make the beverages last longer.

By the end of the second world war Americano became one of the most popular and staple non-milk coffee in the world.

Cafe Latte

This coffee emerged during the mid-1850s. The word “latte” refers to milk in English. This coffee is commonly found in coffee shops and with the extensive spread of cafes, this coffee is now available everywhere.

If you happen to be in Italy and ask for latte, you will get a glass of milk.

This coffee is quite frothy. It contains a single shot of coffee steamed milk. If you hate the bitterness of regular coffee the foamed milk hides it very well.

This coffee was traditionally known as “café au lait”  in Europe and Scandinavia which means a combination of espresso and milk.

Cappuccino

This is probably the most loved coffee around the world. It was first stated as ‘Kapuziner’ in Viennese coffee houses in the 1700s. This coffee is described as a coffee with sugar and cream.

Capuchin friars were the Franciscan orders of monks that wore brown color robes. They were well known for how they wore hoods that hang down at their back. Cappuccino refers to the hood that refers to the capuchin monks of that era.

The machines that made cappuccino were invented in Italy.it was first patented by Luigi Bezzera in 1901.

Cappuccino is of two types wet (less froth) and dry cappuccino (more froth). A typical cappuccino is made using hot water, a shot of espresso and frothed milk. The United Kingdom orders cappuccino in 10 – 12oz.

Espresso

This is the earliest record of a coffee beverage. It consisted of a near to boiling water pressurized to ground coffee beans.  It was made by Angelo Moriondo” from Turin with his patented instantaneous team-driven coffee machine back in 1884. Espresso shots are very popular in Europe.

The actual invention of the Gaggia machine was in the 1950s and gained popularity from Italy to the UK. For the best taste, the fine ground coffee beans are ground for  usually 30-35 seconds in a blade grinder. Generally, no milk or extras are added to an authentic espresso. This is known as “short black.”

Flat White

Flat white is very popular in New Zealand and Australia. Both the countries attempted to claim it during the 1970s-1980s. By the 1950s this coffee became mainstream in Europe as it was served by many coffee shops.

Flat white is made using a micro foamed milk to create an almost transparent layer for the milk to pass through it. The major difference between a flat white and a regular latte is the addition of milk for a smoother consistency. This is considered a wet cappuccino.

It is commonly served in a 160ml cup rather than a standard 240ml latte cup.

Macchiato (Piccolo Latte)

This coffee is often considered as a halfway between a cafe latte and straight espresso. If a straight espresso is too dark for you and if you find a cappuccino too weak and milky, this is the right coffee for you. It is a mixture of foamed milk in an espresso shot. This is best for people who love a bit of sweetness in their morning coffee.

Two main differences in macchiatos

Espresso macchiato- It is a shot of espresso with a small amount of milk. It is commonly referred to as “spotted” or “strained.”

Latte macchiato- this type of macchiato is for someone who enjoys a creamier drink.  It is a steamed milk “marked” with espresso.

Mocha

The term mocha is derived from the coffee beans that became very popular in Europe. They are named after the port in Mocha aka Al Mokha in Yemeni. In the 16th century, Venice and Turin had the earliest coffee shop called Bavareisa, where people described these beans with a distinct chocolate taste.

The widespread availability of coffee beans and the introduction of chocolate in Europe made sense to mix the two. In short, a mocha is a coffee-based drink with chocolate flavor. This includes cocoa powder or hot chocolate.

For making this coffee you will need an exceptional coffee machine, in which you can prepare it.

Irish cream

It is believed that Irish coffee was created by a man named Joe Sheridan. He used to make drinks for tired, cold, and weary passengers that landed in Ireland due to bad weather. This Irish drink was introduced by Stanton Delaplane, a travel writer from San Francisco.

Since then, a dozen of Irish coffee variations have been created. The original version is made from Irish whiskey and fresh coffee topped with thick cream. It is great for evening relaxation.

Iced coffee

This coffee was accidentally discovered by a Nestle representative during a coffee break when he could not find hot water. Hence he clubbed cold water, instant coffee, and milk in a shaker. This gave rise to cold coffee. Nestle quickly launched it and became successful in the Island of Crete and Greece.

Affogato

It is a mixture of gelato and coffee and is described as a coffee-based dessert. Depending on the country you live, some consider it as a dessert or a beverage.  Affogato is an Italian word that means drowned.

It also includes other varieties like the pistachio gelato that include amaretto and sliced almonds. In some places, this may include liquor served with either vanilla or gelato and topped with an espresso shot.

Final thoughts

Whether you are a first timer or a coffee addict, the above listed different types of coffee will surely start your gloomy day on a bright side.