As they say there is every story in every cup of coffee. But there is also uniqueness in preparing every cup of coffee. Coffee differs not just on the strain of coffee bean harvested during production; it also varies on how it is made. The origins of coffee might not be clear, as it is only believed to be discovered by a farmer centuries ago in Ethiopia. But its distinctive flavor, and the additional energy-giving benefit it gives, gained popularity around the world.
With the creativity of humans when it comes to exploring what our taste buds can recognize, several people have developed different types of drinks using the blend that coffee beans can provide. Because of this, the coffee drink will never be the same anymore, particularly if you explore different parts of the world. Also, with the introduction of a wide variety of machines that can prepare coffee in various ways, the variety of coffee drinks that can be made are almost near-limitless.
That’s why this article is dedicate for those who want to know what else they can make with coffee as a drink, aside from the ones that they know. You might see some that you already tried on the list below, but for sure not all of them are familiar to your memory, eyes or even taste. For you to broaden your knowledge when it comes to coffee, especially when looking for a new type of coffee drink to enjoy, then check out the different types of coffee below, and how each differ from each other.
Note that this is not just all about the flavor of the coffee drink being explained in this article, but also its origins to make things more interesting. Without further ado, here are the following:
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is very popular in Italy ever since it was discovered, and has gained a worldwide reputation. You can see it in cafes, some restaurants, and even in instant coffee. Cappuccino is a type of espresso-based coffee. The coffee came from a drink that originated in Austria named Kapunizer.
Kapunizer had a known history where it originated after the dark colored robes in Austria that are worn by Kapuzin friars around the 1700s The original drink was made with coffee, sugar, milk and whipped cream. In the 1900s, Italians were able to get a hold of the Kapunizer recipe, and decided to improve it in their own way, knowing that the country is popular for their coffee.
Ever since that time, Italy’s favorite coffee became Cappuccino, which is oftentimes the coffee of most people there when taking their breakfast. Since it is espress-based, a few sips of this coffee will surely give you a decent dose of energy to start your day. Ever since that time, particularly when other countries discovered it, various versions were created. For example, the Cappuccino in the US is made with a 1:1:1 ratio of espresso coffee, then mixed with steamed milk, and then topped with foamed milk rather than whipped cream.
It is also notable for its layer of coffee, milk and foamed milk when an expert barista makes it. Due to its blend being composed of espresso, Cappuccino is known to be notably stronger than other coffee that has milk in it.
Cortado
Cordado is a type of espresso-based coffee that originated from Spain, in the Basque county. The name came from the Spanish word “cortar”, which means “to cut”. The reason for this is because cortado is meant “to cut” the high acid content present in espresso by adding the right amount of milk to completely reduce the acid.
As a result, the espresso and milk are added equally in order to brew the Cortado. The milk used in Cortado is steamed milk, but does not use foamed milk like Cappuccino. Thus, there is no layer present when adding the steamed milk onto the coffee. Cortado has a very balanced flavor of coffee and creamy milk. But despite the fact that the milk and coffee are “equally” distributed, only a little amount of milk is needed in order to provide a balanced flavor and to eliminate the acidity of espresso.
Cafe Latte
Also simply called as Latte. Cafe Latte is a type of coffee that uses milk as well. Though it is said that Latte is popular in Italy, and was originated there, Italians were never meant to have this on their specialty. Cafe Latte was simply invented by American tourists way back late-1900s in Italy, where the tourist noted the very strong flavor of the Cappuccino. As a result, the American tourists added more milk onto their Cappuccino, which caused the drink to be milky but still retained the flavor of the espresso-based Cappuccino.
Latte is known to be less intense and is more on the milkier side of flavor, rather than having that strong coffee flavor. There are times where foamed milk is added on the top of the cup, but only at very small amounts just to form a thin layer. The weak taste of coffee is known to be the reason why Cafe Latte is very popular, particularly to those who prefer their coffee to taste mild.
Red Eye
It might not be red, and it does not make any part of your body red, but the color of this coffee contributed to the fact that it was named so, even when it is not actually red but yellow in nature. Red Eye was named after red-eye flights when travelling from country-to-country, resulting in travelers having red eyes when tired. Due to this, red eye coffee was served to these travelers to give them a good dose of energy after a tiring flight.
Red Eye is known to be a very strong type of coffee simply because more coffee is added onto the cup. The mixture for red eye is simply drip coffee, added with a shot of espresso at the top for more intensity. If the drip coffee tastes sweet, the strength of the espresso shot balances well with its sweetness. Otherwise, it is very bitter and acidic with a full body once tasted.
Red Eye was also known to be a secret menu at some of the most famous coffee shops around the world, but can easily be purchased almost at any part of the world. Another known variant, called black eye, also exists. Black eye is known to be way stronger than Red Eye, as two espresso shots are added onto the mixture.
Mocha
Mocha was known back then as a type of coffee bean found in Yemen, but has no related taste of the mocha blend that was invented. Nowadays, mocha is popularly known for the type of coffee flavor. The mocha drink originated from a type of drink named bicerin. Bicerin is a popular coffee drink way back 18-century in Italy, and was named after a cafe there called “Cafe al Bicerin”. The cafe is known to serve coffee mixed with chocolate, which is why the name of coffee was named after the place where it is popularly served.
Eventually, the name was called mocha in various parts of the world, while still retaining the classic recipe for making the original Bicerin cup. Oftentimes, mocha is made by mixing coffee, cream and chocolate. Take note that any type of chocolate can be used, just to make sure that the coffee has a hint of chocolate once tasted. Some would prefer chocolate syrup or powder, and others would prefer milk, white or dark chocolate. That’s why some flavors of mocha cups come in “white” and “dark” mocha because of the type of chocolate used on the mixture.
Raf
Raf is a known coffee in Russia, where it originated back in the mid-1990s. Raf was named after its founder, Rafael Timerbaev, when he went to a cafe to buy a cup of coffee that has milk added onto it. His request was granted specially, with the barista adding a special type of cream, espresso, and two tablespoons of sugar to balance the coffee and cream further. Because of Rafael’s request, the cafe started to add Raf onto their menu as a dedication to the person who preferred this type of coffee, which also gained popularlty.
The Raf coffee was eventually refined throughout the years that passed by. Some would add vanilla sugar along with sugar to make the creamy taste more dominant. The more refined and modern version of Raf is made by mixing all ingredients and steaming them before serving, rather than serving it in layers. It is a very sweet type of coffee with a silky appearance and a very creamy texture. Though rare in countries outside Russia, Raf can be made at home with very affordable ingredients.
Macchiato
Macchiato is a type of espresso-based coffee that has a stronger coffee flavor onto it. While some would say that cappuccino is perfect in the morning, Macchiato is its stronger counterpart that’s perfect for those who need a dose of energy in the afternoon, or when pulling up an all-nighter at work.
The name Macchiato originated from Italy, where the drink was discovered. The word means “stained”, since a small amount of milk is added just to “stain” the coffee with a bit of white milk, unlike Cappuccino which requires an equal distribution of milk. As a result of this mixture, Macchiato is known to have a hint of milk only, with a very strong espresso flavor. Oftentimes, a cup of macchiato only needs one tablespoon of foamed milk with a shot of espresso. Also, this is served on an espresso cup due to its strong flavor.
Nowadays, there are variants of macchiato such as latte macchiato and caramel macchiato.
Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew coffee is simply coffee that’s made with the traditional method of coffee preparation, whether it is made with a drip or espresso maker. However, the method required cold water to be used for steeping to make it cold, hence the name. It should be noted that making coffee always required the blend to be hot at all times so then all the ingredients will incorporate onto the mixture.
The cold brew coffee was invented way back in the 1600s in Japan, when the people there decided to steep tea over cold water as an experiment. However, cold brew became more popular as a coffee ever since the Dutch arrived in Japan to make way to make the drink without the need to use fire. The most well-known method of making cold brew coffee is by steeping the coffee onto cold water for almost half a day. Due to the extended period of time, the ingredients will seep onto the water despite the lack of high temperature, still forming the coffee that we all love the most.
But a more modern approach to the mixture was made, where hot coffee is still made and is then added onto a glass with ice to make the drink cold.
Espresso con Panna
Espresso con Panna is more of a dessert than a drink, but some would say it is a drink than a dessert. This sweet drink is a classic that some coffee lovers prefer after mealtime. This is guaranteed to be a good energy booster to keep you working for the afternoon, as it is preferred to be taken during lunchtime.
Espresso con Panna is sugar and caffeine combined, and it tastes so great. It is made with a shot of espresso, and whipped cream is swirled on its top. Some would use vanilla ice cream, or would add toppings such as chocolate syrup or sprinkles. The history of this drink-dessert is kind of vague, as some said that it originated in Italy, whereas others would say it came from Turkey – another notable country for its superb coffee. In fact, those who said it originated from Turkey said that it is served on the traditional demitasse cup that’s often used for the Turkish coffee.
Cafe Cubano
Cafe Cubano might slighty look like an espresso, but is actually made out of java coffee. Cafe cubano is oftentimes considered as an alternative version of espresso because of its strength in terms of flavor and its kick. But unlike an espresso, which is made with an espresso maker, cubano is brewed through a cafetera moka, which is quite similar to an espresso but is used on a stovetop.
The so-called “crema” that comes out of espresso is also present in the cubano, which is called espuma. Sugar is often added to a cup of cubano for those who do not prefer their coffee to be too bitter. In countries where this is common, such as Cuba where it originated, demerara sugar is often added in order to make the coffee thicker and somewhat syrupy in appearance. This is often served the same size as an espresso shot because of its strength. Cubans and those who live in neighboring countries would often eat a toasted bread when drinking a cubano.
Cortadito
Cortadito is known to be an alternative to be cubano coffee, which also exists in countries where cubano is often served. Think of it as somewhat of a “latte” version of the cubano, as steamed milk is added on top of the cubano after its preparation. This Cuban coffee also has other versions, as some would only add a tablespoon or two of milk.
Espresso Romano
Espresso romano is one of those unique coffee due to its taste that differs from most coffee brews, which are often sweet or creamy. Espresso Romano has a very vague history, and is not believed to have originated from Rome. Some claim that it originated on other areas near Rome, in France, and even in the United States. But one thing’s for sure is that it was discovered around the early-20th century when Italy was reported to be suffering from a shortage of coffee. The two World Wars that occurred are known to have caused this shortage, as strict importation rules were implemented that time.
Since low quality instant coffee was the craze during that time, as it is used to supply soldiers who are going to war, lemon was added to the coffee in order to at least improve the quality of the instant coffee flavor, which was noted to be horrible to most consumers at that time. So, imagine how instant coffee improved over the years.
Nowadays, espresso romano is often termed to any type of coffee that’s mixed with lemon. Whether it is iced or hot, as long as it has lemon, you may call it espresso romano. Some would also add sugar aside from lemon in order to give the coffee a hint of lemonade. Take note that those who are concerned with acidity might not prefer this, especially if the espresso used has a high acid content already, since lemon is strongly acidic.
Espresso romano is also one of those coffee brews that are well-known for improving your health. Since caffeine is known to be a good headache reliever to some people, lemons can also help grearly with digestion, making it a good coffee for the sake of improving your wellness, and to cure hangover (as what others would say about the espresso romano).
Nitro
Compared to most of the coffee brews mentioned above, Nitro came out at a more modern age, around the third coffee wave. After all, Nitro will never be possible at the time of the first or second wave of coffee, as the technology required to make Nitro is somewhat advanced. Nitro was inspired from the technique of making brewed beer at home during the 2010s, which resulted in a more successful concoction than the brewed beer.
Nitro is made with the help of nitrogen gas, which is infused to a cold coffee brew using a pressure valve. Since nitrogen gas is known to be odorless, tasteless and colorless, therefore not affecting anything on the coffee once turned into a Nitro. Another decent benefit of nitrogen is that it eliminates all oxygen present in the coffee, preventing it from spoiling while making the drink somewhat foamy because of the small bubbles present in the drink. It is also notable for its silky texture, which is all because of the nitrogen gas eliminating the oxygen as well.
Some experts who are knowledgeable with making Nitro would often make the Nitro swirl once served, and is often formed in layers of coffee with every usage of the pressure valve when preparing the Nitro. Nitro is also known to be very low in acid content, and is widely enjoyed in the United States since 2016.
Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is well-known around the world, as it is a part of the Turkish culture for several years already. In fact, Turkish coffee is known as an Intangible Cultural Heritage ever since 2013 due to its uniqueness in preparation, its background, and how Turkey values it a lot as part of their specialty. This is one of the things that you should try when you go to Turkey, especially if you’re a coffee lover because it is very hard to miss. After all, the way Turkish coffee is served can be seen many times in social media because of its uniqueness.
Turkish coffee is known to have existed ever since the Ottoman Empire, or could be way far than that timeline. A popular story of the coffee back in the Ottoman empire is that women would often master the art of preparing Turkish coffee as it is widely enjoyed in harems. Until now, Turkish coffee is still used when female fiancees would master the art of preparing Turkish coffee as the suitor visits their house in order to talk to the woman’s parents.
Also called as Turk Kahvesi, Turkish coffee is prepared without the use of fire or any type of machine compared to most coffee brews. Turkish coffee is prepared through the use of a very hot sand, where the coffee is placed on a cezve until it starts boiling towards the point of almost spilling out of the cezve. Once it boils, it is served straight onto a cup. When drinking Turkish coffee, Turkish delight is often served alongside it, along with water as the coffee has a very strong flavor.
Also, take note that since the Turkish coffee is prepared unfiltered, there is a high possibility for you to notice the coffee grounds, especially at the bottom of your cup, as you drink the coffee. Turkish people also say that the coffee grounds are known to be good fortune tellers, as the shape of the leftover grounds on the Turkish coffee can tell a lot of things about your fate in the future. Another traditional value of the Turkish coffee is its symbolism of hospitality and friendship, which is why it is mostly offered to tourists as it makes them feel welcome in the country as they travel.
Piccolo Latte
Piccolo stands for “small” in Italian, and is just the right name for this type of coffee. Piccolo latte was said to have originated in Austria, when baristas thought that lattes are too large in terms of its servings. As a result, they decided to make a miniature version of the latte, where the serving is small and is often sold at a cheaper price.
Piccolo latte is made with the use of a 2:1 ratio of milk and coffee, respectively. The steamed milk prepared on the piccolo latte often mixes very well during preparation. The standard measurement of a latte cup is at 8 ounces, while this variant is at 4 ounces only. But compared to the standard latte, the piccolo latte is known to have almost no foam at all. This drink has a milder coffee flavor, and is milkier and sweeter.
Long Black
The long black is just the same as the standard Americano brew, as what most people would say. In fact, some would often get confused between Long Black and Americano as it uses the same ingredients. All you need to do is to mix a shot of espress on a cup of hot water, and you will have the Long Black right away. The preparation time of the two types is what differs the two, since Americano is prepared the other way around.
However, the resulting chemistry between the espresso shot and coffee also results in a different result. Long black is known to produce more crema, which is the froth that forms at the top of an espresso brew. As a result, long black is known to be creamier and smoother once tasted. Most of the time, Long Black is served with less water than Americano. Due to the effects of mixing the espresso on hot water, it is highly recommended to use good coffee beans when preparing a Long Black for the best results.
Flat White
Flat White is often disputed in terms of its origin, since there are claims that it came from New Zealand or Australia. But regardless of the origin, flat white is served the same way throughout different parts of the world, and even in the most popular coffee shops.
Flat White is prepared as an espress-based coffee, and is made with steamed milk topped with a layer of foamed milk. It is almost the same as the latte in terms of its preparation and ingredients used, but is known to have a different measurement than flat white. It is almost the same as the Piccolo latte as it is served at a lesser volume than the latte, but not half the volume just like piccolo latte. The Flat White is more of a two-thirds of the latte in terms of serving size. It is highly notable that the creaminess and strength of latte and its variants depend on the volume, which is why there are different types of coffee brews that are similar to latte as they all use the same ingredients, with the same style of preparation.
Ca Phe Sua Da
Due to the name of the coffee, some would often think that it has Vietnamese origins. Ca Phe Sua Da was made during the 1850s when Vietnam was taken over by France as part of their colonization, with French people creating the name and how the coffee was made. When the French migrated to Vietnam, they found the place to be too humid to preserve dairy products, especially those that are necessary to make quality coffee. Gladly, Europe already created condensed milk at that time, and was gaining popularity at that time. As a result, the French would provide condensed milk in Vietnam, and was used as a good alternative to fresh milk.
Originally a replacement of mixing coffee and fresh milk, the mixture of coffee and condensed milk became an entirely different recipe over time, especially when fresh milk can be easily preserved thanks to refrigeration. The Ca Phe Sua Da is often served in a type of filter called phin. The coffee grounds are added onto the phin, and then poured with hot water to produce the coffee brew. The hot water is slowly poured onto the filter to make sure that the condensed milk at the cup mixes well with the hot coffee pouring onto the cup.
When preparing Ca Phe Sua Da, Arabica coffee beans are often used as the coffee grounds due to its superb flavor, compared to the more bitter Robusta coffee beans. However, there are times where Robusta can still be used as it creates a thicker version of the Cap Phe Sua Da. Gladly, condensed milk is sweet enough to balance the bitter taste of the Robusta coffee.
Frappe
Since it is well-known that the Frappuccino is one of the trademark mixtures of Starbucks, other cafes who learned how to make Frappes simply named the recipe as so. But regardless of the two terms, they are just one recipe. The term frappe is often used for the iced coffee beverages that are sold in cafes, with a lot of ice is used onto the mixture of coffee prepared by the cafe baristas.
The recipe originated way back in the 50s, when a representative of Nescafe had a sudden need for a decent dose of caffeine. But since there is no hot water, he used his instant coffee by mixing it with cold water and placed it on his tumbler. Since stirring cold water with instant coffee could be near-impossible if done at a short time, he shaked the tumbler instead. This unexpected method still caused the coffee to foam and mix well onto the cold water, creating the very first frappe.
Frappes are often served in places that have high temperatures, particularly at tropical countries, as the coldness of the preparation of frappe simply beats a hot weather. As a result, many restaurants in beaches around the world often have frappe on their menu. Frappes are often prepared as a simple coffee drink on a tall or large glass, but some would add whipped cream on top of it. Over time, various frappe flavors were invented, with some of the most famous coffee brews (including some of the brews listed above) prepared in the same fashion as the standard frappe.
Bulletproof
Tea is well-known to be good when fat is mixed on it, particularly in some countries that widely use tea as part of their snack or meal time. Because of this, some thought that coffee might taste good if mixed with a type of fat. Bulletproof originated when an American was travelling on a Tibetan mountain to learn Buddhist meditation from the pilgrims who live in the mountains.When he was learning meditation, a woman served him a very unusual type of coffee, as the brew was made with yak butter – a type of fat.
Whether it’s fat, butter or even lard, bulletproof can be made through the use of coffee and a type of fat mixed together to perfection. Since water used in coffee is very hot, fat will easily blend onto the cup. The bulletproof is an excellent coffee to drink in cold regions like mountainous areas, as the fat content and the hotness of the drink can heat up your body. It is also notable to have a very high calorie content, depending how much fat or butter was used.
Oftentimes, butter is the widely favored ingredient when making Bulletproof. It has an extremely creamy texture. Some would also resort to using ghee, a type of butter native in some Asian countries. But the original coffee uses two tablespoons of butter and a tablespoon (sometimes two) of butter or lard until the mixture becomes very creamy.
Affogato
The Affogato is also a well-known type of coffee. This is more of a dessert than a drink to most people, as it uses a very popular type of dessert that you might surely like as well. The Affogato is known to have originated in Italy, and is often consumer after lunchtime for some people who still have to have a decent dose of caffeine to continue their hard work for the day. Affogato means “drowned” in Italian.
As the name suggests, Affogato is made through the use of ice cream poured with espresso. Though the spresso did not completely drown the ice cream, you should consume the Affogato right after serving before the ice cream melts. But if it indeed melts all the way down to the espresso, you can still enjoy it as a form of a very creamy drink that’s still enjoyable.
Vanilla ice cream was the most popular type of ice cream mixed onto the espresso to make Affogato. However, some would prefer to add additional toppings on the ice cream after pouring the espresso. Some would like to add chocolate sprinkles, chocolate syrup, or eve caramel syrup. Others would prefer using a different ice cream flavor, with chocolate being the other popular ice cream flavor used to make Affogato.
Cafe Au Lait
Cafe Au Lait is another popular type of coffee, but originated in France and not Italy. Cafe Au Lait literally means coffee with milk in French, and is known to be a cheaper version of the latte, and it does not use espresso as well. Lattes are often made with espresso, around three ounces or less, but Cafe Au Lait is made with brewed coffee instead, with dark French roast being the best coffee that should be used for this recipe.
The Cafe Au Lait is often served at a French press for the best results, and is added with steamed milk. Some would prefer foamed milk or whipped cream diluted onto the coffee instead. But regardless of the type of milk used, the Cafe Au Lait is known for its silky texture. It is also known to be very smooth and very balanced, and is known for its mildness in terms of the coffee flavor – thanks to the milk incorporated onto the mixture.
Americano
It is the simplest type of coffee blend that you can ever make in this list, and is the most common coffee that can be seen in several cafes around the world. It started way back in World War 2, and was also called as the token drink of the soldiers in the United States.
The American soldiers who were stationed in Italy at that time found the espresso coffee to be too strong for them to take. As a result, they added hot water onto the espresso cup in order to make the blend that is very popular today as it has less strength than Espresso, which many people can withstand.
The feel of drinking Americano stars with drinking a strong coffee in the beginning, with the coffee getting weaker as you empty it. The reason why this happens is because the hot water has completely diluted the espresso upon preparation. There is also an iced Americano that exists nowadays, which is great during a very hot weather.
Take note that these are some of the many coffee typeos that you can enjoy making at home or if you want to order them in your favorite coffee shop near your area. All of these are world-class because of their rich history, the way they are made, and how they taste. Though some might be only common in the country where they originated, but their quality tells the reason why it can easily be found when you go look for a good type of coffee to enjoy on your free time.