All coffee types at a glance

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October 10, 2022

All coffee types at a glance

While your great-grandfather could choose from a coffee with/or without sugar and milk, today you can choose from a wide range of coffee drinks: from macchiato to an affogato. In this article we give an overview of the most well-known coffee types. Read along and be surprised!

Note: in this article we give a list of the coffee drinks that you see on the menu in most coffee bars. Don't worry, we're not going to talk about frappuccinos and all that junk. In this article we will only discuss real coffee.

The espresso drinks

An espresso drink is created by pressing hot water under high pressure through finely ground and pressed coffee. The espresso is drunk as a shot, but also forms the basis for other espresso drinks, such as americano, cappuccino, macchiato, flat white and so on.

Espresso shot

Of course the espresso, invented in the year 1900, comes from Italy; the country known for its deeply rooted coffee culture. An espresso contains an average of 77 grams of caffeine, and consists of a combination of 7 to 9 grams of ground coffee and 30 ML of hot water. Some coffee drinkers think there's more caffeine in an espresso than an americano, but that's not the case. An espresso has a much stronger taste, because the ratio between coffee and water is distributed differently. 

Ristretto

The smaller brother of the Espresso shot, and intended for coffee drinkers who want to taste the coffee 'really good'. It consists of 25 ML of water and the same amount of coffee as a normal espresso.

Double espresso

A double espresso, also called a doppio, is for the real diehard coffee drinkers. Two shots of espresso in one; a total of 60 ML of water and coffee. With the double espresso you can be sure that you get the most out of the day!

Americano

The americano, also known as the Lungo or Long Black, is an espresso shot + extra water (amount of water may vary). The coffee will have a less strong taste and you can enjoy it longer. 

Espresso Macchiato

An espresso shot with a cloud of milk foam. With this coffee variant, you continue to have the strong taste of coffee, and at the same time you taste a fresh and soft taste of the milk. Perfect for people who can't choose between an espresso and a latte coffee :)!

The latte coffee drinks

Coffee and milk go well together. It is not for nothing that the coffee drinks cappuccino, Café latte and Flat White are so popular. The world that hides behind these drinks is also known as Latte Art. At Latte Art, the artist (the barista in this case) applies special techniques to the frothed milk and combines it with an espresso shot. The basis of the latte coffees therefore consists of an espresso and milk.

Cappuccino

The Italians only drink their cappuccino at breakfast, but we prefer to drink our cappuccino all day long. The cappuccino consists of a shot of espresso, steamed milk and milk foam. Some people like to drink their cappuccino with cocoa powder or cinnamon, but for most coffee connoisseurs this is not done. This is because otherwise the milk foam would not remain intact.

Read more about how to make a cappuccino yourself.

caffè latte

The caffè latte is very similar to the cappuccino. The difference lies in the foam layer, which a caffè latte hardly has. In a cappuccino, the distribution of espresso, steamed milk and milk foam consists of equal layers, while a caffè latte consists mainly of steamed milk. At some coffee bars, the caffè latte is served in a taller glass/mug.

Flat White

The origin of the Flat White is in New Zealand, also a country where the love for coffee is great. This coffee variety is relatively new and we see it appearing more and more in the menus of coffee bars. The flat white consists of a double espresso, warm milk (not boiled) and a thin layer of milk foam. The difference with the cappuccino and the cafè latte therefore lies in the ratio between coffee, milk and foam. The Flat White has a stronger coffee flavour, is smaller and is finished with a more refined milk flavour. 

The ice coffee drinks

In the summer months, the appetite for hot drinks may decrease slightly. In this case you can opt for an Ice Coffee. With this ice Coffee you fulfill the need for something fresh without giving up your daily dose of caffeine. The ice Coffee can be made with different coffee brewing methods, such as espresso, brewed methods or, for example, the french press. There are so many variants of ice coffee, so we can't discuss them all.

affogato

Perhaps this variant belongs under the heading 'espresso drinks', but we think an affogato also fits in the list of ice coffees. The affogato consists of an espresso shot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. In our opinion, this coffee variety is best served on a warm summer day or after an extensive evening meal.

Ice Coffee

One or more espresso shots or a certain amount of brewed coffee combined with ice cubes. The ice coffee is prepared with warm water and later ice cubes are added. A good barista only adds a few ice cubes, otherwise the coffee will quickly become too watery. The ice Coffee can be drunk with a straw!

Ices cappuccino

An ice cappuccino is really nothing more than a cappuccino with ice cubes. One barista chooses to keep the composition of a cappuccino intact: coffee, milk and a foam layer of milk. While other baristas toss the cappuccino with ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. The latter method produces a foamy, more refined and soft substance. The ice cappuccino can also be drunk with a straw!

The coffee drinks with alcohol

Coffee and alcohol (in moderation) go well together. Of course there are many different varieties of coffee combined with alcohol available, but we will only discuss the best known with you: Irish coffee, Italian coffee, Baileys coffee and the newcomer espresso Martini.

Irish Coffee

The Irish coffee is perhaps the most famous coffee with alcohol. This variant indeed comes from Ireland and consists of strong hot coffee (espresso or brewed), brown sugar, Irish wishkey and sweetened cream. An Irish coffee is mainly drunk in the cold winter months or on a Friday afternoon to start the weekend.

Italian Coffee

It wouldn't surprise us if the creators of espresso and cappuccino were also the first to think that it would be nice to combine coffee and alcohol. The Italian coffee is very similar to the Irish coffee. The big difference is that the Italian coffee contains amaretto instead of wishkey and that no sugar is added. The liqueur amaretto has already been sweetened.

Baileys coffee

The Irish coffee, but with baileys instead of Wishkey. With the baileys coffee you can taste a sweet, creamy, vanilla and caramel-like taste. Delicious to eat right after dinner or during the cold winter months.

Espresso Martini

The espresso Martini has been around since 1980 and is therefore no newcomer. Yet we see the Espresso Martini becoming more popular and that is why we have included this variant in the list. Actually, the espresso martini is a cocktail, consisting of vodka, coffee liquor, ice cubes and an espresso shot. The espresso martini has a full and creamy taste that is finished with a sweet aftertaste. With the choice for an Espresso Martini you are guaranteed to have a pleasant evening!

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