But first things first: Four factors contribute to whatever ends up in your coffee cup, according to a Starbucks spokesperson: Proportion of coffee to water, which determines the strength of your brew; grind, or the size of coffee particles after beans are ground; water quality and temperature, since coffee can be up to 98% water; and coffee freshness, which oxygen, light, heat, and moisture can interfere with. You won’t have to worry about any of these drink factors when purchasing your caffeine fix. However, they explain why there are so many damn options when all you really need is a morning jolt. Here are 31 different types of coffee.
31 Types of Coffee
Affogato
Italian for “drowning,” affogato is an espresso shot that’s poured over a scoop of ice cream. The result is rich and creamy with a distinct espresso flavor.
Americano
Espresso mixed with hot water delivers about as much caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee with a bit more depth and nuance.
Brewed coffee
Also referred to as filtered, drip, pour-over, immersion brewed, or straight-up coffee, brewed coffee is made by combining coffee grounds with hot water then filtering the mixture.
Caffè Breve
Breve refers to half and half. Caffe breve is equal parts espresso and steamed and foamed half and half.
Cafe con leche
Equal parts espresso and hot milk.
Cappuccino
A shot of espresso topped with thick milk foam.
Cold Brew
Unlike iced coffee, cold brew is made by steeping coffee grinds in cold water for a number of hours. The end result is said to be smoother than brewed coffee that’s chilled and served over ice.
Cortado
Derived from the Spanish word “cortar” which means “to cut,” cortado begins with a double shot of espresso that is topped off with steamed milk to “cut” the espresso’s acidity.
Cortadito
This Cuban-style coffee is made from sweetened espresso and steamed milk.
Doppio
Two shots of espresso—a real eye-opener!
Dry cappuccino
A cappuccino with a little less steamed milk and a little more foam. (Bone dry is no steamed milk, all milk foam.)
Espresso
The foundation of many beverages such as the americano, latte, and cappuccino, espresso is a highly concentrated shot of coffee made in an espresso machine, which uses pressure to force hot water through finely-ground coffee.
Espresso Con Panna
Espresso with a dollop of whipped cream
Espresso macchiato
In Italian, macchiato means “stained” or “spotted.” This European-style drink is comprised of an espresso shot served with a dollop of steamed milk and foam.
Espresso Romano
Espresso is served with lemon, which adds acidity and enhances the flavor.
Flat White
An Australian anomaly on an otherwise highly Italian list, the flat white contains two ristretto espresso shots with steamed whole milk
Frappe
A Greek-style iced coffee made using sugar-sweetened instant coffee and milk.
Iced coffee
Brewed coffee served over ice.
Irish coffee
Also referred to as “Caife Gaelach,” the friskiest drink on this list is made with Irish whiskey and sweetened hot coffee, then topped with whipped cream.
Latte
Espresso with steamed milk and a light layer of foam.
Lungo
Italian for “long,” lungos are made by passing extra aqua through the espresso machine. The result is a higher volume serving of espresso that’s less strong and more bitter since a longer pull means more time for flavor compounds to dissolve in the water.
Long black
Native to Australia and New Zealand and a cousin to the good ol’ americano, a long black is made by pouring two shots of espresso or ristretto over hot water. Because it contains less water than an americano, it’s stronger to the taste.
Macchiato
Espresso with a “stain” or “spot” of milk, which is typically steamed.
Misto
Equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk.
Mocha
Espresso served with chocolatey mocha sauce, steamed milk, and whipped cream.
Nitro Cold Brew
Cold-brew infused with nitrogen for creaminess without added sugar or milk.
Piccolo Latte
One part Ristretto and three parts steamed milk.
Red Eye
Brewed coffee with an extra shot of espresso.
Ristretto
Ristretto means “restricted” in Italian; in coffee culture, ristrettro is a smaller and more concentrated shot of espresso that tastes sweeter and richer than a full-on espresso shot.
Turkish Coffee
A finely ground coffee is boiled in water and served without filtering.
Vienna
Two shots of espresso topped off with whipped cream until the cup is full. Next, This Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino is the Real Deal—and SO Easy
