Most people when looking at the menu in a coffee house have no clue on what to order and have no idea of the difference between a cappuccino from an Espresso or an Americano. The list below will help you appreciate the menu better and also help you decide what is best for your palate –
Coffee can be had on its own as in Espresso or with added milk, lemon or brandy.
Espresso
Espresso has no milk, just pure coffee. Most traditional coffee recipes revolve around a single or double espresso shots. If you are a coffee connoisseur then you should try and learn how to make one.
It is generally made from a single 1 oz shot of coffee made with 7 Gms of finely ground coffee extracted at between 18 and 25 seconds. There are many recopies and this is small selection to choose from –
Americano (American) – This is espresso shot that is diluted to taste with hot water. The name was given to insult Americans who the Europeans believed were not up to drinking full espressos.
Black coffee: Coffee served with no milk.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino usually consists of equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk. All this makes the coffee taste more diluted and weaker. Some coffee shops will sprinkle cinnamon or flaked chocolate on top and other will add more milk than others. All shops make some variance to suit the taste of regular customers.
Dry Cappuccino
This is a regular cappuccino but without steamed milk and small amount of foam.
Flavored coffee
These are made to taste and more a local tradition. A great variety exists in different parts of the world. The flavor can be either a mix of syrups, spices (eg. cinnamon), flavorings or nutmegs that are added to the coffee and give coffee a different taste.
White coffee
A black coffee with milk added.
Cortado
A cortado is an espresso (also known as "Pingo" or "Garoto") "cut" (from the Spanish and Portuguese cortar) with a small amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity. The ratio of milk to coffee is between 1:1 - 1:2, and the milk is added after the espresso. The steamed milk hasn't much foam, but many baristas make some micro foam to make latte art. It is popular in Spain and Portugal, as well as throughout Latin America, where it is drunk in the afternoon. In Cuba, it is known as a cortadito, and in Catalan it's called a tallat or trencat. It's usually served in a special glass, often with a metal ring base and a metal wire handle. There are several variations, including cortado condensada (espresso with condensed milk) and leche y leche (with condensed milk and cream on top).Eiskaffee
Eiskaffee, literally "ice cream coffee", is a popular German drink consisting of chilled coffee, milk, sweetener, vanilla ice cream, and sometimes whipped cream.Espresso Romano
An Espresso Romano is a shot of espresso with a small rind of lemon and sugar added to it.Flat white
A flat white is prepared by pouring the creamy steamed milk from the bottom of the jug over a single shot (30ml) of espresso.The drink is an coffee style originating from New Zealand and Australia and is sometimes served in a small 150-160ml ceramic cup. The stretched and texturised milk is prepared by entraining air into the milk and folding the top layer into the lower layers. To achieve the "flat", non-frothy texture the steamed milk is poured from the bottom of the jug, holding back the lighter froth on the top in order to access milk with smaller bubbles, making the drink smooth and velvety in texture. This leads to a white coffee with the crema on top still intact.
Frappuccino
Frappuccino is the name and registered trademark of a Starbucks blended ice beverage and a bottled coffee beverage.Galão
Galão is a hot drink from Portugal made of espresso and foamed milk. In all similar to caffè latte or café au lait, it comes in a tall glass with about one quarter coffee, 3 quarters foamed milk. When the proportion is 1:1 it is called "meia de leite" and it comes in a cup.Greek frappé coffee
Greek frappé (Café frappé) (Greek: φραπές) is a foam-covered iced coffee drink made from spray-dried instant coffee. It is very popular in Greece especially during summer, but has now spread on to other countries. In French, when describing a drink, the word frappé means shaken and/or chilled; however, in popular Greek culture, the word frappé is predominantly taken to refer to the shaking associated with the preparation of a café frappé.Iced coffee
Iced coffee is a cold variant of the normally hot beverage coffee.- Farmers Union Iced Coffee
- Toddy coffee
Cafe Latte
Cafe Latte has more milk than a cappuccino. It is one part espresso with at least three to five parts ofsteamed hot milk with a small amount of froth on top. Latte in Italian means ‘milk’, so be careful ordering one when in Rome.
Cafe au Lait
Similar to ‘ Caffe Latte’ with an equal milk to coffee in the ratio of 1:1, It is made from brewed coffee and not from espresso. The taste is milder and less intense due to it consisting 50% milk
Cafe Breva
A cappuccino made with half and half milk, instead of whole milk. The theory is that the mix gives a richer, creamier flavor. You should be aware, before trying this for yourself, that half and half is much harder to foam.
Cafe Macchiato
A shot of espresso with steamed milk added. The ratio of coffee to milk is approximately 4:1.
Cafe Latte Fredo
It is a type of cold coffee. Cafe Latte Fredo is an espresso mixed with cold milk in similar proportions as a Cafe Latte that is usually shaken well with ice in a cocktail shaker.
Cafe Mocha
Quite popular with the ladies or after dinner coffee. It is one part espresso with one part chocolate syrup and two or three parts of frothed milk. You could also ask for some whipped cream. Mocha was the popular coffee port route in the 17th century.
Espresso con Panna
Another espresso that is topped with a small amount of whipped cream.
Espresso Granita
A kind of cocktail coffee! It is one shot of espresso that is mixed with a teaspoon of soft brown sugar and on this is added a splash of brandy. It is then frozen, crushed and served in a parfait glass with whipped cream.
Frappe
This is a cold espresso and popularly ordered in some cafes in Europe and Latin America during summer months. Generally prepared using 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee with sugar, water and ice. The brew is next placed in a long glass with ice, and milk turning it into a big coffee milkshake.
Turkish Coffee or Known also as Greek Coffee
A ‘different preparation from the usual coffee. It is thicker and made usually made in an ‘cezve’ which is a long-handled, open, brass or copper pot. Finely ground coffee and water are boiled together to making a mix of muddy and thick coffee. Once it is made it is served in smaller cups called ‘Demitasse’ cups. Sugar and sometimes cardamom pods or spices (more Arabic) are added before it is brewed and all this is left for sometime to allow it to settle before it is sipped. In Greek coffee Chicory is used and cracked cardamom pods to Turkish coffee.
Indian (Madras) filter coffee
The popular ‘South Indian’ filter coffee is made from fresh ground, dark-roasted coffee Arabica or Peaberry beans. It is left for a few hours to drip-brew in a traditional metal coffee filter. It is served with coffee to milk ratio of usually 3:1.
Instant coffee (or soluble coffee)
These have become very popular over the years due more to convenience and some people are not even aware that there are so many other tastes to try out and when served the real coffee fail to appreciate the aroma and its taste. The coffee is available in packets as granules or soluble powder.
Hammerhead or Shot in the Dark
This is a mix of espresso and drip coffee in a regular-sized coffee cup. Many cafes rename this drink further to their own names or as per to their needs.
Iced coffee
This is a regular coffee served with ice, and sometimes milk and sugar.
Irish coffee
If you want to have whiskey with coffee try this coffee. It consists of coffee that is spiked with Irish whiskey, with added cream on top. Best suited for a cold winter night to keep you warm.
Kopi Tubruk
If you visit islands of Java and Bali in Indonesia you can try this coffee. It is similar to Turkish or Greek coffee as it very thick.
Lungo
This is 2-3 shot of espresso and has more water to pass through coffee grounds.
Ristretto
The name means ‘restricted’. It is like Lungo, but exactly the opposite as it has less water with 0.75 oz espresso.
Kopi susu
Kopi susu is found in (at least) Malaysian Borneo and Indonesia and very similar to the preceding entry for Ca phe sua nong. Literally, kopi susu means "coffee milk". Served in a glass kopi susu can be made simply by mixing black coffee (arabica) with about a quarter to a half a glass of sweetened condensed milk then let stand to cool and allow the grounds to sink on the bottom. You should not drink this to the end unless you want to "eat" the ground coffee. Kopi Turbruk is as above but uses sugar instead of sweetened condensed milk.Melya
Coffee with honey. Made by using coffee that is mixed with 1 teaspoon of unsweetened powdered cocoa and drizzled honey. It can be served with cream.
Vietnamese Coffee
Uses more and like south Indian coffee uses a metal mesh. Hot water is dripped through the metal mesh and after this the intense brew is poured over ice and sweetened with condensed milk.
If you are a heavy coffee drinker and wish to reduce the number of cuppa, there are also several coffee substitutes available in the market. These include green tea, licorice tea, black tea, ginseng tea, or even decaf. Some have negligible caffeine content while others (like decaf) have much lesser caffeine constituency than regular coffee.
Yuanyang
Yuanyang, sometimes also called Ying Yong, is a popular beverage in Hong Kong, made of a mixture of coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea. It was originally served at dai pai dongs (open air food vendors) and cha chaan tengs (cafe), but is now available in various types of restaurants. It can be served hot or cold. The name yuanyang, which refers to mandarin ducks, is a symbol of conjugal love in Chinese culture, as the birds usually appear in pairs and the male and female look very different. This same connotation of "pair" of two unlike items is used to name this drink.Instant coffee
Instant coffee is a beverage derived from brewed coffee beans. Through various manufacturing processes the coffee is dehydrated into the form of powder or granules. These can be rehydrated with hot water to provide a drink similar (though not identical) to conventional coffee. At least one brand of instant coffee is also available in concentrated liquid form.- Chock full o'Nuts
- Farmers Union Iced Coffee
- Japanese canned coffee
- Kenco
- Moccona
- Mr. Brown Coffee
- Nescafé
Liqueur coffee
A liqueur coffee, as its name suggests, is a coffee brew with a 25 ml shot of liqueur. This brew is usually served in a clear, clean, pre-heated, liqueur coffee glass with the coffee and cream separated for good visual and taste effect. The liqueur of choice is added first with a teaspoon of raw cane sugar mixed in. The glass in then filled to within an inch of the top with good, strong, fresh filter coffee. Fresh, chilled, additive free, slightly whipped cream is then poured carefully over the back of a cold teaspoon, so that it floats on top of the coffee and liqueur mixture. The sugar is required in the coffee mixture to help the cream float.- Irish Coffee (Whiskey)
- Brandy Coffee (Brandy)
- Keoke Coffee (Brandy and Kahlúa)
- English Coffee (Gin)
- Calypso Coffee (Tia Maria or Kahlúa and Rum)
- Jamaican Coffee (Tia Maria & Rum)
- Shin Shin Coffee (Rum)
- Baileys Irish Cream Coffee
- Monk's Coffee (Bénédictine)
- Seville Coffee (Cointreau)
- Witch's Coffee (Strega)
- Russian Coffee (Vodka)
- Australian Coffee (VB)
- Corfu Coffee (Koum Quat liquor)
- Kaffee Fertig (coffee with Swiss prune schnapps)
- Caffè corretto (that is an Italian beverage, consists of a shot of espresso "corrected" with a shot of liquor, usually grappa, brandy or sambuca.)
- Coffee liqueurs (ex. The Evil Monk, Kahlúa, Kamora)
As we all know, coffee isn’t just coffee. When ordering in a coffee shop, there are a lot of types of coffee in which you should know, so that you will be able to keep up with the current “coffee” trend and lingo.
Here is a list of some of them:
Americano – It is a mixture of a single shot of espresso with about 7 ounces of water.
Black Coffee – A French press style coffee served as is, with no milk.
Cafe au Lait – A slightly less intense variant of Caffe Latte, due to it being made with brewed coffee instead of espresso
Café Breva – Type of cappuccino made with half milk, instead of whole.
Caffe Latte – A mixture of a single shot espresso in steamed milk.
Café Macchiato – A stronger variety of Caffee Latte, having more espresso.
Cappuccino – An equal mixture of espresso, steamed milk, frothed milk, with cinnamon or flaked chocolate on top.
Double/Double Shot – A double shot of espresso.
Dry Cappuccino – A cappuccino having no steamed milk, plus a smaller amount of foam.
Espresso Con Panda – Espresso with whipped cream as a topping.
Flavored Coffee – Coffee that has an added flavor to it.
Frappe – Espresso that is served cold, with added sugar, water and ice.
Iced Coffee – Coffee with ice, which can also be served with milk or sugar.
Instant Coffee – As the name suggests, instant coffee is coffee that is served instantly. The taste may vary though. Good for those who are on the go.
Mocha – Basically, it is a cappuccino or latte that has been mixed with chocolate syrup.
White Coffee – Black coffee that has been added with milk.
Note, these are just some of the more common types of coffees that are ordered in coffee shops. There may be other types of coffees out there as well, which may vary depending from place to place.
