Have you ever walked into a coffee shop, looked at the menu boards and thought "wow! That is a lot of choice, where do I even start?". You are not alone in thinking this. There are so many different coffee drinks, recipes and methods that it can become bewildering to know where to start!
In this guide we are going to go through some of the common (and some not so common) coffee drinks so you have a good idea of what to order next time!
Coffee drinks are often split into two categories, hot and cold! Nice and simple. You might want a warm cup of coffee on a cold day, or a chilled coffee on a hot summers day. Easy start!
Hot coffee drinks are probably the most popular and you will often see drinks like latte, cappuccino, flat white, etc.
One thing to remember is order what you enjoy! There can be a lot of snobbery in the coffee world. Some will say "you only truly like coffee if you like espresso" and "adding flavours ruins the coffee". Whilst we like things simple, you do you! If you want to add flavours to your frappe then go for it!
Cappuccino
Probably one of the most recognised hot coffee drinks around! The cappuccino is espresso, steamed milk and milk foam which combines to make a smooth drink. A cappuccino is more subtle in comparison to latte's and espresso.
Latte
Another classic seen in the coffee shop is the latte. This is similar to a cappuccino however it is made with more steamed milk and less foam. This is a much more milky drink in comparison to a cappuccino.
Espresso
The OG in the coffee shop. Most coffee drinks include a shot or two of espresso and it is where most drinks get their coffee taste from! We could go on for days talking about espresso, and it's intricacies, however for purposes of keeping this simple, an espresso is a very small drink of hot, strong coffee.
Americano
A simple coffee that is great for setting you up for the day. It is simply a shot of espresso topped up with hot water.
Flat White
Usually quite a small drink, made with a shot of espresso and topped up with steamed milk. These can be quite strong as they often have 2 shots of espresso in them.
Macchiato
Another small but powerful drink. Usually comes with a shot or two of espresso and a little steamed milk.
Mocha
This is quite the drink as it has a lot of components. The main addition is chocolate which makes this drink a little sweeter than others.
Frappe
The first of our chilled drinks is the frappe. It is a surprisingly simple drink of espresso, ice and milk. Other flavours can be added, but we love it as-is!
Affogato
Rounding off the list is the last of our chilled drinks. An affogato is a scoop of ice-cream, usually vanilla, with a shot of espresso poured over it. Great for rounding off a meal, it is seriously tasty!
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