Your Ultimate Guide to Different Types of Coffee
Updated: Jan. 15, 2024
We cover all the different types of coffee—from lattes to red eyes. All of your burning coffee questions are *finally* answered.
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We’ve all been there, standing in line at a favorite coffeeshop, sweating because we’re not entirely sure of the difference between a cold brew vs. a classic iced coffee. Oh gosh, I know I have. Good news: we’re covering everything on the different types of coffee, from the difference of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans to all the ways to brew your favorite cup of joe. Hold on tight. We’re diving deep into your morning go-to drink.
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Different Types of Coffee Beans
In U.S. supermarkets, you’ll typically find two types of coffee beans for sale: Arabica and Robusta. You may be wondering, is there a difference between Arabica and Robusta? Oh, there definitely is. Let’s get right to it.
Arabica
Arabica is the most popular type of coffee, hands down. Depending on who you ask, many coffee enthusiasts prefer using Arabica beans due to its taste. Typically used for black coffee, Arabica beans have a sweeter, more complex flavor that you can drink straight. Funny thing is, even though it’s the most popular, it doesn’t have as much caffeine as Robusta.
Robusta
While Arabica is the most popular, Robusta is a cheaper and stronger type of coffee bean. Because of its bitter flavor, you’ll typically see Robusta used for espresso drinks and in instant coffee mixes.
Which type of coffee has the most caffeine?
Out of the two types of coffee beans, Robusta has a higher caffeine content that will wake you right up! So if you’re looking for a cup of joe to fix that Monday morning lag, go with a coffee that was made with Robusta beans.
How many types of coffee are there?
While we’ve mentioned the two most commonly found coffee beans, there are typically four types of coffee beans. They include Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa and Liberica. Coffee brands will typically put a label telling you which coffee beans were used for their product.
Types of Coffee Drinks
Latte, americano, affogato…it’s crazy all that you can do with a few small beans. Whether you’re a coffee newbie or you consider yourself a coffee connoisseur, there are so many types of coffee drinks to discover. Here are some of the most popular types ordered by coffee lovers nationwide.
Black
Black coffee is as simple as it gets with ground coffee beans steeped in hot water, served warm. And if you want to sound fancy, you can call black coffee by its proper name: cafe noir. Since it isn’t doctored up with milk or sugar, the quality of coffee is especially important. Treat yourself to a coffee subscription box to find your favorite style.
Latte
As the most popular coffee drink out there, the latte is comprised of a shot of espresso and steamed milk with just a touch of foam. It can be ordered plain or with a flavor shot of anything from vanilla to pumpkin spice. (Here’s how to make a copycat Starbucks pumpkin spice latte.)
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is a latte made with more foam than steamed milk, often with a sprinkle of cocoa powder or cinnamon on top. Sometimes you can find variations that use cream instead of milk or ones that throw in flavor shot, as well.
Psst! Did you know mushroom coffee is a thing?
Americano
With a similar flavor to black coffee, the americano consists of an espresso shot diluted in hot water. Pro tip: if you’re making your own, pour the espresso first, then add the hot water.
Espresso
An espresso shot can be served solo or used as the foundation of most coffee drinks, like lattes and macchiatos. If you’re an at-home barista, this Breville Bambino and espresso accessories will turn your house into your own coffee shop. Figure out how an espresso is different from coffee.
Always on the go? This portable espresso maker lets you brew your coffee without needing a power source, so you can take it with you wherever you need it!
Doppio
A double shot of espresso, the doppio is perfect for putting extra pep in your step.
Cortado
Like yin and yang, a cortado is the perfect balance of espresso and warm steamed milk. The milk is used to cut back on the espresso’s acidity.
Red Eye
Named after those pesky midnight flights, a red eye can cure any tiresome morning. A full cup of hot coffee with an espresso shot mixed in, this will definitely get your heart racing.
Galão
Originating in Portugal, this hot coffee drink is closely related to the latte and cappuccino. Only difference is it contains about twice as much foamed milk, making it a lighter drink compared to the other two.
Lungo
A lungo is a long-pull espresso. The longer the pull, the more caffeine there is and the more ounces you can enjoy.
Macchiato
The macchiato is another espresso-based drink that has a small amount of foam on top. It’s the happy medium between a cappuccino and a doppio.
Mocha
For all you chocolate lovers out there, you’ll fall in love with a mocha (or maybe you already have). The mocha is a chocolate espresso drink with steamed milk and foam.
Ristretto
Ristretto is an espresso shot. It uses less hot water which creates a sweeter flavor compared to the bitter taste of a traditional shot of espresso or a doppio.
Flat White
This Aussie-born drink is basically a cappuccino without the foam or chocolate sprinkle. It’s an espresso drink with steamed milk.
Affogato
The affogato is an excuse to enjoy a scoop of ice cream any time of day (and any time of year in my opinion). Served with a scoop of ice cream and a shot of espresso, or two. The affogato is extra delicious served over a brownie, as a Brownie Affogato Sundae. If you like this, you must try Eiskaffee or ice cream coffee.
Café au Lait
Café au lait is perfect for the coffee minimalist who wants a bit more flavor. Just add a splash of warm milk to your coffee and you’re all set!
Irish
Irish coffee consists of black coffee, whiskey and sugar, topped with whipped cream. Here’s an Irish coffee recipe that will warm you right up.
What type of coffee is the strongest?
If you’re tied between which of these coffees to go with and need something with a strong flavor, go with the Ristretto. Ristretto uses less water and is minimalistic in the sense of what’s added to the drink—no milk or sugar—giving it the taste of pure, strong espresso.
What is the sweetest type of coffee?
If you love the effect that coffee’s caffeine has on you, but aren’t necessarily a fan of its bitter taste, a sweeter version may be the one for you. The sweetest type of coffee to get and most commonly available is a mocha, with chocolate to give the drink a sweetness and milk to mask the bitterness.
Types of Iced Coffee
What’s more refreshing than cool iced coffee in the summertime? Or maybe you enjoy these chilled drinks all year long. (We do!) Here are some of the best iced coffee drinks you can sip on.
Iced Coffee
A coffee with ice, typically served with a dash of milk, cream or sweetener—iced coffee is really as simple as that. Iced coffee fanatics know that whipping up this delicious drink at home is tricky, so you’ll want to try a Hyperchiller to master your DIY iced coffee recipe.
Iced Espresso
Like an iced coffee, iced espresso can be served straight or with a dash of milk, cream or sweetener. You can also ice speciality espresso-based drinks like americanos, mochas, macchiatos, lattes and flat whites.
Cold Brew
The trendiest of the iced coffee bunch, cold brew coffees are made by steeping coffee beans from anywhere between 6-36 hours, depending on how strong you would like your cold brew. Once the beans are done steeping, add cold milk or cream. Here are a few of our best tips on how to make cold brew coffee.
Frappuccino
Made famous by Starbucks, the Frappuccino is a blended iced coffee drink that’s topped with whipped cream and syrup. But not all Frapps are made the same: watch out for coffee-free versions. Unless you’re into that sorta thing.
Nitro
A cold brew + nitrogen bubbles = a cold brew coffee with a frothy, Guinness-like consistency. (It’s poured via a nitro tap, too.)
Mazagran
Maza-who?! Mazagran coffee is a cross between iced coffee, tea and your favorite rum drink. It typically consists of espresso, lemon, sugar and (sometimes) rum.
Types of Coffee Makers
Now that you’re a master on all the types of coffee, let’s learn how to make ’em! From French presses to Mokas, there are plenty of ways to prepare your dream cup of java. Top of your brew by pouring it into a cute coffee mug (or an Ember Mug if you’re looking to treat yourself). Pro tip: Keep it warm with a coffee mug warmer.
French Press
This manual coffee maker is extremely easy to use. Add ground coffee beans into your French press, pour piping hot water over the grounds, let the coffee steep for a few minutes and finally, press the plunger down and pour! Simple as that. French presses can be used for any bean, but many people prefer using them for darker, richer roasts. Also, how fancy does this French press look? Make your morning brew…in style!
For a perfect cup of coffee, use a French press. But this cylindrical carafe, plunger and filter can do more than brew a beautiful light roast. We found plenty of French press hacks!
Percolator
Try out a percolator to add a retro feel to your daily brew—like 1880s retro. To put it simply, percolators brew coffee by continuously pushing boiling hot water bubbles up into the “coffee chamber” to steep the coffee grains. This cycle is repeated until the coffee is ready to serve. They’re typically used for medium roasts and prepared over the stovetop, but percolators can work over any heated surface, even a campfire (hint, hint!). Learn how to use a percolator the proper way.
Single Serve
Single serve coffee maker sales have really peaked in the past few years. Measure out your desired coffee amount, pour into the reusable filter, pour water in and voila! A cup of coffee just for you will be ready soon. Single serve coffee makers, like most Keurigs, are perfect for single-person households (or those where just one person drinks coffee). Try out this budget-friendly single serve coffee maker which includes a fun travel mug! Or this Hamilton Beach single-serve coffee maker that doesn’t require any coffee filters or pods.
AeroPress
We’ve got another manual coffee maker for you. The AeroPress is very similar to the French press. You can make espresso, lattes, cold brews or just a classic cup of coffee in this nifty little machine. Learn how to make AeroPress coffee.
Drip
Aah, yes. The classic electric coffee maker you know and love. To get your brew going in a drip coffee maker, all you have to do is scoop your coffee, pour it into the filter, pour some water in and press start to let the drip coffee maker do it’s coffee magic. Soon, you’ll hear the sweet sounds of your coffee dripping right into your coffee pot. Mornings, conquered.
Some drip coffee makers also come with a thermal carafe. Typically with a double layered, stainless steel wall, thermal carafes keep your coffee tasting fresh and hot for hours longer than most glass carafes do. Some drip coffee makers use a thermal carafe, but traditionally, they use a glass carafe instead.
If you like grinding your own coffee beans versus buying coffee grounds, make sure you have one of the best coffee makers with a grinder to get the best morning brew.
Pour Over
A pour-over coffee maker is exactly what it sounds like: you manually pour hot water over the beans. With a solid 5-star rating on Amazon, pour-over coffee makers like Chemex are a solid choice. Fans love the fact that you get to control the strength of the coffee, plus the pots are super easy to clean. You do need a special kind of filter, though, which is pricier than the typical drip coffee filter. However, some are reusable.
Cold Brew
Diehard cold brew fans may want to invest in a cold brew coffee maker. To use a cold brew maker, throw in your coffee grounds, brew and serve. You can store the coffee for up to 36 hours. If you’re looking for a multi-functional coffee maker, you can prepare cold brew coffees in other makers, like the AeroPress.
Moka
Moka pots share a lot of similarities with the percolator and there’s often confusion between the two. Both need a heated surface, like a stovetop or even a campfire. However, the Moka pot produces an espresso-like drink and its brewing process is a bit different than the percolator. You need to keep more of an eye on it because when the Moka pot’s water is spent, you should remove the pot from the heat surface to avoid burnt-tasting coffee. Whereas with the percolator’s simple brewing process, the longer you leave it running, the stronger the coffee will be.
Next: explore McDonald’s coffee menu to cater to your caffeine cravings!
Originally Published: February 25, 2020
