7 Types of Coffee Drinks Demystified

This might have happened to you before, you get to a coffee shop, open the menu and find yourself starring at a list of bizarre Italian names. Sure, you might have heard about a cappuccino or a Latte, but what does the rest of theses strange words actually refer to? This can be intimidating, and not know what each name means could lead to you once again just ordering a cappuccino (because that is what you are familiar with) and missing out on some interesting and delicious types of coffee drinks. We take a look at some of the different coffee drinks you are sure to come across when visiting a coffee shop.

1. Espresso

The base for any good coffee drink, the espresso is coffee at its purest. Usually served as a single or double shot this relatively small amount of coffee packs a quite a punch and has loads of strong flavours. One of the earliest espresso coffee machines patents was filled in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo and was steam driven.

2. Americano

Probably the most known coffee drink and the easiest to make is the Americano. Rumour has it that American soldiers use to make this during World War II as a way to stretch their coffee supply. It is simply a shot of espresso with some boiling water added to it. As far as taste goes, technically it is a diluted espresso shot but it’s perfect for those looking for the taste of an espresso without it being overpowering.

3. Cappuccino

Found in most of the upmarket coffee shops, cappuccinos are probably the second most recognised type of coffee drink out there. Consisting of three main parts, espresso, steamed milk and milk foam this has become many coffee lovers go to drink. The most important part of getting a cappuccino just right is to make sure that you get the correct amount of foam when pressurising the milk with the steam wand. Believe it or not but creating the perfect cappuccino can be tricky and takes quite a bit of practice to achieve. The cappuccino comes from the word ‘Capuchin’ which translates to cloak or hood. It is believed that the monks in Vienna wore robes that resembled the colour of the coffee drink found in Viennese coffee houses and that are how the cappuccino received its name.

4. Latte

Although the latte also consists out of three parts, espresso, steamed milk and milk foam, just like the cappuccino it’s the ratio of each that makes this drink different. The majority of the Latte consists of steamed milk with just a small amount of milk foam being added. Although it is not clear just how exactly the latte was born, we do know that it was first mentioned 1867 in an essay by William Dean Howells. The name does differ all across the world with the Italians referring to it as latte macchiato and Spanish using the term café con leche.

5. Flat White

While many might think that a flat white is similar to a latte, what sets them apart is that the flat white has less milk than the latte. This results in a much stronger coffee as there is less milk to dilute the espresso shot. There is a debate about whether the flat white was invented in Australia or New Zealand, with both countries believing that they first made this type of coffee drink.

6. Macchiato

A Macchiato is all about showcasing the flavour of the coffee and consists of a shot of espresso and a dollop of steamed milk. It is also sometimes referred to as a piccolo latte as it uses the same components as a latte but with less steamed milk. The macchiato originated due to the demand for espresso with a tiny bit of milk. The drink was referred to as ‘spotted’ or ‘marked’ by the Italian baristas and thus the macchiato was born.

7. Mocha

For those with a taste for the sweet there is the mocha, a mix between a cappuccino and a hot chocolate (a match made in heaven). Basically, it consists of a shot of espresso, chocolate powder, steamed milk and foam. Not much is known of where this drink originated. Strangely the name mocha has nothing to do with chocolate but rather refers to a variety of coffee grown in Yemen. It has been suggested that the name began to be associated with the chocolate coffee drink due to the chocolatey flavour profile of the beans. Now that you know what each type of coffee drink is made up of why not visit the Diesel Coffee shop and try one of these for yourselves? #likedieselcoffee