31 Types of Coffee Explained to Help You Find a New Favorite

If fancy coffee shop menus confuse you, you’re not alone. Caffeine will only help you so much if you can’t tell the difference between a ristretto and cortadito. The good news: With a little bit of background knowledge, you can feel like a barista and find the order that’s right for you—no more boring black coffee or misordering a 2-ounce serving when you wanted a 10-ouncer.

How Many Types of Coffee Are There?

There's a seemingly endless number of coffee drinks on every menu that differ in how they are prepared. According to a Starbucks spokesperson, four factors contribute to whatever ends up in your coffee cup: 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.

What Are the Most Popular Coffee Drinks?

The most commonly ordered coffee drink varies by country, as each has a traditional way of consuming it or even growing it. Coffee beans vary in taste by region grown, but the four main types are Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa. In terms of specific drinks, the most popular worldwide are the classic espresso, latte, cappuccino and Americano.

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's our guide to 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.

Related: How to Make Affogato, According to a Food Editor

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 and 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

Its literal translation is "coffee with milk." This drink is 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

Espresso is the foundation of many beverages, such as the Americano, latte, cappuccino and, of course, the espresso martini. It 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.

Related: How to Make Vanilla Iced Coffee with Vanilla Extract

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.

Related: Celebrate National Irish Coffee Day With This Quick Recipe

Latte

Espresso with steamed milk and a light layer of foam.

Related: How to Make the Viral Cracking Latte

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.

Related: Funny Coffee Memes

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.

Related: Copycat Classic Starbucks Café Mocha Recipe

Nitro Cold Brew

Cold brew infused with nitrogen for creaminess without added sugar or milk.

Related: Pioneer Woman's Sweet & Spicy Cold Brew Iced Coffee Recipe

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, ristretto is a smaller and more concentrated shot of espresso that tastes sweeter and richer than a full-on espresso shot.

Turkish Coffee

Finely ground coffee boiled in water and served without filtering.

Vienna

Two shots of espresso topped off with whipped cream until the cup is full.

Up next: This Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino is the Real Deal—and SO Easy