Types of coffee explained

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An espresso-based drink containing sweetened or unsweetened milk and topped with a small amount of foamed milk.

How many coffee types exist?
There are over 30 combinations of coffee types in the world. We've put together some of our favourite coffee types for you to try at home - easy recipes with NESCAFÉ instant coffee as the starting point. From the well-known cappuccino, espresso, and latte, to the lungo, ristretto, café au lait and cold brew, there are so many types of coffee to enjoy. Which is your favourite?

Which coffee has the strongest taste?
The strongest type of coffee is freshly brewed espresso. It forms the base for most coffee drinks, and is easily enjoyed with added milk, but can be enjoyed by itself if you prefer bold, intense coffee flavours.

Which coffee has the mildest taste?
A latte is generally considered the least intense coffee. Made with freshly brewed espresso, the taste is then made less intense because of the volume of milk added. This also makes it sweeter with a more mellow taste.

Which coffee has the most milk?
A café latte has the biggest milk-to-coffee ratio, with a third being espresso and the remaining two thirds consisting of milk. The cappuccino is close behind which contains equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and milk foam (in a ratio of 1:1:1).

What are the most popular coffee drinks?
The cappuccino, the latte, and the espresso shot are probably the most popular types – or at least, the most well-known!

Different coffee types summarised

Looking for a quick read? Here’s a summary of the different types of coffee.

• Latte - One or two shots of espresso, lots of steamed milk and a final, thin layer of frothed milk on top
• Cappuccino – Espresso, steamed milk and milk foam equally split into thirds
• Americano - It can either be served 1/2 and 1/2 or 1/3 espresso to 2/3 water
• Espresso - Concentrated form of coffee, served in shots and it’s often the coffee base of many other beverages
• Cortado - Made with lightly steamed milk without froth or foam
• Mocha - It is often 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk, with chocolate flavouring
• Macchiato - Espresso coffee drink, topped with a small amount of foamed or steamed milk
• Flat White - A blend of micro-foamed milk poured over a single or double shot of espresso
• Decaf - Made from regular coffee beans that go through the decaffeination process.
• Irish Coffee - Made from coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and cream
• Iced Coffee - A cold version of your favourite coffee, with ice added
• Café au Lait - brewed coffee and steamed milk. One part coffee to one part steamed milk with no froth or foam on top

A world of taste awaits! Enjoy discovering the incredible variety of coffees with NESCAFÉ.