Coffee Drinks Defined

Coffee drinks defined. What goes into all those different types of coffee concoctions anyway? Find out here and impress your friends!

There you are, standing in line at your favorite coffee house, staring at the really, really large menu on the wall. What do all of those drink names stand for, and what ingredients (besides coffee, of course), go into them?

Wouldn't it be great if you could take a few minutes and read up on what all of those snazzy sounding coffee drink terms mean? Well, here is your opportunity!

Here is a simple definition of some of the most popular coffee drinks:

Americano: About 7 ounces of hot water with a single shot of espresso added to the mix. The name for this coffee drink resulted from an insult to Americans who weren’t up to drinking full espressos.

Black coffee: A drip brew, percolated or French press style coffee served straight, with no milk.

Cafe au Lait: Similar to Caffe Latte, except that an au lait is espresso is replaced with brewed coffee. The taste is less intense as the ratio of milk to coffee is 1:1.

Cafe Breva: A cappuccino made with not with whole milk but half and half milk. The theory is that the mix gives a richer, creamier flavor. Note that half and half is much harder to foam.

Caffe Latte: A caffe latte is prepared by using 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk. It is often flavored with coffee syrup.

Note: A latte is a very popular drink, but to the experts, it isn’t actually coffee. Lattes don’t exist in Italy, despite the Italian derivation of the name. The name latte was invented in the United States by vendors in the 1980s.

Cafe Macchiato: A shot of espresso with steamed milk added, with a ratio of coffee to milk typically 4:1.

Cappuccino: Usually equal parts frothed milk, steamed milk and espresso. Usually it has cinnamon, powdered cocoa or flaked chocolate sprinkled on top.

Double, or Double Shot: This is two shots of espresso mixed in with the regular amount of additional ingredients.

Dry Cappuccino: A regular cappuccino, only with a smaller amount of foam, and no steamed milk at all.

Espresso Con Panna: Standard espresso with a shot of whipped cream on top.

Espresso: Black strong coffee. It is prepared by pushing with pressure hot water through fine ground coffee. It is thicker than regular drip coffee and served in small cups. The cups are about the size of a shot glass. Be aware...it is very strong! Not for the coffee novice.

Flavored coffee: Syrups, flavorings, and/or spices are added to give the coffee a tinge of something else. Chocolate is the most common additive, either sprinkled on top or added in syrup form, while other favorites include cinnamon, nutmeg, and Italian syrups.

Frappe: Originally a cold espresso, it has more recently been prepared putting 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee with sugar, water and ice. This is typically placed in a long glass with ice, and milk if you like, thus resulting in a big coffee milkshake.

Hammerhead: For caffeine lovers, this drink consists of a shot of espresso in a regular-sized coffee cup, which is then filled with drip coffee. Also known as a Shot in the Dark.

Iced coffee: A regular coffee served with ice, and sometimes milk and sugar. Great for those warm, sultry days.

Instant coffee: These grounds have usually been freeze-dried and turned into soluble powder or coffee granules. Basically, instant coffee is for those that prefer speed and convenience over quality. Though some prefer instant coffee to the real thing, there’s just no accounting for taste. The intense processing eliminates any aroma or flavor that is associated with real coffee.

Irish coffee:Coffee spiked with Irish whiskey, with sugar added and cream on top.

Macchiato: (See Cafe Macchiato)

Melya: Coffee mixed with 1 teaspoon of unsweetened powdered cocoa and drizzled honey. Sometimes served with cream.

Mocha: Basically a Cappuccino or Latte with chocolate syrup added to the mix. Sweeter, not as intense in coffee flavor, and a good coffee drink for those who don’t usually do caffeine.

Turkish Coffee:Also known as Greek Coffee. It is prepared in a ibrik, a small coffee pot that is heated to boiling. Sugar is optional and is added during brewing. Cream or milk is not added.

White coffee: A black coffee with milk or cream added.

I don't know about you, but I think it's time for a coffee drink...these just sound too good!