Whether you’re sipping your coffee at home or on the go, there’s a good chance you have a favourite style of coffee drink. Baristas have noticed a gradual evolution in people’s coffee preferences over time, with surveys in the UK revealing that flat whites have now taken the lead as the most popular choice, followed closely by the classic black Americano. Pre-pandemic the most popular choice had been the latte, and before that black coffee had come out as the favourite.
So here’s a question for you: when you step into a coffee shop, which coffee do you typically order? Here is how it typically breaks down in a coffee shop in the UK:
Flat White (22.3%)
Black Americano (22%)
Latte (18.8%)
Cappuccino (11.9%)
White Americano (10.3%)
Espresso (5.4%)
Cortado (3.2%)
Other (6.1%)
With so many options available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To simplify your choices, we’ve put together a guide covering 15 of the most popular coffee types. These drinks are all unique combinations of coffee beans, milk, and sugar. Whether you’re ordering from your favourite café or experimenting at home, we hope that this guide will be a useful starting point.
- Espresso – Espresso is a concentrated, syrupy coffee made by forcing nearly boiling water through finely-ground coffee beans. Espresso is significantly stronger than regular brewed coffee and is typically enjoyed in shots—single shots contain about 40-80mg of caffeine while double shots contain up to 160mg.
- Latte/Iced Latte – A latte is espresso combined with steamed milk and topped with a dollop of milk foam. This smoother and milder coffee is more popular in the USA, thanks to its lower foam content. You can add flavoured syrups to customize your latte, and to make an iced version, you simply pour espresso and steamed milk over ice cubes.
- Black Coffee – Black coffee is arguably the most common coffee type, known for its simplicity. It can be prepared using various methods like drip, pour-over, or French press and is typically served without any additives.
- Mocha – Mochas blend the richness of coffee with the indulgence of chocolate and whipped cream. The coffee-to-chocolate ratio can be adjusted to suit your preferences, ensuring a delightful experience at any café.
- Americano – The Americano is a straightforward coffee made by diluting espresso with hot water. Its name dates back to World War II when European baristas added water to espresso for American soldiers, resulting in a smoother, less intense flavour.
- Cappuccino – Cappuccinos, named for their resemblance to Capuchin monk hoods of the Franciscan order from 16th century Italy. The drink consists of equal parts of espresso, steamed milk, and thick foam. You can even prepare them at home if you know how to make espresso.
- Flat White – Flat whites are a delectable combination of espresso and steamed milk, creating a smooth, creamy beverage with a hint of sweetness from the milk’s bubbles.
- Cafe au Lait – Cafe au Lait features dark roast coffee combined with steamed milk, commonly enjoyed in France, particularly at breakfast.
- Macchiato – Macchiato, meaning “spotted” in Italian, is espresso with a splash of milk. It is often topped with foamed milk, and variations closer to lattes may also be found.
- Cold Brew – Cold Brew coffee involves steeping coarse coffee grounds in cool or room temperature water for an extended period, resulting in a smooth concentrate. It can be diluted with water or milk and customized with flavouring syrups.
- Irish Coffee – Irish coffee, a beloved Irish drink, combines coffee, whiskey, and cream, often with a touch of sugar for balance and warmth.
- Frappe – A coffee frappe is a frothy, iced beverage customizable with whipped cream, sweet toppings, and add-ins like sugar, milk, vanilla extract, or sweet sauces.
- Vietnamese Coffee – Vietnamese coffee involves adding sweetened condensed milk to a heat-proof glass, placing a Vietnamese coffee filter over it, and pouring hot water over ground coffee for a creamy, sweet brew.
- Affogato – This dessert-like coffee features hot espresso poured over ice cream or gelato, creating a delightful contrast in temperature and flavour.
- Red Eye – Red Eye Coffee is a robust and unique blend of regular coffee and espresso shots, providing a powerful caffeine kick to start your day.
Quite a list of possibilities for your coffee!
The fun thing is that nowadays more and more people are making their own coffee drink from their own home. If you go down this route – as we would recommend! – then make sure that you use high-quality coffee beans for your brewing. And we naturally hope that you will choose one of our products for this!
