Coffee drinks can generally be classified as either hot or cold. The main difference between the two types will depend on the base coffee used, whether milk was added, the ratio of coffee to milk, and other ingredients.
Types of coffee beans
There are four main types of coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. All types of coffee are generally made from one of these plants.
90% of all coffee production globally comes from Arabica and Robusta beans.
1. Arabica
Up to 60% of commercially grown coffee is Arabica coffee. Arabica plants grow best at high altitudes in volcanic soils with plenty of rainfall.
Robusta coffee beans are heartier and can withstand harsh growing conditions. Although Arabica coffee beans create a tastier cup of coffee, they are more prone to disease and less resilient than Robusta coffee beans. Robusta coffee beans are shaped more like a heart and can withstand tougher growing conditions.
There are many different types of Arabica coffee, some of which include Bourbon, Caturra, Pacamara, and Typica. The taste of the coffee will depend on the specific variety, but it is typically sweeter and more complex than Robusta coffee.
The best Arabica coffee beans will have a medium body, bright acidity, and multiple layers of flavor and aroma. Most specialty coffees will be made with Arabica beans.
2. Robusta
Robusta coffee beans are used in many instant coffee products and make up a significant portion of the global coffee market. Robusta coffee is known for its strong, bitter taste and high caffeine content. Robusta coffee is the second most common type of coffee, after Arabica. It is used in many instant coffee products and makes up a significant portion of the global coffee market. While Arabica coffee is known for its milder flavor, Robusta coffee is known for its strong, bitter taste and high caffeine content.
The name “Robusta” comes from the plant being hardier than Arabica. They can grow in tougher environments, including low altitudes, and are less prone to disease. Robusta beans are smaller and rounder than Arabica beans and have more caffeine.
There are many unidentified varieties of Robusta coffee, which can be divided into two categories: Erecta (upright varieties) and Nganda (spreading varieties).
The taste of Robusta coffee beans is not as good as Arabica, but it can make the flavor more complex when used in a blend.
3. Liberica
While Liberica coffee trees are taller than Arabica or Robusta trees, they only account for 2% of coffee production worldwide.
The Liberica coffee bean is longer and has a hook shape at one end. It is lower in caffeine than either Arabica or Robusta.
Since Liberica coffee is so rare, not many people are familiar with its different types. Liberica coffee tastes sweeter than Arabica, with strong fruit and floral flavors. It also has a smokiness and full-body similar to Robusta coffee.
4. Excelsa
This coffee produces a heavy body with low acidity and a strong, nutty taste. Excelsa used to be its own type of coffee, but is now classified as a subtype of Liberica. Excelsa beans are small and teardrop shaped, which gives the coffee a heavy body and low acidity. It also has a strong, nutty taste.
There is no Excelsa coffee plant, Excelsa is a variety of the Liberica coffee plant. The Excelsa coffee bean can have sweet, fruity flavors with tart acidity when grown in the proper conditions.
Types of coffee roasts
The different types of coffee roast refer to how long the green coffee beans have been roasted. The different roast levels bring out different characteristics of the bean that make it suitable for different brewing methods.
1. Light Roast
Light roast coffee beans have a fragrant smell, with hints of fruit and flowers. They are typically a pale brown color and have no oil on the surface. A light roast is used when you want the beans to retain their natural flavors. Light roast coffees are best for pour-over brewing.
2. Medium Roast
The taste of medium roast beans is more richness, sweetness, and a hint of bitterness with less acidity.
The beans should be a medium brown color, without any oil on the surface, but with a stronger smell. This roast is used to create a pleasing balance of aroma, flavor, and acidity. Medium roast beans are commonly used for brewing with automatic drip machines or making cold brew.
3. Medium-Dark Roast
The coffee beans that are used for a medium-dark roast have a deep flavor with notes of chocolate and nuts. These beans also have a bittersweet aftertaste and are low in acidity. The beans are a dark brown color with some oil on the surface. A medium-dark roast is the best type of bean to use for brewing methods such as French press, Moka pot, or espresso.
4. Dark Roast
The main difference between dark roast and light roast coffee beans is the flavor. Dark roast beans have a pronounced bitterness, a heavy mouthfeel, and nutty, chocolatey or toasty flavors. In contrast, light roast beans are sweeter, with floral or fruity notes. They also have more acidity.
Types of coffee drinks
It’s amazing what you can do with a few small beans. Whether you’re new to coffee or you consider yourself a coffee expert, there are so many types of coffee drinks to discover. Here are some of the most popular types ordered by coffee lovers nationwide.
Black
Since black coffee is just coffee beans steeped in hot water, the quality of the coffee beans is especially important. Find your favorite style of coffee by subscribing to a coffee subscription box.
Latte
A latte is a coffee drink that is made with a shot of espresso and steamed milk, and it can also have a flavor shot of anything from vanilla to pumpkin spice.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is a latte that has more foam than steamed milk. It often has a sprinkle of cocoa powder or cinnamon on top. You can sometimes find variations that use cream instead of milk or variations that include a flavor shot.
Americano
The americano consists of an espresso shot diluted in hot water and has a similar flavor to black coffee. A pro tip is to pour the espresso first, then add the hot water.
Espresso
An espresso is a small, concentrated coffee that is served solo or used as the base of most coffee drinks. Espresso is made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans.
Doppio
A double shot of espresso is perfect for giving you an extra boost of energy.
Cortado
This coffee drink is made by adding milk to espresso in order to reduce the acidity.
Red Eye
This coffee will help you stay awake if you’re taking a late night flight.
Galão
The cortado is a coffee drink that is similar to the latte and cappuccino, but originates in Portugal. It contains more foamed milk than the latte and cappuccino, making it a lighter drink.
Lungo
A lungo is a long-pull espresso, which means that the espresso is brewed for a longer period of time. This results in a higher concentration of caffeine, as well as a larger volume of coffee.
Macchiato
The macchiato is an espresso-based drink that has a small amount of foam on top, making it the happy medium between a cappuccino and a doppio.
Mocha
This drink is perfect for chocolate lovers as it is a chocolate espresso with steamed milk and foam.
Ristretto
A ristretto is a shot of espresso that uses less hot water, resulting in a sweeter flavor compared to the bitter taste of a traditional espresso or doppio.
Flat White
This Australian-born drink is basically a cappuccino without the foam or chocolate sprinkle. It consists of an espresso drink with steamed milk.
Affogato
The affogato is a great way to enjoy a scoop of ice cream any time of day. It’s made with a scoop of ice cream and a shot of espresso, and it’s even better when served over a brownie.
Café au Lait
Adding a splash of warm milk to your coffee creates a drink similar to café au lait.
Irish
Irish coffee is a drink made with black coffee, whiskey, and sugar, topped with whipped cream. This recipe will make a warm drink that will make you feel comfortable.
Types of brewed coffee
Brewed coffee can be made using a variety of methods, or with different types of coffee makers.
There are several ways to brew coffee, including using a pressure cooker, immersion brewing, filtration, and decoction. The most common coffee makers are drip coffee machines, espresso machines, pour-over brewers, and French press coffee makers.
1. Drip Coffee
Drip coffee is coffee made with an automatic drip machine. It is mild and straightforward in flavor, lacking some of the complexity found in other types of coffee.
Coffee made using the drip method is created by slowly pouring hot water over coffee grounds that are in a filter basket. This type of coffee is popular because it doesn’t require much effort or knowledge to make, and you can make a lot at once.
2. Pour Over Coffee
Pour-over coffee is made using a manual coffee maker. This type of coffee has a clean taste with complex flavors.
The pour-over coffee brewing method is entirely manual, providing more control to bring out intricate flavors than the drip coffee method.
3. Espresso
The term espresso refers to coffee made in an espresso machine. For espresso coffee to be brewed correctly, it must be made with 9 bars of pressure, have an extraction time of 20-30 seconds, and have a coffee to water ratio of 1:2.
Espresso is a method of brewing coffee using hot water under pressure forced through finely-ground coffee. Espresso has a strong, concentrated taste. There are different types of espresso shots, such as ristretto, lungo, and doppio.
4. Cold Brew
Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time, typically 12 hours or more. This brewing method produces coffee with a smooth, sweet taste and very low acidity.
There is no special coffee maker required for cold brew coffee, and people often brew it in a mason jar. Cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for 18 to 24 hours.
Types of iced coffee
Iced coffee is refreshing, especially in the summertime. You can enjoy these drinks all year long. Here are some of the best iced coffee drinks available.
Iced Coffee
A coffee with ice and a dash of milk, cream, or sweetener is known as iced coffee. If you’re a fan of iced coffee, then you know that it can be tricky to make at home. The Hyperchiller can help you make a delicious iced coffee drink at home.
Iced Espresso
Iced espresso can be served two ways – with or without milk, cream, or sweetener. You can also use iced espresso to make speciality espresso-based drinks like americanos, mochas, macchiatos, lattes and flat whites.
Cold Brew
After the coffee beans have steeped for the desired amount of time, add cold milk or cream to make cold brew coffee.
Frappuccino
The Frappuccino is an iced coffee drink that is blended and topped with whipped cream and syrup. It originated from Starbucks but now can be found in many coffee shops. Be careful when ordering though as some places offer coffee-free versions which may not be what you’re expecting.
Nitro
A cold brew coffee made with nitrogen bubbles instead of regular bubbles results in a frothy, Guinness-like consistency. (It’s poured via a nitro tap, too.)
Mazagran
Mazagran coffee is a cross between iced coffee, tea and your favorite rum drink. It typically consists of espresso, lemon, sugar and (sometimes) rum.