So you like coffee, or would like to at least give it a shot, but you don’t want to have the awkward experience of not knowing what to order. Have no fear, I have experienced this awkward moment for all and will explain to you some of the most popular espresso-based and regular drip coffee drinks for your sipping pleasure! I understand that there is a plethora of drinks out there to be enjoyed, but these are the most popular ones I myself have deemed as “basic drinks,” and not in the negative “basic” connotation (whatever that means).
1. Espresso
Espresso is simply a brew method to make all of your popular espresso-based drinks. Espresso is simply a finely ground coffee (any kind of coffee bean can make espresso) and is tamped, then brew with a high-powered brewing machine that shoots around 145 PSI of water. This by itself makes a very strong tasting drink and is not for the faint of heart. If you are ordering an espresso by itself, you may ask for a solo espresso (a single 1 ounce shot), a doppio espresso (a double shot, or 2 ounces), or if you’re feeling feisty, perhaps a lungo, which is 3 ounces of espresso. A few misconceptions about espresso before moving on: it’s not “expresso,” espresso is an Italian word meaning “pressed out coffee.” Also, espresso does not have more caffeine than a cup of black coffee; it has close to the same amount in the one to two ounce shots pulled, but in no way has more caffeine.
2. Café Latte
The latte is perhaps one of the most ordered drinks around the world. This drink consists of either a solo or doppio espresso (see that coffee knowledge kicking in already?) with steamed milk. This drink is very creamy and has a good balance between the bitter zing of espresso with the sweetness of steamed milk. This is the drink that you will see on Instagram with all the pretty latte art – get it? Latte art? Latte? I know it’s a latte to take in at once.
3. Café Mocha
The café mocha, or just mocha, is a latte with chocolate. This is usually the go-to drink I recommend to folks when they’re trying coffee for the first time. It’s coffee and chocolate, can you think of a better combination?
4. Cappuccino
Another very popular drink to get is the cappuccino. This drink is a drink of thirds: your espresso shot(s), steamed milk, then foamed milk atop it all. This drink isn’t as creamy as the café latte, so it has a little more of a bold flavor to it. If you like the bolder taste of a cappuccino, but it’s a little too strong for your liking, you can ask for a “wet” cappuccino, which means there is a little less foam and a little more steamed milk in the drink. On the other hand, if you like your drink a little stronger, you can ask for a “dry” cappuccino as well, meaning your barista can make your drink have less steamed milk and more foam sitting on top.
5. Americano
So you like the zing of espresso but don’t want to pay $3 for a 2 ounce drink? I’ve got your back. The Americano is a shot or two of espresso with hot water poured in to give the drink, well, a little more to drink. This drink gives you the ability to appreciate the espresso a little more than a shot would. There is a strong flavor profile of chocolate in it and takes off the initial bite that comes with espresso.
6. Pour Over Coffee
Shifting gears a bit from espresso to just regular brew coffee, I bring you to the land of pour over. Pour over coffee originates from Japan. Pour over brewing is simply pouring hot water over coffee and allowing it to drip through the grounds in to your decanter; hence the name “pour over.” This brew method gives an exquisite flavor profile to the coffee and allows you to taste little nuances in the beans you wouldn’t normally pick up on. If you’re looking to transition from using cream and sugar to just black coffee, pour over is the way to go. Most shops (including Starbucks) will do pour over, just ask them.
7. French Press
To end our java journey, I give you the French Press. The French Press is a press-pot style brew which gives the coffee more body than flavor clarity as a pour over would. French Press coffee is brewed by letting the coffee grounds sit in direct contact with hot water then pressed down with a metal filter to filter out the grounds, hence the name.
I hope this helps some of you in your journey to finding your favorite coffee drink. The biggest thing to remember is that your friendly neighborhood barista is there to help you find the drink that will make your taste buds do back flips, so ask them if you have any questions. Did I miss any drinks? What’s your favorite out of these six? Let me know in the comments!
