It is January, which means that all of the “holiday drinks” are gone from most of your local coffee houses! It is also the new year, meaning that it is time for you to try new things; you did say that for your New Year’s resolution, right? Are those still a thing? Anyway, it is time for you to try something new, and considering the fact that I started this off talking about coffee, I’m going to give you some coffee drinks that you might not know about. Let’s talk about that.

1. The Flat White

This is my personal favorite as far as espresso-based drinks go; it also has a fair amount of controversy behind it as far as its origins goes, too. Traditionally speaking, this drink is about five ounces (no, Starbucks, I don’t want a venti flat white, perverts), and is made with ristretto shots as opposed to the traditional espresso brew method.

This drink originates from either New Zealand or Australia, depending on who you ask — and from what I hear, both parties are pretty proud of the drink. Regardless of nationality, the drink surfaced in the region in the 1980s and has been wildly popular ever since.

So how does this guy taste? Hold on, just a second. *Sips flat white.* Well, it’s like a strong tasting cappuccino with less milk in it. The way a ristretto shot is pulled from an espresso machine makes the shot taste bolder and more balanced compared to the bitterness of regular espresso. This is definitely a drink for someone looking for a kick.

2. Macchiato

No, I am not referring to Starbuck’s caramel “macchiato,” allow me to be the first to tell you that drink is not a macchiato; it’s a latte (you go stand in the corner and think about what you did, Starbucks). Traditionally, a macchiato is a two-ounce drink that consists of a double shot (or doppio) espresso and a dot of milk foam on top. In American coffee culture, there is a little more milk poured in the drink to curb some of the bitterness that is in an espresso shot. You’re basically drinking a double shot of espresso here (something that I personally love), so be ready to have some hairs stand on end; this drink will punch you in the face.

3. Cortado

This guy here is essentially a macchiato after that first full year of college with that glorious “freshman-15” result. Most coffee shop menus will say this drink is a good in-between of a cappuccino and a macchiato, which I would agree with for the most part, but the drink leans a little more towards the taste of a macchiato.

This drink is pretty strong, so don't think it has much of a milk flavor at all to it. The espresso really breaks through the taste of the milk; the milk is just more of a compliment to the espresso rather than the bigger drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes having the espresso compliment the milk. This is a phenomenal drink, but like a macchiato, get ready for that espresso kick.

4. Café Au Lait

Maybe you really just like a cup of drip coffee as opposed to that shot of espresso with some steamed milk, or maybe you just want to boost your hipster cred by ordering something that has a French name to it; either way, you should definitely try the café au lait, or in English, “coffee with milk.” The French name sounds sexier, doesn’t it? Let’s just stick to that. The drink itself is pretty much just your regular cup of joe in the morning, but that creamer (or milk in this case) has been steamed. Overall it’s a pretty good drink, but don’t expect the strong flavor punch that espresso delivers.

In no way are these drinks in order and are all awesome in their own respect. If you don't see these on the menu at your local coffee shop, just ask your barista, they should have a general idea about the drink and be able to go (Google search) from there. What are some of your favorite coffee drinks? Did I miss one that should've been on this list? Let me know in the comments! Happy caffeinating!