It doesn’t matter if you are slaving away at your workstation with a steaming espresso or relaxing on the balcony with a cappuccino. Coffee fits into these scenarios seamlessly. A cup of coffee can be a companion on a lonely night or it can add to the fun when you have company. Coffee can be enjoyed in various forms and on different occasions.
The third wave of the coffee revolution introduced us to specialty or artisanal coffees. The advancements in not just growing but roasting techniques have given the world a different types of coffee. Read the menu of a cafe much like ours and you’ll find a plethora of confusing terms like cortado, chemex, mocha, etc. . If you’re a coffee enthusiast like us, here’s a quick guide to better understand the most common types of coffee drinks.
Popular Coffee Varieties
1. Cappuccino - Arguably the most popular coffee variant, it is equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam. . As times have evolved, you’ll even find variations and flavours in it, such as cinnamon, powdered chocolate, hazelnut, and more. It can also be made with cream instead of milk.
Due to the simplicity of making it, it is commonly available in coffee dispensers with instant coffee mix.
2. Frappuccino - Affectionately known as the ‘frappe’, this is perhaps the most
commonly ordered type of cold caffeinated beverage at cafes. When it comes to the preparation, it is quite similar to its cousin - cappuccino, but it is mixed with ice to give it a cool taste. Additionally, various ingredients like whipped cream, flavored syrups, etc, can be added to it. Frappuccino can also be made without coffee and is generally high on fat and sugar. The main difference between cappuccino and frappuccino is that the former is a hot coffee beverage while the later is always chilled and may or may not contain coffee.
3. Latte- Latte or cafe latte is another milk-infused variation of the cappuccino. It is usually prepared by mixing 1/3 cup of coffee made in the espresso method with ⅔ cup of heated milk. The difference between cappuccino and latte is that the proportion of milk in a latte is more while cappuccino is made with equal parts coffee, milk, and foam.
4. Mocha - Also known as Cafe Mocha or mochaccino, it is a chocolate-flavoured variant of the latte. Chocolate powder or chocolate syrup is added to milk and espresso to make a cup of mocha coffee.The main difference between latte and mocha is the chocolate flavour in mocha coffee.
5. Espresso Americano - Also known as Americano, this is usually prepared by immersing or diluting espresso-prepared coffee in hot water. The resultant taste is strong.
There are many other types of coffee drinks that are available. But these are five of the most popular varieties available in most cafes and coffee shops .
Difference between the various coffee drinks
Which is the best coffee drink? Or rather, which appeals to your taste the most? There might not be any sure-shot answer to that question. After all, all of them are great to enjoy in one situation or the other, so it is simply a matter of personal preference. Here is a brief comparison of the 5 coffees we discussed above:
| Mocha | Latte | Frappucino | Cappuccino | Expresso Americano |
| Prepared by adding the chocolate powder to heated water | Prepared by mixing raw coffee with heated water | Prepared by blending coffee with ice | Prepared by adding hot milk to espresso | Prepared by adding hot water to espresso |
| Has a chocolatey taste | Has a strong milky taste | Has a chilled and creamy taste | Has a warm, and milky taste | Has a strong and concentrated coffee flavour |
| Is primarily a homemade brew | Is readily available in coffee machine dispensers and parlours | Is commonly sold in coffee parlors | Is mostly made with instant coffee and is readily available in coffee machine dispensers | Is commonly available in airport coffee shops or coffee machine dispensers |
Conclusion
Placing a finger on the very ‘best’ coffee is near impossible. But different types of coffee drinks go perfectly well in different situations. A frappuccino is perfect for sunny afternoons while a cappuccino is the drink to have when you want to hang out in a cafe with your friends. A cup of espresso would be welcome when you’re stuck in your office and there’s more work to do.
Every person will have their favourite but it makes sense to try all these amazing variants of coffee. You can visit our experience centre at Vikhroli where you can enjoy specialty coffees in all these variants and more. You can also learn a few brewing techniques and see how coffee beans are roasted in one of our workshops!