Coffee types explained: an overview of all kinds of coffee

Are you overwhelmed when you open a coffeeshop menu? The number of different types of coffee available is amazing! You might even feel a bit unadventurous when you order an ordinary cappuccino, not to mention a black coffee. But you may be wondering: what’s a flat white? And, will I like it? What makes a ristretto different from an espresso?

Not to worry! We’re here to help guide you through the brilliant variety of today’s coffee world.

JUST COFFEE PLEASE—NO MILK.

Do you like your coffee black, with robust coffee flavour? Check out the following coffee drinks. It’s all about the right proportion: how much water vs how much coffee.

ESPRESSO

Espresso is the starting point for all kinds of coffee drinks. You may also have heard it called a short black and, besides being delicious on its own, it is the foundation of milky pleasures like cappuccino and latte.

Making espresso

RISTRETTO

Looking for a denser, darker version of a regular espresso? Then you're in the market for a ristretto! However, there are differences between espresso and ristretto. The ristretto uses the same quantity of coffee used for an espresso, but just half the water. It comes out as a dense and fragrant—you might even say spicy—drink, just the right thing if you need a bit of a ‘kickstart’ in the morning.

Making a Ristretto

LUNGO

Do you like to linger over your cup of coffee? Are you finding an espresso or a ristretto don't quite last long enough. Try a Caffè Lungo! You use the same coffee quantity as you do for espresso, but add twice the water. Concerned about losing out on flavour? No worries, L’OR Caffè Lungo is an amazing flavour experience!

Making a Lungo

Double espresso

Whether you call it a 'doppio' or a double espresso, this highly-concentrated drink offers a more intense coffee taste experience than a single espresso. Fun fact: the Italian word for double is 'doppio'.

Making a double espresso

Americano

A popular way to start your day, a Caffè Americano is made by adding a bit of hot water to an espresso and a bit of water. It still has a thin layer of crema and that intense espresso flavour, just not quite so strong. It earned its name from the American soldiers in WWII who added water to their espresso to dilute it while still getting the same caffeine 'kick'.

Making an Americano

Long Black

If you like crema and intense coffee flavour, but want to enjoy it for longer, check out the Long Black! It's like an Americano but features 2 shots of espresso and a bit more crema. This drink started out in New-Zealand or Australia and is at its best when made with lightly roasted coffee beans.

Making a long black

Drip brewed coffee

Many coffee aficionados say that measuring and pouring drip coffee truly makes a difference. This so-called ‘slow-brewing’ method is both popular and surprisingly economical. With a bit of dedication and practise, you’ll get delicious results that are worth the effort.

Making Drip slow-brewed coffee

Latte

As espresso became more and more popular around the globe, in many countries, people found it a little too intense. Much loved by first-time coffee drinkers, and those looking for something a little softer than an espresso, Caffè Latte – or just 'Latte' for short – is quite a bit sweeter because of the layers of steamed milk and microfoam that top the espresso.

Making a Caffè Latte

Cappuccino

Cappuccino tops the list when it comes to popular milky coffee drinks. It traces its origins to Italy, where the cappuccino starts with an espresso, is then topped with hot milk and followed by a thick layer of microfoam. Some feel that a real cappuccino should be topped with a dusting of cacao. You can make a cappuccino at home with L'OR Espresso pods. Why not try Fortissimo Espresso for a luscious cappuccino moment.

Making a cappuccino

Flat White

While a flat white may look lot like an Italian cappuccino, the milk in this little brother from down under has a very different texture. Don't mistake it for a latte either, the flat white is bit smaller and stronger. The name comes from the frothed milk: it has to be silky smooth and topped with a super-thin layer of milk foam. There aren’t supposed to be any air bubbles in the froth on top.

Making a Flat White

MACCHIATO

Caffè macchiato, or just macchiato for short, is an espresso but with a just a spot of frothed milk on top. Caffè Macchiato literally means ‘spotted coffee’ in Italian because of the 'spot' of steamed milk on top of the espresso. This little spoonful of milk froth softens the intensity of the espresso.

Making a Macchiato

Long Macchiato

Like its little sister, the Long Macchiato is also topped with a 'spot' of steamed milk. So, what's the difference? For a Long Macchiato you should use a double shot of espresso instead of a single. Want to ask for a Long Macchiato in Portugal? Order a Café Pingado, or 'coffee with a drop'.

Making a Long Macchiato

Piccolo Latte

Ever heard of the Piccolo Latte? It's like a Caffè Latte but made in an espresso cup or little glass. This means that it's got a strong flavour but softened a bit by the frothed milk and microfoam. Want to make a top notch Piccolo Latte? Use Ristretto instead of espresso. They say that the Piccolo Latte was created by Australian baristas and roasters in Sydney to taste test their brews with milk while not overdoing the dairy.

Making a Piccolo Latte

MOCHA

The Mocha brings together the best Cappuccino and hot chocolate. Combining powdered chocolate and Cappuccino creates a luxuriously creamy taste sensation. Feeling adventurous? Try a White Mocha, which is made with white chocolate instead of dark chocolate.

Making a Mocha

CORTADO

The Cortado is a Spanish specialty coffee which, like a Macchiato, also uses espresso and milk. The name comes from the Spanish verb cortar (to cut), perhaps referring to the clean ‘cut’ between the distinct layers of milk and coffee. In a Cortado the milk is evenly balanced with the coffee and steamed but not frothy and topped with a thin layer of microfoam.

Making a Cortado

Breve

An Americanized version of the Caffè Latte, the Caffè Breve is made with steamed half-and-half – a U.S. product that blends single cream and milk for a fat content of 10-18%, so it comes out creamier than an ordinary Caffè Latte. If you're fond of a bit of cream in your morning coffee, be sure to try a Caffè Breve!

Making a Caffè Breve

Vienna

'Einspänner' or Vienna coffee takes its name from the Austrian capital city, Vienna. Starting with one or two shots of espresso, traditional Viennese coffee houses then top it with whipped cream. Legend has it that soldiers found some strange looking beans while liberating Vienna from the Turkish siege. They turned out to be coffee beans, sugar and milk were added to the brew and the famous Vienna coffee tradition began.

Making Vienna Coffee

CAPPUCCINO

Cappuccino tops the list when it comes to popular milky coffee drinks. It traces its origins to Italy, where the cappuccino starts with an espresso, is then topped with hot milk and followed by a thick layer of microfoam. Some feel that a real cappuccino should be topped with a dusting of cacao. You can make a cappuccino at home with L'OR Espresso pods. Why not try Fortissimo Espresso for a luscious cappuccino moment.

MACCHIATO

Want a touch of milk but not too much? Try a macchiato! It’s an espresso with a dash of steamed milk and a dollop of foam. This touch of milk smooths out espresso’s intensity when you want a little less kick and a little more coddle. Try our Espresso Supremo as the foundation for your macchiato.

LATTE MACCHIATO

The latte macchiato is as enjoyable to look at as it is to drink. Most often it’s served in a long glass to show off this coffee drink’s characteristic three layers. The latte macchiato is mostly steamed milk, touched with just a splash of espresso and topped with a layer of foam. If you’re in the mood for milk, this coffee drink is for you! Discover the differences between all milky coffees with L'OR.

FLAT WHITE

The flat white, which hails from Australia, calls for a bit more explanation because it’s prepared differently in different countries and might even change from one coffee shop to another. There are two basic choices: not foamy—just a shot of espresso with steamed milk—and the more common (and complicated) foamy version—a silky-smooth blend of steamed milk gently stirred into a shot of espresso, leaving a thin, almost invisible layer of microfoam on top. It may look a lot like a latte, but you’ll know the difference as soon as you taste it!

A flat white has a robust coffee flavour while the microfoam makes it feel velvety-smooth in your mouth. Do you usually order a cappuccino but feel like trying something different? The flat white is just the thing for you! You can make a flat white yourself with coffee pods of L'OR Espresso.

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