What Are The Kinds of Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

It can be a bit overwhelming to decide what kind of coffee to buy at a coffee shop, since there are so many different varieties.

There are about 18 major kinds of coffee which are categorized by the kinds of beans used, the way they are brewed and the amount of caffeine, sweeteners, milk etc. that they contain. Common types of coffee include cappuccino, latte, americano etc. that we shall cover in detail in this article.

What Are the Kinds of Beans Used in Coffee?

There are two major kinds of beans used in coffee: Arabica and Robusta.

Arabica:

Arabica beans come from Latin America, and are one of the most common kinds of coffee beans for the sweet taste they have to offer. They’re high-quality and also high-maintenance as they are vulnerable to environmental changes. This also makes them more expensive as compared to Robusta beans.

Robusta:

As the name suggests, Robusta beans are more robust when it comes to environmental or climatic changes. Being cheaper, and also possessing high caffeine and low acidity, they are mainly used for making instant coffee.

What Are the Various Types of Hot Coffee?

In contrast to iced coffee, hot coffee is brewed at a temperature between 195-205˚F. Below are 13 types of hot coffee:

1)     Black Coffee:

Black coffee is your basic coffee without any additives such as sweeteners or creamers. Plain ground coffee beans are simply brewed to make black coffee. You can add sweeteners to it, but that wouldn’t exactly be black coffee anymore.

2)     Decaf:

Decaf is an abbreviation for “decaffeinated.” The caffeine content naturally present in coffee beans is removed through various roasters and then these decaffeinated beans are used to make what’s called decaf coffee.

3)     Espresso:

Espresso is a stronger and more concentrated version of black coffee. It’s made using an espresso machine, which pressurizes the water give a stronger ‘shot’ of the espresso. Like black coffee, espresso only requires coffee and water. Espresso works well both as a stand-alone coffee and as a base for other kinds of coffee including latte and cappuccino.

4)     Latte:

Latte is a very creamy type of coffee which uses 1/3rd of espresso as a base while the rest 2/3rd is steamed milk. Foamed milk is used on the top, which is also used to create latte art by baristas. Latte is a very customizable type of coffee as apart from latte art, flavored syrups can also be added to give a unique flavor.

5)     Cappuccino:

Cappuccino is similar to latte, in that it uses espresso as a base, but in equal parts with respect to steamed milk and foam. So it’s 1/3rd of each. Cinnamon is often sprinkled on the top for an added oomph and flavor.

6)     Americano:

Americano is basically a diluted version of espresso. In americano you double the amount of water that you would use in an espresso, resulting in a weaker espresso.

7)     Macchiato:

Macchiato is an Italian word that means “stained” or “spotted.” Macchiato coffee is a creamier and milkier version of espresso as a tiny bit of steamed milk and foam is added on top of the espresso. This results in a coffee that has a touch of an espresso with a bit of extra creaminess for flavor.

8)     Café au Lait:

Café au Lait is made by just adding a bit of warm or steamed milk to coffee. It adds a bit of a creamy flavor to the run-of-the-mill coffee.

9)     Red Eye:

Red Eye is for those looking for a caffeine boost. It’s basically a shot of espresso combined with a cup of coffee. It also merges the flavor of both drinks.

10)  Cortado:

Unlike in most coffee styles, cortado lacks foam. It contains an equal amount of espresso and steamed milk, though it can also be a 1:2 ratio of coffee to milk depending upon preference. The steamed milk is what creates creaminess and flavor despite the lack of foam.

11)  Flat White:

Flat White is espresso and steamed milk, with the espresso being higher in content. The small amount of steamed milk provides creaminess while the high espresso content makes sure the drink is still strong and adequately caffeinated.

12)  Mocha Latte:

Mocha latte is basically just latte, but with the addition of a chocolaty flavor which is achieved through cocoa powder, melted chocolate or syrup.

13)  Irish Coffee:

Irish coffee is a combination of black coffee, whiskey, sugar and whipped cream on the top.

What Are the Kinds of Cold Coffee?

Cold coffee, as the name suggests, is made at a lower temperature as compared to hot coffee. Below are 5 major types of iced coffee:

1)     Iced Coffee:

Iced coffee is pretty much your regular cup of coffee, but with ice added at the end for a cooling effect. Just as with hot coffee, any sweeteners or additives can be used for extra flavor.

2)     Iced Latte:

Iced latte is a chilled version of hot latte. Ice is added to the espresso and steamed milk to make a refreshing summer drink.

3)     Cold Brew:

Cold brewed coffee has various levels of “coldness.” The basic technique is to slowly steep coffee grounds in water at room temperature, which reduces the acidity while increasing the caffeine content. For cooling it down more, the drink can be placed in the refrigerator or ice cubes can be added into it.

4)     Nitro Cold Brew:

Nitro coffee is a unique and textural kind of cold coffee which uses nitrogen gas in order to create bubbles in the coffee. It won’t bring any difference to the caffeine or other additives used but just adds an extra oomph through a beer-like texture.

5)     Frappe/Frappuccino:

A very creamy kind of drink, which uses either coffee or espresso as a base, to which caramel or chocolate flavor can be added through various syrups. At the top, a layer of whipped cream or foam can be added for extra creaminess. A small amount of milk can also be added to achieve the same purpose.