From a simple espresso to a layered caramel latte, the world of coffee drinks can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of drinks on every coffee shop menu, and many of them look almost identical.

The difference between most coffee drinks comes down to three things: the espresso-to-milk ratio, the milk texture (steamed vs frothed vs cold), and the serving size. Once you understand those building blocks, every drink on the menu makes sense.

Below, you will find a quick-reference guide to the most popular coffee drinks, followed by deeper explanations of each category and our full library of coffee drink guides.

---

Types of Coffee Drinks at a Glance

Here is a quick comparison of the most popular coffee drinks you will find at any coffee shop. Each drink is built on espresso, brewed coffee, or a combination of coffee and milk.

Drink	Base	Milk	Strength	Served
Espresso	Espresso	None	Very strong	Hot
Americano	Espresso + water	None	Strong	Hot / Iced
Latte	Espresso	Steamed + foam	Mild	Hot / Iced
Cappuccino	Espresso	Steamed + thick foam	Medium	Hot
Flat White	Espresso	Microfoam	Strong	Hot
Mocha	Espresso + chocolate	Steamed + cream	Mild	Hot / Iced
Macchiato	Espresso	Splash of foam	Very strong	Hot
Cortado	Espresso	Equal part steamed	Strong	Hot
Shaken Espresso	Espresso + ice	Splash of milk	Strong	Iced
Long Black	Espresso + water	None	Strong	Hot
Frappuccino	Espresso + ice blend	Milk + cream	Mild	Iced
Drip Coffee	Brewed	Optional	Medium	Hot

For a full breakdown of 26 drinks with detailed descriptions, read our complete guide to types of coffee drinks.

---

Espresso-Based Drinks

The majority of drinks on a coffee shop menu start with one or two shots of espresso. What changes between them is how much milk is added, how the milk is textured, and what extras (chocolate, syrups, ice) go in.

Here is how the most popular espresso drinks relate to each other:

• No milk: Espresso (pure shot) and Americano (espresso diluted with hot water)
• A little milk: Macchiato (espresso with a dash of foam) and Cortado (equal parts espresso and steamed milk)
• Balanced milk: Flat White (double espresso with thin microfoam) and Cappuccino (espresso with equal steamed milk and thick foam)
• Mostly milk: Latte (espresso with lots of steamed milk and a thin foam layer) and Mocha (latte with chocolate)
• Iced: Shaken Espresso (espresso shaken with ice) and Frappuccino (blended espresso, ice, and milk)

The espresso itself typically contains about 63 mg of caffeine per shot. Most of these drinks use one or two shots, so the caffeine is fairly similar across the board. The real difference is in taste and texture.

---

Popular Coffee Drink Comparisons

If you have ever stood at the counter wondering “what is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?” or “is a flat white just a small latte?”, you are not alone. These are some of the most common coffee questions, and we have written detailed guides for each one.

---

How to Choose Your Coffee Drink

Not sure what to order? Use this quick guide based on what you are in the mood for:

If you want…	Try this
Something strong and quick	Espresso or Macchiato
Strong but more volume	Americano or Flat White
Creamy and smooth	Latte
Foamy and classic	Cappuccino
Coffee + chocolate	Mocha
Something cold and refreshing	Shaken Espresso or Iced Latte
Not actually coffee	Chai Latte

---

Iced and Cold Coffee Drinks

Cold coffee has exploded in popularity over the last decade. Beyond a simple iced latte, there are now several distinct cold coffee styles, each with a different brew method, texture, and strength.

• Iced latte: Espresso shots poured over ice and topped with cold milk. Straightforward and refreshing.
• Shaken espresso: Espresso shaken vigorously with ice until frothy, then poured over more ice with a splash of milk. Popularised by Starbucks but easy to make at home.
• Cold brew: Coffee grounds steeped in cold water for 12–24 hours. The result is smooth, low-acid, and highly concentrated. Served diluted over ice or with milk.
• Frappuccino: A blended drink made from espresso, ice, milk, and flavoured syrups. Thick, sweet, and closer to a milkshake than a traditional coffee.
• Iced Americano: Espresso shots pulled directly over ice, then topped with cold water. Stronger and less diluted than an iced latte.
• Nitro cold brew: Cold brew infused with nitrogen gas, served on tap. Creamy, smooth texture with no added milk.

The key difference between cold brew and iced coffee is the brewing method: iced coffee is hot-brewed then chilled, while cold brew is never heated. Cold brew is generally smoother and less acidic as a result. For the best results at home, use medium to dark roast beans with low acidity. See our guide to the best coffee beans for cold brew.

All Coffee Drink Guides

Browse all of our coffee drink guides, comparisons, and deep-dives below.