Four coffee drinks lined up on a wooden bench

Coffee Drinks

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

Every major coffee drink compared by base, milk, strength, and how it is served.

DrinkBaseMilkStrengthServed
EspressoEspressoNoneVery strongHot
AmericanoEspresso + waterNoneStrongHot / Iced
LatteEspressoSteamed + foamMildHot / Iced
CappuccinoEspressoSteamed + thick foamMediumHot
Flat WhiteEspressoMicrofoamStrongHot
MochaEspresso + chocolateSteamed + creamMildHot / Iced
MacchiatoEspressoSplash of foamVery strongHot
CortadoEspressoEqual part steamedStrongHot
Shaken EspressoEspresso + iceSplash of milkStrongIced
Long BlackEspresso + waterNoneStrongHot
FrappuccinoEspresso + ice blendMilk + creamMildIced
Drip CoffeeBrewedOptionalMediumHot

The major coffee drinks compared. Strength describes flavour intensity, not caffeine.

For the full breakdown of every drink, read our guide to the types of coffee.

Espresso-Based Drinks

Think of espresso drinks as a ladder of milk. Every step up adds more milk and softens the shot:

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)

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 quickEspresso or Macchiato
Strong but more volumeAmericano or Flat White
Creamy and smoothLatte
Foamy and classicCappuccino
Coffee + chocolateMocha
Something cold and refreshingShaken Espresso or Iced Latte
Not actually coffeeChai Latte

A quick guide to choosing a coffee drink by mood.

Iced and Cold Coffee Drinks

Cold coffee is not one drink, the preparation changes everything from texture to caffeine:

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. Cold brew Coffee grounds steeped in cold water for 12–24 hours. Smooth, low-acid, and highly concentrated. Frappuccino A blended drink made from espresso, ice, milk, and flavoured syrups. Closer to a milkshake.
Iced Americano Espresso shots pulled directly over ice, then topped with cold water. Stronger and less diluted.
Nitro cold brew Cold brew infused with nitrogen gas, served on tap. Creamy texture with no added milk.

All Coffee Drink Guides

Browse all of our coffee drink guides
Pouring hot water from a kettle over ground coffee in a pour-over brewer on a scale How to Make Coffee: 9 Methods, Ratios and the Basics To make coffee, combine freshly ground coffee with hot water at about 200°F, at a ratio of roughly 1 part coffee to… Megan Cunningham · September 29, 2026 A steaming mug of coffee on a sunlit wooden table How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Coffee? By Drink and Size A typical 8 oz cup of brewed coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine, but the real range is wide: roughly 75… Austin Barker · September 29, 2026 An iced latte with a straw on a wooden table Banana Bread Latte: Starbucks-Style Copycat Recipe (Hot or Iced) A banana bread latte is espresso and milk sweetened with banana syrup and finished with brown sugar cold foam and a dusting… Joel Lewis · September 29, 2026 A glass of dark coffee over a large ice cube Iced Americano: How to Make It, Ratios and What It Is An iced americano is espresso poured over cold water and ice, which gives you a long, refreshing black coffee with the flavor… Joel Lewis · September 28, 2026 A glass of milky coffee with a layer of foam on a wooden board Cafe con Leche: What It Is and How to Make It Cafe con leche is Spanish for coffee with milk: strong coffee, usually espresso, mixed with about the same amount of hot milk.… Megan Cunningham · September 27, 2026 A small glass cup of strong espresso with a golden crema on a white tiled table Cuban Coffee: How to Make Cafecito, Colada and Cortadito Cuban coffee is a small, strong, sweet shot of dark-roast espresso, usually brewed in a stovetop moka pot and whipped with sugar… Joel Lewis · September 26, 2026 Close-up of cream swirling into coffee Homemade Coffee Creamer: Easy 3-Ingredient Recipe Plus Flavors Homemade coffee creamer is milk or half and half shaken with sweetened condensed milk and a little vanilla, and it takes about… Megan Cunningham · September 25, 2026 Turkish coffee with a thick layer of foam in a decorated cup, served with Turkish delight Turkish Coffee: What It Is and How to Make It in a Cezve Turkish coffee is coffee ground to a powder, simmered slowly with water (and usually sugar) in a small long-handled pot called a… Austin Barker · September 24, 2026 A glass of cold brew coffee over ice What Is Cold Brew Coffee? Taste, Caffeine and How It’s Made Cold brew is coffee made by steeping coarse ground beans in cold or room-temperature water for 12 to 24 hours, then filtering… Austin Barker · September 23, 2026

Coffee Drink Questions

What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?

Milk ratio and foam thickness. A cappuccino is roughly equal espresso, steamed milk and thick foam; a latte is mostly steamed milk with a thin foam layer.

How much caffeine is in a shot of espresso?

About 63 mg. Most espresso drinks use one or two shots, so caffeine is similar across the menu, the difference is taste and texture.

Is cold brew the same as iced coffee?

No. Iced coffee is hot-brewed then chilled; cold brew is steeped in cold water for 12–24 hours and never heated, which makes it smoother and less acidic.

Is a flat white just a small latte?

Not quite. A flat white uses a double shot with thin microfoam, so it tastes stronger and feels denser than a latte of the same size.