If you’re new to coffee culture, one of the first things you should do is learn about the many drinks often found at cafés around the country. With so many different recipes and brewing styles, there’s a lot to familiarize yourself with. But, don’t stress, because this is one of the most exciting parts of becoming a coffee enthusiast – the sampling process.
One day, you may take up the challenge of learning to brew the following recipes on your own. But for now, let’s take a look at some of the most popular coffee drinks that you need to try.
Americano
An Americano is the United State’s greatest contribution to the coffee industry. This drink is an espresso topped with extremely hot water and provides similar strength to a regular cup of coffee. But, because the grounds are infused at such a high pressure and then immersed in piping hot water, the flavors are much more intense.
Cappuccino
The first espresso-based drink on our list is the cappuccino. This drink combines one to two shots of espresso on the bottom, equal amounts of steamed milk and topped with frothy milk. Alternative recipes call for cream instead of milk, as well as cinnamon spice or chocolate powder as an additive. There’s a lot of room to experiment with this decadent beverage.
Caramel Macchiato
A caramel macchiato starts with one shot of espresso and just a small dose of steamed milk. Next, add a splash of caramel syrup or flavoring and a few drops of vanilla extract. Your drinking experience is about to move up a few notches.
Cold Brew
Cold brew is prepared via the immersion method, where freshly ground coffee is steeped in water and left to brew in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. This allows the many flavors in the grounds to slowly mix into the water, crafting a more complex end result in ice-cold form. It’s perfect for those hot summer days when you’re in need of a pick-me-up.
Cortado
One part espresso, one part steamed milk and no parts foam, this is a more basic form of a latte. It’s highly popular in Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries like the Dominican Republic and Cuba. It’s usually best enjoyed out of a traditional glass mug with a metal handle.
Espresso
With Italian origins, the espresso has been a mainstay in the coffee industry for over 100 years. Featuring intense flavor, a convenient yet powerful shot size, and quick brewing process, it’s no wonder why this small coffee drink has enjoyed generation-spanning popularity. Using a process that involves an infusion of highly pressurized water through finely ground, compacted coffee, the final beverage is a highly concentrated swig with a thick viscosity and frothy head. Espresso is great on it’s own or as a base for a variety of other drinks.
Frappe
Another cold-serve drink is the frappe. This is an iced coffee that’s been shaken or blended to a slightly foamy consistency. The simple ingredients include instant coffee, water, sugar and milk.
Latte
Another popular option on the list is a latte. Often confused with a cappuccino, the latte differs in a big way. With a latte, you get a single or double shot of espresso, followed by a hefty pour of steamed milk that’s then stirred. This creates a rich, creamy finish that’s more subtle than a layered cappuccino while offering a lighter layer of foam.
Mocha
Short for caffe mocha or mocha latte, this drink combines the best of two unbeatable worlds – the sweetness of chocolate and the bitterness of dark roast espresso. Mochas contain one part espresso, two parts steamed milk and a healthy dash of chocolate powder or syrup. This coffee drink is more like a desert!
Nitro Cold Brew
Cold brew has seen a surge in popularity throughout the past several years, driven by a consumer public that loves its unique flavor, refreshing finish and drinkable characteristics. But, this cold brew recipe takes it up a notch. Infused with nitrogen, you get a surprisingly mild and mouth-wateringly sweet result.
Red Eye
This appropriately named recipe includes one ounce of espresso mixed with drip-brew coffee. You can take a red eye with or without milk to mask the powerful coffee overtones. Next time you’re catching an early flight, brew-up one of these invigorating drinks and gear up for take off.
Alcohol-Mixed Coffee
Let’s not forget those who enjoy a boozy twist on their favorite coffee drink. There’s a number of concoctions you can craft even with a basic cup of joe. The best types of alcohol to add to a caffeinated beverage are whiskey, rum and brandy, mixed with amaretto, schnapps and cream liqueur.
Check these popular coffee drinks off your to-do list
A taste test of the coffee drinks listed above is absolutely essential for any budding coffee lover. Plus, if you went through the list, you can tell that a lot of these popular recipes use the same type of ingredients, just in different ways. In other words, with the right equipment and ingredients, it wouldn’t be hard to get your own at-home brewing setup started.
But, even a trip to the local coffeehouse gives you easy access to almost all of these drinks. Baristas will likely serve custom orders if you want to get creative and start developing a palate. So, whether you’ve had all of the most popular drinks or none of them, it’s about time you did a proper sampling of these oh-so-delicious options!
No matter what type of drink you enjoy, use Inflight Coffee to make it great.
Pick up a flavorful, bold, perfectly roasted bag of Inflight Fuel Coffee today. Available in a light, medium and dark finish, this coffee is designed to taste great no matter what type of drink you prefer. Become a master brewer by stocking Inflight Fuel on your shelves!
