Most Popular Coffee Drinks and How They're Different

Americano, flat white, macchiatos, oh my! Here’s your handy list of the most popular coffee shop drinks and how each is made.

Differences in Coffee Drinks

There are two main differences in how coffee drinks are different. One is how it is prepared (espresso, coffee machine, French press are some examples) and the other is what’s in each drink.

For espresso drinks, the main difference the beverages is the ratio of espresso to milk and/or foam. A standard latte will be made with 2 shots of espresso, 10 ounces of steamed milk and little layer of foam while a cappuccino will be made with 2 shots of espresso and just 4 ounces of steamed milk and foam.

If you like more milk in your drink, get a latte but if you like a lot less, you can get a cortado which is made with equal parts espresso and milk. The different names of the drinks make it a bit confusing since with each slight variation, the name of the drink is changed.

Most Popular Coffee Drinks

There are so many coffee drinks out there and it’s hard to figure out how they’re all different. To help you figure out the difference, see my list of the most popular coffee drinks and see the variations in ratio of espresso to milk.

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Espresso

Made in an espresso machine using high pressure, espresso is a concentrated coffee drink. It’s the base of popular coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. Espresso can be made using any kind of coffee bean from light to dark roast.
ESPRESSO: 1-2 shots
MILK: none
DRINK SIZE: 1-2 ounces
PRONUNCIATION: ESS-PRESS-SO

Ristretto

A ristretto is a shot of espresso made with less water. It’s a smaller drink than an espresso since it’s more concentrated, making it richer and slightly sweeter.
ESPRESSO: 1-2 short shots
MILK: none
DRINK SIZE: .5-.75 ounce
PRONUNCIATION: REE-STREH-TOH

Americano

Americano is a simple drink made from espresso and hot water so it’s like brewed black coffee but with richer flavor.
ESPRESSO: 1-2 shots
MILK: optional
DRINK SIZE: 12 ounces (2 shots espresso + 10 ounces hot water) is standard, but it can be made in any size by adding or reducing the amount of hot water
PRONUNCIATION: UH-MEH-REE-CAHN-OH

Doppio Espresso

Doppio means double in Italian and it’s a double shot of espresso. To order 2 shots of espresso, you can just say doppio.
ESPRESSO: 2 shots
MILK: none
DRINK SIZE: 2 ounces
PRONUNCIATION: DOPE-EE-YOH ESS-PRESS-SO

Latte

One of the most popular espresso-based drinks, lattes are made with 1 part espresso, 4 parts milk, and 1 part foam. If you’re new to espresso drinks, it’s a good drink to order since it’s made with the most milk.
ESPRESSO: 1-2 shots
MILK: 10 ounces steamed milk and microfoam
DRINK SIZE: 12 ounces is standard but can be ordered in bigger sizes
PRONUNCIATION: LAH-TAY

Cappuccino

A classic Italian drink made with 1 part espresso, 1 part steamed milk, and 1 part foam.
ESPRESSO: 1-2 shots
MILK: 4-5 ounces steamed milk and foam
DRINK SIZE: 6 ounces is standard
PRONOUNCIATION: CAP-PU-CHEEN-O

Flat White

A flat white is 2 parts espresso, 3 parts milk, and 1 part foam. It’s similar to a latte but smaller in size.
ESPRESSO: 2 shots
MILK: 4 ounces steamed milk and foam
DRINK SIZE: 6 ounces is standard

Cortado

Also called the Gibraltar, this drink is made of 1 part espresso and 1 part steamed milk.
ESPRESSO: 2 shots
MILK: 2 ounces steamed milk
DRINK SIZE: 4 ounces
PRONOUNCIATION: COR-TA-DOH

Macchiato

An espresso macchiato is different than a latte macchiato. An espresso macchiato is 1 part espresso and 1/2 part foam.
ESPRESSO: 2 shots
MILK: 1 ounce foam
DRINK SIZE: 3 ounces
PRONOUNCIATION: MAKI-AH-TOE

Caramel Macchiato

A Caramel Macchiato is a latte but assembled a bit differently with the milk froth poured in first, then the espresso and it’s 1 part espresso, 4 parts milk, and 1 part foam
ESPRESSO: 2 shots
MILK: steamed milk and microfoam
DRINK SIZE: 12 ounces or more
PRONOUNCIATION: KEH-RAH-MEL MAKI-AH-TOE

Mocha

Mocha is a drink made with espresso, chocolate, and milk. It’s essentially a latte with chocolate.
ESPRESSO: 1-2 shots
MILK: 8 ounces steamed milk and microfoam
DRINK SIZE: 12 ounces is standard but can be ordered in bigger sizes
PRONOUNCIATION: MOE-KAH

Cafe au Lait

Cafe au lait is French for coffee with milk. It’s made with 1 part drip coffee (not espresso) and 1 part steamed milk.
COFFEE: brewed coffee
MILK: equal amount of milk to coffee
DRINK SIZE: 8-20 ounces (no standard size)
PRONOUNCIATION: KA-FEH-OH-LAY

Most Popular Coffee Drinks and How They’re Different