9 Classic Specialty Coffees You Should Know

Ever wandered into a coffee shop and seen 'Mocha' or 'Cappuccino' on the menu but weren’t sure what made each one unique? Or maybe you’ve heard of Turkish coffee and wondered how it’s different from your morning drip? This guide breaks down nine world-famous specialty coffee drinks, their ingredients, ratios, and how they’re traditionally made—no fluff, just the facts.

In short: there are nine globally known coffee drinks covered here, each with specific ingredients like chocolate syrup, whipped cream, spices, or even salt. We detail exact measurements—like 20ml of chocolate syrup or 10g of brown sugar—and preparation steps for each, from Mocha to Turkish coffee.

What Is Mocha Coffee?

Mocha coffee delivers a bold New York-style flavor in a small cup. To make it, combine 20ml of chocolate syrup with a shot of strong dark-roast coffee, stir well, then top with one tablespoon of cream. Finish with grated chocolate and a cinnamon stick for garnish. This drink highlights how chocolate and coffee can merge into one rich, dessert-like specialty beverage.

What’s Mocha Mint Coffee?

This American favorite blends chocolate and mint without stirring. First, place 20g of chocolate and dark-roast coffee in the cup, add one teaspoon of white mint, then pour hot coffee over cold cream. The result is a layered drink where hot coffee sits below chilled cream, creating contrasting temperatures. Garnish with grated chocolate and a mint leaf. It’s a chilled-hot layered specialty coffee experience.

What Is a Cappuccino?

The cappuccino, named for its resemblance to a monk’s hood, is a classic espresso-based drink often served with a twist. Prepare it by pouring heated dark-roast coffee into a small cup, adding two teaspoons of sugar, then topping with one tablespoon of cream. For extra flair, add a splash of lemon or orange juice and serve with a cinnamon stick instead of a spoon. Some variations include a complex citrus-spice profile that elevates the traditional cup.

What’s Coffee with Coconut Cream?

This fragrant coffee leans into strong coconut aroma. Add two drops of coconut essence to a cup, then pour in dark-roast coffee along with 60ml of boiled milk. Top with one tablespoon of cream and sprinkle with toasted coconut flakes. The method ensures the coconut shines through as a featured flavor note in the specialty drink.

What Is Vienna-Style Mixed Coffee?

A Viennese-style milk coffee combines equal parts coffee and milk. Start with a cup of medium-dark roast coffee, then heat an equal amount of milk in a saucepan. Before it boils, add cream and pour the mixture over the coffee while foam is still forming. This creates a smooth, creamy coffee with a rich mouthfeel—a hallmark of Viennese café culture.

What Is Naples-Style Coffee?

This very bitter, strong coffee is often drunk quickly and black. Serve it in a handled cup with a slice of lemon placed directly on top. The idea is to drink it in the dark—lemon rind and all—for a bold, eye-opening morning cup. It’s commonly referred to as 'dawn coffee' by younger drinkers in the U.S. for its intense, no-frills profile.

What Is Hot Mocha Java?

This Russian-style coffee, also called hot Mocha Java, is thick and intensely coffee-flavored. Make it by combining dark-roast coffee, melted chocolate, cocoa, egg yolk, a small amount of milk, and heating the mixture thoroughly. Stir in one teaspoon of sugar, then top with one tablespoon of cream and grated chocolate. The use of egg yolk and chocolate makes it especially rich and dessert-like among specialty coffees.

What Is Indian Coffee?

Indian coffee is best enjoyed from a paired set of handled cups. Brew it by heating milk almost to boiling, then adding dark-roast coffee and 10g of brown sugar just before boil. Add a pinch of salt to enhance the milk’s natural sweetness. The salt lifts the sweetness, making the coffee taste richer. It’s often served as a warming drink, ideal for cold climates.

What Is Turkish Coffee?

Turkish coffee is unfiltered and traditionally read for fortune-telling from the coffee grounds left in the cup. To prepare, mix finely ground dark-roast coffee with spices like cinnamon, then heat the mixture three times in water without boiling over. Let it settle, pour the clear liquid into a cup, and optionally add orange juice and honey. The fine grind and multiple boils create an intense, sludgy-bottomed cup unique to the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much chocolate syrup is used in a traditional Mocha coffee?

A traditional Mocha coffee uses exactly 20ml of chocolate syrup mixed with strong dark-roast coffee, stirred together before topping with cream and garnishes.

Why is Mocha Mint coffee served in layers?

Mocha Mint coffee is served in layers with hot coffee poured over cold cream so the temperatures remain separate—hot coffee below and chilled cream above—for a unique drinking experience without stirring.

What makes Naples-style coffee different?

Naples-style coffee is extremely bitter and served black, often with a slice of lemon on top, and is meant to be drunk quickly and even in the dark for a strong, sharp flavor.

Does Turkish coffee include any spices?

Yes, Turkish coffee is typically prepared with finely ground dark-roast coffee and often includes spices such as cinnamon, which are mixed with the coffee before heating.

What’s the role of salt in Indian coffee?

In Indian coffee, a small amount of salt is added to enhance the natural sweetness of the milk and sugar, balancing and lifting the overall flavor profile.

How many times is the water boiled when making Turkish coffee?

The water and coffee mixture for Turkish coffee is boiled three times without letting it boil over, then allowed to settle before serving the clear liquid.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Classic Coffee Drinks

For these classic coffee recipes, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright fruity notes that work beautifully in mochas and Viennese-style mixes, or their PWN Golden Mandheling for a full-bodied, low-acidity option ideal for Turkish and Indian-style coffee. Their Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 offers a clean, nuanced cup perfect for layering with cream or spices. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.