Types of Specialty Coffee Drinks Explained

When you walk into a coffee shop, the menu can feel overwhelming—what’s the difference between a macchiato and a flat white? Why does Vietnamese coffee taste so different from your usual drip? Whether you're ordering at a café or brewing at home, knowing how classic coffee drinks are made helps you choose or replicate the one you like. This guide breaks down the most common specialty-style and traditional coffee drinks by preparation, ingredients, and cultural origin.

There are at least 12 widely recognised coffee drink types covered here, including black coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte, and more regional varieties like Irish coffee and Vietnamese drip coffee, each with specific ingredients and preparation methods.

What Is Black Coffee?

Black coffee, also called “clear coffee” or in Hong Kong, “zhai fei” , is coffee brewed directly from roasted coffee beans without any additions like milk or sugar. It showcases the pure flavour of the coffee. Importantly, instant coffee is not considered black coffee.

What Is White Coffee?

White coffee originates from Ipoh, Malaysia. It refers to coffee beans roasted with butter, then brewed and mixed with sweetened condensed milk. Essentially, it’s a type of sweetened latte. In the U.S., “white coffee” can also mean lightly roasted beans brewed using espresso methods, resulting in a brighter, more acidic cup.

Flavored Coffee: Customising Your Cup

Flavored coffee involves adding ingredients like chocolate syrup, fruit juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange blossom, or liqueurs to brewed coffee. The variations depend heavily on regional preferences and cultural tastes.

Espresso-Based Drinks

Espresso forms the base for many popular coffee drinks. Here's how some of the most common ones are prepared:

Espresso (Espresso)

Made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under high pressure. This method produces a small, concentrated shot of coffee with a rich crema on top.

Cappuccino

A cappuccino consists of an espresso shot topped with steamed milk and milk foam, typically in a 1:1:1 ratio (espresso:milk:foam). Optional toppings include cinnamon, chocolate powder, or spices. A “double” cappuccino uses two shots of espresso.

Latte (Caffè Latte)

An espresso combined with a larger amount of steamed milk—commonly a 1:2 or greater espresso-to-milk ratio. Often served with sugar. A “double” latte uses two espresso shots. In France, it’s known as café au lait.

Macchiato

An espresso “stained” with a small amount of steamed milk foam. The name means “stained” or “spotted” in Italian. It’s essentially an espresso with just a touch of milk.

Mocha (Caffè Mocha)

A mix of espresso, chocolate (often syrup), steamed milk, and sometimes whipped cream or ice. It’s a café-style chocolate coffee drink.

Americano (American Coffee)

An espresso shot diluted with hot water, resulting in a milder, larger drink similar in strength to traditional filtered coffee but with espresso flavour at its core.

Irish Coffee

A coffee cocktail that includes hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and is topped with whipped cream. It’s a warming drink often served in colder climates.

Viennese Coffee (Viennese)

Created by Austrian coachman Eduard Schönner, this drink features espresso or black coffee topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with multi-coloured decorative sugar. A dessert-like coffee experience.

Regional and Unique Coffee Styles

Vietnamese Coffee (Vietnamese Coffee)

Brewed using a small metal drip filter called a phin, Vietnamese coffee involves pouring hot water over finely ground dark roast coffee. The coffee drips slowly into a cup, often sweetened with condensed milk or sugar according to taste. It’s served both hot and cold. In Vietnam, due to historically inconsistent local bean quality, condensed milk is commonly added to balance bitterness. Two common preparation methods exist: hot (sometimes kept warm using a hot water bath) and iced (with added ice cubes).

Mandheling Coffee

This coffee comes from Sumatra, Indonesia. Also known as Sumatran coffee, it is known for its bold, earthy, and spicy profile, with a full body and a hint of sweetness. The region and processing give it a distinctly robust character.

Iced or Frappé Coffee

A blended or shaken coffee drink that includes milk foam, sugar, and ice. It is typically sweet, refreshing, and served cold—ideal for hot weather. Most commercial versions have very little bitterness.

Other Traditional Coffee Types

Flavored or Specialty Blends

Beyond basic recipes, many cafés create custom drinks by infusing coffee with syrups such as vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, or seasonal fruits. These are part of the flavored coffee category but vary widely by establishment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between black coffee and espresso?

Black coffee is any coffee brewed without additives like milk or sugar, often using drip, pour-over, or French press methods. Espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water through fine grounds under high pressure, resulting in a small, strong shot that serves as the base for many other drinks.

Is white coffee stronger than black coffee?

Not necessarily. In Malaysia, white coffee refers to coffee brewed with butter and served with sweetened condensed milk, making it sweeter but not stronger in caffeine. In the U.S., it may refer to lightly roasted beans, which tend to be more acidic but not necessarily stronger in caffeine content.

What’s the standard milk ratio in a latte vs a cappuccino?

A traditional cappuccino has a 1:1:1 ratio of espresso, steamed milk, and foam. A latte usually has a higher proportion of milk, often around 1:2 or more espresso to milk, with a thin layer of foam on top.

Why do people add condensed milk to Vietnamese coffee?

Due to historically variable coffee bean quality in Vietnam, condensed milk is used to balance bitterness and improve flavour. It’s especially common in iced or hot drip coffee and is a key part of the local drinking tradition.

What makes a macchiato different from a latte?

A macchiato is an espresso “marked” with just a small amount of steamed milk foam, resulting in a mostly dark coffee with a slight colour change. A latte is mostly steamed milk with one or more espresso shots, creating a milky, lighter-coloured drink.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Milk and Espresso Drinks

For exploring classic coffee styles like lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos, FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend is an excellent starting point, delivering smooth body and rich crema ideal for milk drinks. The Specialty Blend offers a well-rounded, traditional espresso taste that highlights classic flavour profiles, while the Black Cocoa Blend brings boldness and depth—great for those who prefer a stronger espresso base in their milk drinks. All three are optimised for home or café use. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.