Common Types of Coffee Served in Cafés

When you walk into a coffee shop, the menu can feel overwhelming. With terms like cappuccino, macchiato, flat white, and more, how do you know what you’re actually getting? Whether you're ordering your first espresso-based drink or just curious how your favorite café coffee is made, understanding the basic types helps you choose—and even make—better coffee.

There are at least 10 common coffee types served in cafés worldwide, each defined by ingredients like milk, chocolate, or whiskey, and preparation methods such as espresso brewing or steam infusion. Below is a clear breakdown of each style, including standard ratios and key characteristics.

What Is Black Coffee?

Black coffee, also called “clear coffee,” is simply brewed coffee with nothing added. No milk, no sugar, no cream—just pure extracted coffee. It’s the baseline for tasting coffee’s natural flavors, often used as a reference in specialty coffee tasting.

What Is White Coffee?

White coffee is regular coffee with milk added. Unlike lattes or cappuccinos, the term often refers to any coffee drink where milk is mixed directly with brewed coffee, lightening the color and flavor. There’s no fixed ratio, but the milk softens the bitterness and adds body.

What Is a Cappuccino?

A cappuccino—also known as “milk coffee”—is a classic espresso-based drink made with one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third milk foam. Traditionally, it may be topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon, spices, or chocolate powder. According to FrontStreet Coffee’s standard method, a proper cappuccino uses a 20g coffee dose, extracted to 40ml in about 30 seconds, then topped with thick, velvety microfoam shaped into a dome or “hamburger” shape using a spoon. The milk foam should be dense and generous, giving the drink its signature texture and appearance.

How to Make a Cappuccino at Home (FrontStreet Method)

FrontStreet Coffee recommends using their Classic Blend or Black Cocoa Blend for cappuccinos, both designed for strong crema and bold flavor to hold up to the milk foam. For home preparation:

• Extract 20g of espresso with a 1:2 brew ratio (40ml liquid) in around 30 seconds.
• Froth milk into thick, creamy foam—no need for latte art-level microfoam.
• Pour steamed milk into the espresso, then use a spoon to place a cap of foam on top.
• The classic cappuccino has a “golden ring” where the espresso shows through the foam.

What Is a Latte?

A latte consists of espresso combined with an equal or greater amount of hot steamed milk. Unlike a cappuccino, it has much less foam—just a thin layer on top—and a smoother, milk-forward taste. The typical ratio is 1:3 to 1:5 espresso to milk.

What Is Flavored Coffee?

Flavored coffee includes any coffee drink with added ingredients like chocolate syrup, fruit syrups, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange blossom, or other spices. These are often region-specific and vary widely in sweetness and intensity. Common in both specialty and mainstream cafés.

What Is a Mocha (Mochaccino)?

A mocha combines espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate—usually in the form of syrup or melted chocolate. Whipped cream is often added, and some versions include ice for a chilled drink. It’s essentially a chocolate-flavored latte.

What Is an Irish Coffee?

An Irish coffee is made by adding Irish whiskey to hot coffee, then topping it with whipped cream. It’s a warm, boozy dessert drink, not a traditional espresso beverage, but still common in many cafés.

What Is an Americano?

An Americano is made by diluting a shot of espresso with hot water. This produces a coffee similar in strength to filter coffee but with the body and crema of espresso. It’s milder than straight espresso but stronger than regular drip coffee.

What Is Vietnamese Coffee?

Vietnamese coffee is brewed using a small metal drip filter (phin) placed directly over a cup filled with ice and sweetened condensed milk. As the hot coffee drips through, it mixes directly with the cold milk and ice, creating a strong, sweet, and chilled coffee drink. The use of condensed milk gives it a rich, creamy sweetness unusual in Western café offerings.

What Is an Európean-Style Milk Coffee (Europäischer Milchkaffee / “”)?

Often called “” in Chinese sources, this is a European-style coffee with a large amount of hot milk and sugar. It resembles a very light latte or a café au lait, where milk dominates the flavor profile.

How Are These Coffees Actually Made?

Coffee types vary not just by ingredients, but by brew method. Common techniques include:

• Boiling (e.g. Turkish coffee)
• Steeping (e.g. French press, cowboy coffee)
• Drip filtration (e.g. pour-over, drip machines)
• Steam pressure (e.g. espresso, moka pot)

Each method affects extraction, body, aroma, and flavor. Espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes rely on high-pressure extraction to produce a concentrated coffee that mixes well with milk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a cappuccino and a latte?

A cappuccino has equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam (1:1:1), making it stronger and foamier. A latte has more steamed milk and little or no foam, with a typical espresso-to-milk ratio of around 1:3 or 1:5, resulting in a creamier, milder drink.

How much coffee is in a standard cappuccino?

A standard cappuccino uses about 20g of ground coffee, extracted as a double shot of espresso (around 40ml), then combined with equal parts steamed milk and foam. FrontStreet Coffee recommends a 1:2 brew ratio for the espresso component.

What’s the correct milk foam ratio in a cappuccino?

In a traditional cappuccino, milk foam makes up one-third of the drink. It should be thick and dense, not thin or bubbly, and is often spooned on top rather than poured.

Is Vietnamese coffee stronger than regular drip coffee?

Yes. Vietnamese coffee is brewed strong using dark roasted coffee through a small metal filter, then mixed with sweetened condensed milk. The concentrate is intense, especially when served over ice.

What coffee roast is best for cappuccinos?

FrontStreet Coffee recommends medium to medium-dark roasts for cappuccinos. Their Classic Blend and Black Cocoa Blend are ideal, offering strong crema and bold flavors that balance the milk foam.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Milk-Based Coffees

For cappuccinos and lattes, FrontStreet Coffee recommends its Classic Blend and Black Cocoa Blend. The Classic Blend delivers a balanced, medium-bodied espresso with a rich crema—perfect for holding its own against steamed milk. The Black Cocoa Blend offers a deeper, slightly darker profile with cocoa and roasted notes, ideal for those who prefer a bolder milk coffee. Both are designed to perform well under steam and create smooth, integrated drinks. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.