Nine Famous Specialty Coffee Drinks Explained

If you’ve ever wondered how classic coffee drinks like mocha or Turkish coffee are really made—or why they taste the way they do—you’re not alone. Many coffee drinkers are curious about the exact ingredients, techniques, and cultural origins behind these well-known beverages. This guide breaks down nine globally recognized specialty coffee drinks with precise details on every element.

There are nine iconic specialty coffee drinks covered here: mocha, mocha mint, cappuccino, coconut cream coffee, mixed coffee, Neapolitan-style coffee, hot mokha Java, Indian coffee, and Turkish coffee. Each has specific ratios, preparation steps, and cultural context that define its flavor and tradition.

1. Mocha Coffee

Mocha coffee delivers a rich New York-style flavor in a small cup. To prepare, combine 20ml of chocolate syrup with a strong shot of dark-roast coffee, stir well, then top with one tablespoon of cream. Garnish with shaved chocolate and a cinnamon stick. This drink highlights chocolate and coffee synergy in a compact format.

2. Mocha Mint Coffee

This American favorite blends chocolate and mint without stirring, creating contrasting temperatures for a unique sensory experience. Preparation involves layering 20g of chocolate, dark-roast coffee, and a teaspoon of white mint. Top with one tablespoon of cream, shave chocolate on top, and finish with a fresh mint leaf. The drink remains intentionally not mixed, preserving distinct layers of flavor and temperature.

3. Cappuccino

Cappuccino, named for its resemblance to a monk’s hood, is a layered coffee often enhanced with a cinnamon stick and citrus. To make, preheat dark-roast coffee and pour it into a small cup with two teaspoons of sugar. Add one tablespoon of cream and finish with a splash of lemon or orange juice. Serve with a cinnamon stick in place of a spoon.

4. Coconut Cream Coffee

This fragrant coffee leans into strong coconut aroma. Start by adding two drops of coconut essence to the cup, then pour in dark-roast coffee along with 60ml of boiled milk. Top with one tablespoon of cream and garnish with toasted coconut flakes. The drink balances creamy coconut with robust brewed coffee.

5. Mixed Coffee (Viennese Style)

This drink is essentially equal parts coffee and steamed milk, creating a Viennese-style milk coffee. Method: brew a slightly dark roast coffee, then separately heat milk with a small amount of cream added just before foam subsides. Combine equal quantities while the milk is still foamy. No exact temperature or milk-to-coffee ratio is given beyond “equal amounts.”

6. Neapolitan-Style Coffee

This very strong, bitter morning coffee—referred to in the U.S. as “dawn coffee”—is traditionally served black with a lemon slice. Drink it straight from the cup without stirring. Preparation is simple: brew a very dark roast and serve it in a handled cup with a lemon slice on top. No milk, sugar, or additional flavoring is used.

7. Hot Mocha Java (Russian Style)

Also called Russian-style hot mocha, this is a thick, intense coffee drink. Combine dark-roast coffee, melted chocolate, cocoa, egg yolk, a little milk, and heat everything together while stirring. Add one teaspoon of sugar, then pour into a cup and top with one tablespoon of cream and shaved chocolate. This version emphasizes deep chocolate and coffee flavors with egg enrichment.

8. Indian Coffee

Indian coffee is traditionally served in paired handled cups and gets a flavor boost from a pinch of salt. To prepare, heat milk almost to boiling, then add dark-roast coffee and 10g of brown sugar while stirring. Add a small amount of salt to enhance the milk’s sweetness. The drink is meant to be warming and comforting, often served in collectible cups.

9. Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is brewed unfiltered and traditionally read for fortune-telling based on 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 cups, and optionally add orange juice and honey. Brewing involves triple boiling and careful pouring to retain the fine grounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mocha coffee and how is it made?

Mocha coffee is a small, rich drink made with 20ml chocolate syrup and a strong dark-roast coffee, stirred together and topped with one tablespoon of cream, shaved chocolate, and a cinnamon stick.

How do you make mocha mint coffee?

Layer 20g chocolate, dark-roast coffee, and a teaspoon of white mint in a cup, top with one tablespoon of cream, shave chocolate on top, and add a mint leaf—do not stir to preserve the contrast between hot coffee and cold cream.

What’s the traditional way to prepare cappuccino?

Preheat dark-roast coffee, pour into a small cup with two teaspoons of sugar, add one tablespoon of cream, then a splash of lemon or orange juice, and serve with a cinnamon stick instead of a spoon.

What is Neapolitan-style coffee?

A very dark, bitter coffee served in a handled cup with a lemon slice, meant to be drunk straight and unstirred, often referred to as “dawn coffee” in the U.S.

How is Turkish coffee prepared?

Finely ground dark-roast coffee is mixed with spices like cinnamon, then heated three times in water without letting it boil over. After settling, the clear liquid is poured into cups, sometimes with added orange juice and honey.

What’s special about Indian coffee?

Indian coffee is brewed with dark roast and brown sugar, then a small amount of salt is added to the heating milk to enhance sweetness, traditionally served in collectible handled cups.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Classic Coffee Drinks

For these classic coffee recipes, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for a bright, fruity base that works well in mochas and cappuccinos, or their PWN Golden Mandheling for a full-bodied option ideal in Indian coffee and Turkish preparations. Their Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 offers a clean, nuanced cup perfect for layered drinks like mixed coffee or mocha mint. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.