5 Most Popular Coffees Around the World

If you’ve ever wondered what really makes a latte different from a Cortado, or why Turkish coffee tastes so intense, you’re not alone. These five coffee styles pop up everywhere — from Milanese cafés to Havana kitchens — yet most drinkers can’t explain their actual differences beyond the milk. Here’s the straight story on how each is made, what it should taste like, and why it matters.

The five most popular global coffee styles are: latte (espresso with steamed milk and foam), French press (full-immersion coarse-ground brew), Cortado (equal parts espresso and warm milk), Cuban coffee (espresso sweetened with demerara sugar), and Turkish coffee (ultra-fine grounds brewed unfiltered).

What Is a Latte and How Is It Made?

A latte isn’t just “coffee with milk.” To make an authentic latte, you must start with a shot or two of espresso — never filtered coffee. A traditional latte has three distinct layers: a top layer of foam, a middle layer of smoothly textured steamed milk, and a bottom layer of espresso. The milk is poured into the espresso, not the other way around. This creates a creamy texture where the milk and coffee meld, giving the drink a soft, dessert-like mouthfeel similar to ice cream. The amount of espresso can vary based on preference, but it’s typically one or two shots.

Why Do People Choose French Press Coffee?

French press coffee often surprises people by being richer than expected. It’s made using a special coffee maker with a plunger and metal mesh filter. Coarsely ground coffee is combined with hot water and steeped for exactly five minutes. After steeping, you press the plunger down to separate the grounds. This full-immersion method extracts bold flavors and allows natural coffee oils to remain in the cup, resulting in a fuller body and softer acidity compared to paper-filtered coffee. If the coffee tastes too sharp, a splash of milk can mellow it out. The grind size is crucial — too fine, and you’ll end up with over-extracted bitterness and sludge.

What Sets Cortado Apart from Other Milk Coffees?

A Cortado is essentially a stronger, more balanced cousin of the latte. In this drink, equal parts espresso and warm milk are used, which means the coffee flavor remains front and center. Unlike a latte’s silky, dessert-like profile, a Cortado offers a bolder taste with more pronounced aromas. It’s ideal for busy mornings when you need a quick caffeine boost without sacrificing flavor. The milk is added to reduce acidity and slightly soften the espresso, but not enough to overpower it. This makes Cortado a favorite for those who want a shorter, more intense coffee experience.

What Makes Cuban Coffee Different?

Cuban coffee is a unique, syrupy espresso style that’s almost always sweetened. It’s made using finely brewed espresso combined with a special type of brown sugar — usually demerara. The result is a thick, dessert-like coffee with a smooth, sugary body that many treat like a sweet treat rather than a morning brew. Not every barista knows how to make it properly; it’s considered a specialty drink among passionate coffee professionals. While it’s not served with milk, its intense sweetness and syrup-like texture set it apart from traditional espresso or milk-based drinks.

Why Is Turkish Coffee So Intense?

Turkish coffee is one of the oldest and most intense brewing methods still used today. It involves grinding coffee beans into an extremely fine powder, almost like flour, and then brewing it directly in water — no filter required. The coffee is not strained, so the fine grounds remain in the cup, settling at the bottom. Traditionally, it’s brewed with water that’s warm, not boiling, to avoid excessive bitterness. The result is an ultra-concentrated, strong brew with a heavy body and bold flavor. Some find it too intense on its own, but adding a bit of milk can smooth it out. Its preparation method hasn’t changed much in centuries, and it delivers a powerful sensory experience unlike any other coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A latte contains one or two shots of espresso with a larger amount of steamed milk and foam, creating a creamy, mild coffee-milk blend. A Cortado uses equal parts espresso and warm milk, resulting in a stronger coffee flavor with less milk and a bolder taste overall.

Do you need special equipment to make French press coffee?

Yes, a French press (or cafetière) is required — it has a plunger with a metal mesh filter that separates the grounds after steeping. You also need to use coarse-ground coffee to avoid over-extraction and sludge in your cup.

Is Cuban coffee just sweet espresso?

Essentially, yes. Cuban coffee is a sweetened espresso made with demerara-style sugar, resulting in a thick, syrupy drink often treated as a dessert coffee. It’s not diluted with milk and requires skill to prepare properly.

Why is Turkish coffee unfiltered?

Turkish coffee is unfiltered because it’s made with extremely finely ground coffee that’s boiled directly in water. The fine particles remain suspended, settling at the bottom of the cup, which is why it’s served in small portions and not stirred after pouring.

Which milk coffee has the strongest coffee flavor?

A Cortado has the strongest coffee flavor among milk-based options because it uses equal parts espresso and milk, allowing the coffee’s taste to remain prominent, unlike a latte where milk dominates the flavor profile.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Milk and Espresso Drinks

For lattes and Cortados, try FrontStreet’s Classic Blend — a well-rounded mix with notes of dark chocolate and caramel, perfect for smooth milk drinks. For Cuban-style espresso sweetness, their Commercial Blend brings bold body and hints of brown sugar. If you're brewing Turkish-style or French press, the PWN Golden Mandheling offers rich malt and nut tones with a thick crema when used for espresso. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.