How to Make 14 Classic Coffee Drinks Including Macchiato and Affogato Styles

You’ve seen these drinks on menus—macchiato, cappuccino, Turkish coffee—but do you know exactly how much espresso, milk, or chocolate goes into each? Whether you're brewing at home or refining your café menu, precise ratios and techniques turn a simple coffee into a classic.

To make a traditional macchiato, pour 7g of espresso over 3–5 tablespoons of milk foam (no milk), while a Swiss chocolate coffee combines 7g espresso with 15g sugar-free chocolate powder or 30cc syrup in 120cc water.

Macchiato & Chocolate Coffee Basics

A macchiato—Italian for “stained”—is an espresso “stained” with milk foam. The standard version uses just 7g of espresso and 3–5 tablespoons of milk foam. Some recipes use double the coffee (18g), still with foam only. For a Swiss chocolate coffee, combine 7g espresso (or 12g) with 120cc water and 15g sugar-free chocolate powder (or substitute 30cc chocolate syrup). Stir well after pouring the shot over the chocolate.

Cappuccino & Latte Ratios

The cappuccino is a 1:1:1 ratio of espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. Use 7g espresso, 50cc water, 50cc hot milk, and a generous layer of foam for the classic version. The latte, meanwhile, shifts to a 1:2:1 ratio—more milk, less foam. For both drinks, a standard double shot uses 18g coffee and 120cc water when made with a regular brew method.

Turkish Coffee: A Historic Brew

Turkish coffee is unfiltered and traditionally made with 12g of dark-roasted beans, optionally mixed with spices like cinnamon or cardamom. Grind the coffee very fine, add to water, and bring to a boil for about 20 seconds. Let the grounds settle, then carefully pour the clear liquid off the top. Serve as is, or add lemon, honey, or Turkish delight for extra flavor.

Royal Coffee: Coffee Meets Brandy

Invented by Napoleon, royal coffee is an espresso served with a flambéed cube of sugar and a splash of brandy. Start with 90cc of hot espresso (such as Jamaican Blue Mountain No.1, if available) in a preheated cup. Place a brandy-filled royal spoon (or any shallow spoon) over the cup, pour brandy onto the spoon, ignite it, and pour the flaming brandy into the coffee.

Iced & Blended Coffee Variations

For magical ice cream coffee, pour espresso over vanilla ice cream and decorate with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Mocha slush blends ice, iced coffee, 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup, 3 tablespoons of vanilla ice cream, some crushed ice, and tops with whipped cream. Bitter iced coffee mixes 7g espresso with 120cc milk and ice, creating a red-white layered drink. The Yuenyeung iced coffee combines equal parts iced black tea and iced coffee, sweetened to taste with condensed milk.

Irish Coffee & Other Spirit-Infused Drinks

Irish coffee blends hot coffee with Irish whiskey, sugar, and often a dollop of cream. Though exact measurements aren’t given here, the drink is built in a glass with a whiskey float. Macchiatto variations also include the con panna (espresso + whipped cream) and the original macchiato (espresso + foam only).

Green Tea Coffee & Frozen Treats

Green tea coffee fuses Japanese green tea’s aroma with Western espresso for a uniquely Eastern take. For frozen options, chocolate frost coffee blends ice, ice coffee, ice cream, chocolate syrup, and topped with whipped cream for a smooth summer drink.

Unusual Blends: Soda & Sparkling Coffee

Mazagran is a sparkling iced coffee made with 10g espresso, 50cc water, 10cc lemon juice, and sparkling water (like Perrier), served over ice. No sugar is added unless you substitute the soda with 7-Up or stir in syrup.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Milk-Based and Flavored Coffees

For creamy drinks like cappuccino, macchiato, and mocha, FrontStreet’s Classic Blend offers balanced notes of black chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, and malt, with a rich crema ideal for milk. The Brazil Queen Manor SOE highlights sweet caramel and milk chocolate, making it a smooth partner for lattes. For deeper spice and complexity, try PWN Golden Mandheling SOE with its black cherry and dark chocolate tones—great for layered drinks like mocha or flavored lattes. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.