Coffee is mainly made from two ingredients: espresso and milk.
Espresso is the building block of all coffee drinks, and milk is what makes many of them smoother and milder.
Generally, coffee drinks fall into two categories: one is “Black Coffee”, which contains no milk, and the other is “Milk Coffee”, which is espresso with added milk.
Black Coffee: Espresso, Americano, and Lungo
- Espresso, also known as a short black, is a “pure” black coffee, with no added water or milk. In general, espresso is served in a small cup. For those who want a larger amount, a double espresso, which is twice the size, is an option.
- Americano is espresso diluted with hot water. It is a good option for people who want the pure taste of coffee but prefer something lighter.
- Lungo, or long espresso, is made with the same amount of coffee grounds as espresso, but extracted with about twice as much water.
Milk Coffee: Flat White, Cappuccino, and Latte
- Flat White is made with a double espresso and milk. The double espresso is what distinguishes a flat white from other milk coffees.
- Cappuccino is made with a single espresso and milk. The typical ratio of espresso to milk is about 1: 4.
- Latte contains about twice as much milk as a cappuccino, making it much milder, so I think this is why it is one of the most popular drinks in coffee shops.
Note
Just my study log, so it may contain mistakes.
If you want the nitty-gritty details, check out the References below.The first thing to keep in mind is that the definition of each coffee type can vary from one cafe to another. The description in this post are based on the YouTube video listed in the Reference section below.