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Michele Hu / Spoon
Life

A Comprehensive Breakdown of Popular Coffee Drinks

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hofstra chapter.

Coffee: the one who is most near and dear to my heart. She picks me up when I’m down, helps me study, eases my caffeine deprivation induced headaches and just makes me feel good. Everyone’s favorite caffeinated beverage comes in so many wonderful forms. Versatility is key with this sweet sweet bean. For my less seasoned coffee drinkers, the vast variety of drinks can be confusing and maybe even a little off putting. Like, is there really that big of a difference between a latte and a macchiato? The little differences are important to know, and could make or break your overall coffee experience. So, let’s learn a bit more about coffee!

Latte

A simple and classic drink. A latte is typically two shots of espresso made with steamed milk and topped with a little bit of foam. Two parts milk, one part espresso. Get the caffeine without the full commitment of a strong coffee flavor. Even more enjoyable with some pretty latte art!

Mocha

For my friends who like things a little sweeter. It’s made just like a latte, but with chocolate added in. Like hot chocolate but with the added benefits of caffeine!

Cold Brew

Cold brew is my go-to, usually with some almond or oat milk too. You might ask how it’s different from iced coffee: unlike a simple iced coffee, cold brew (like the name suggests) is brewed without hot water and is left to steep for longer periods of time; typically 12 hours or so.

Americano

An americano, in the simplest (and kind of grossest) explanation is just watered down espresso. Water is added to the espresso to give it a similar strength to normal drip coffee, but tastes better than the classic brew.

Cappuccino

A cappuccino is juat some espresso, a little bit of milk and a LOT of foam. They’re even tastier when you add a dash of cinnamon!

Macchiato

You may be most familiar with caramel macchiatos. I know that’s one of my favorite sweeter drinks from Starbucks. A macchiato is of the same realm as a cappuccino, but it’s made to be much stronger. 

 

 

This is far from covering every variety of coffee beverage that exists. There are so many tasty types of coffee, and it’s always fun to switch up your order every now and then.

Micaela is a senior journalism major with a minor in civic engagement. She's known for her love of coffee and being funny online.