Do you truly understand the cup of coffee in your hand? From rich and mellow espresso, to refreshing and pleasant Americano, to silky and delicate latte, each coffee has its unique soul and flavor code.

Let's explore the following 10 classic coffee types together, unlock the versatile charm of coffee, and master their recommended ingredient ratios, so you can recreate café-quality taste at home!

#1. Espresso

[Flavor Keywords] Rich, oils, nutty aroma
The "cornerstone" of the coffee world originating from Italy, and the flavor foundation for all specialty coffees. Using high temperature and high pressure to extract quickly in a short time, it perfectly concentrates the essence of the coffee beans. Its surface is covered with a layer of golden, dense "crema," delivering an intense, mellow mouthfeel often accompanied by enchanting nutty and caramel aftertastes.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Espresso: 40ml

#2. Americano

[Flavor Keywords] Refreshing, pure, beginner-friendly
Legend has it that during WWII, American soldiers stationed in Italy, unaccustomed to the local intense espresso, diluted it with hot water, giving birth to the Americano. Compared to espresso's powerful punch, Americano is more refreshing and smooth, retaining the bean's original terroir while lowering the concentration — an excellent choice for beginners and daily drinking.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Espresso: 40ml + hot water (adjust amount to personal taste)

#3. Caffè Latte

[Flavor Keywords] Smooth, milky, layered
"Latte" means "milk" in Italian. This coffee is a perfect union of espresso and steamed milk, offering a smooth, easy-drinking mouthfeel. Topped with a thin layer of fine microfoam, it not only balances the coffee's bitterness but also adds rich texture. It is also the ideal base for flavored variations like cinnamon or hazelnut, beloved by the masses.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Espresso: 40ml + steamed milk: 120ml + thin layer of microfoam

#4. Cappuccino

[Flavor Keywords] Balanced, cloud-like texture, coffee-forward
Also composed of coffee, milk, and foam, but in distinctly different proportions. Its name derives from the brown habit and pointed hood of Capuchin friars. The classic cappuccino follows the 1:1:1 golden rule; compared to a latte, its coffee flavor is more pronounced. The thick, cloud-like foam may not be ideal for latte art, but it delivers a full, satisfying mouthfeel.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Espresso: 40ml + steamed milk: 40ml + thick microfoam: 40ml (ratio 1:1:1)

#5. Mocha

[Flavor Keywords] Chocolate, sweet, decorative
Named after Yemen's ancient port of Mocha, whose beans naturally carried chocolate notes. Modern mocha blends chocolate syrup or hot chocolate into espresso, letting the coffee's rich bitterness and chocolate's sweet fragrance complement each other. Often topped with whipped cream, cocoa powder, or even marshmallows — a favorite of dessert lovers.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Espresso: 40ml + hot chocolate/chocolate sauce: 40ml + hot foam: 20ml (+ whipped cream garnish)

#6. Latte Macchiato

[Flavor Keywords] Visual layers, milk-forward, gentle
"Macchiato" means "stain" or "spot." Unlike a traditional latte, steamed milk and foam are poured into the cup first, then espresso is slowly added, leaving a coffee-colored "stain" on the white foam for a striking visual separation. With a very high milk ratio, its taste is gentler and sweeter than latte or cappuccino, with the least coffee bitterness.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Steamed milk & foam: 125ml + espresso: 40ml (poured last)

#7. Ice Drip Coffee

[Flavor Keywords] Time-infused, fermented notes, silky
Using ice water below 5°C, gravity slowly drips through coffee grounds. The process takes 2–8 hours, followed by 12–48 hours of cold fermentation. This ultra-slow extraction greatly reduces acidity and astringency, presenting a wine-like, mellow, smooth profile with unique fermented notes — hence its typically higher market price.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Coffee grounds : water = 1 : 10 (concentrate can be diluted with water to taste)

#8. Cold Brew

[Flavor Keywords] Low acid, clean sweetness, pure
Similar to "cold-brewed tea," coarse grounds are steeped directly in cold water for at least 12 hours. Long, low-temperature extraction effectively suppresses the release of acids and tannins, yielding an exceptionally smooth, clean cup with almost no bitterness — perfect served over ice in summer.

💡 Modern Convenience: For efficiency, a capsule machine with centrifugal extraction technology (e.g., Nespresso Vertuo line cold brew capsules) can simulate a low-bitterness, high-smoothness cold brew in a short time.
📝 Recommended Ratio

• Coffee grounds : water = 1 : 16 (reduce water for stronger taste)

#9. Con Panna

[Flavor Keywords] Hot-cold contrast, creamy sweetness
"Con Panna" means "with cream" in Italian. A minimalist yet surprising drink: a dollop of sweet, dense whipped cream crowns the rich espresso. Drink without stirring first to savor the contrast between the cream's sweetness and the coffee's rolling heat, then let them gradually merge for a unique bittersweet harmony.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Espresso: 40ml + whipped cream: 40ml (ratio 1:1)

#10. Affogato

[Flavor Keywords] Drowned, ice cream, dessert coffee
From the Italian "affogato" (drowned). Strictly speaking, it's more a dessert. A scoop of vanilla gelato is placed in a cup, then hot espresso is poured over. The hot coffee instantly "drowns" the ice cream, creating a heavenly hot-cold, bittersweet balance.

📝 Recommended Ratio

• Vanilla gelato: 1–2 scoops + espresso: 40ml

Coffee categories at a glance:

Coffee Type	Characteristic Description	Recommended Ratio
⚫ Espresso	Rich, mellow flavor with a layer of crema on top	Espresso (40ml)
💧 Americano	Refreshing mouthfeel, coffee flavor intact	Espresso (40ml) + hot water, water ratio adjustable to preference
🥛 Caffè Latte	Milk softens coffee bitterness, smoother texture	Espresso (40ml) + steamed milk (120ml) + layer of microfoam
🍮 Cappuccino	Stronger coffee flavor than latte, foam approx. 1 cm thick	Espresso (40ml) + steamed milk (40ml) + microfoam (40ml), prepared 1:1:1
🍫 Mocha	Added chocolate sweetness makes bitter coffee more approachable	Espresso (40ml) + hot chocolate (40ml) + hot foam (20ml)
🎨 Latte Macchiato	Foam poured first, then espresso, distinct visual layers	Steamed milk & foam (125ml) + espresso (40ml)
💧 Americano	Refreshing mouthfeel, coffee flavor intact	Espresso (40ml) + hot water, water ratio adjustable to preference
🧊 Ice Drip Coffee	Low-temp, slow-drip extraction, longer shelf life	Coffee grounds : water = 1:10, concentration adjustable to taste
🍦 Con Panna	Whipped cream and rich coffee in dual layers, taste and visual delight	Espresso (40ml) + whipped cream (40ml), ratio 1:1
🍨 Affogato	Hot-cold fusion of coffee and ice cream, rich textural experience	Vanilla gelato: 1–2 scoops + espresso: 40ml

Vanilla ice cream 1‑2 scoops + espresso (40 ml)