Espresso, Americano, Latte and More: A Simple Coffee Guide

Coffee menus can look complicated, but many popular drinks begin with the same foundation: espresso.

An espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee. It is small, rich and intense, making it the base for many café drinks.

An Americano combines espresso with hot water. It has a lighter body than straight espresso while keeping much of its aroma and character.

A latte adds steamed milk and a thin layer of milk foam, creating a smooth and creamy drink. A cappuccino uses a more balanced ratio of espresso, steamed milk and foam, giving it a lighter texture and a stronger coffee presence.

A flat white usually contains less foam than a cappuccino and offers a velvety texture with a more noticeable espresso flavor.

Once you understand these basic combinations, choosing a drink becomes much easier. Better still, learning to make them at home gives you the freedom to adjust strength, texture and milk ratio exactly to your preference.