Coffee Ratio LabCoffee drinks explained
18 coffee drinks from around the world — what's in them, where they come from, how they taste and how to make each one at home, with or without an espresso machine.
Browse all drinks
Affogato
An affogato is vanilla gelato drowned in hot espresso. What it is, how to make one without an espresso machine and the…
Bicerin
Bicerin is Turin's three-layer drink of hot chocolate, espresso and cream, served unstirred. Learn its history and how…
Café au lait
Café au lait is brewed coffee with hot milk, often served in a bowl. How it differs from a latte, the classic ratio and…
Café bombón
Café bombón is Spanish espresso layered over sweetened condensed milk. Where it's from, how to pour clean layers and…
Café cubano
Café cubano is sweet Cuban espresso topped with espumita, a whipped sugar foam. How to make it with a moka pot, plus…
Café de olla
Café de olla is Mexican coffee spiced with cinnamon and piloncillo. Its history, taste, an easy stovetop recipe and the…
Carajillo
A carajillo is espresso with a spirit: brandy or rum in Spain, Licor 43 over ice in Mexico. Both recipes, ratios and…
Dalgona coffee
Dalgona is instant coffee, sugar and water whipped into foam over milk. Why it only works with instant coffee, the…
Einspänner
An Einspänner is Viennese black coffee under a thick cap of whipped cream. Its coachman story, how it differs from a…
Espresso tonic
An espresso tonic is espresso poured over tonic and ice. How to pour it without overflowing, the best coffee and tonic…
Freddo espresso
Freddo espresso is espresso shaken with ice and served over fresh ice. How it differs from frappé and iced coffee, plus…
Greek frappé
The Greek frappé is instant coffee shaken into thick foam over ice. Its 1957 origin, how to order it (sketos, metrios,…
Irish coffee
Irish coffee is hot coffee, Irish whiskey and brown sugar under floated cream. Its 1940s origin, the classic ratio and…
Kaffeost
Kaffeost is black coffee poured over squeaky Nordic bread cheese. Where it comes from, how it tastes, how to make it…
Red eye coffee
A red eye is brewed coffee with a shot of espresso added. Black eye has two shots, dead eye three. Compare caffeine,…
Vietnamese egg coffee
Vietnamese egg coffee is strong coffee topped with whipped egg yolk and condensed milk. Its Hanoi history, taste and a…
Vietnamese iced coffee
Cà phê sữa đá is strong coffee dripped through a phin filter onto sweetened condensed milk, then poured over ice. Learn…
Yuanyang
Yuanyang is Hong Kong's mix of coffee and milk tea. What it tastes like, the usual 3:7 ratio and how to make the milk…
All drinks at a glance
| Drink | Origin | Served | Milk | Strength | Sweet | Alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affogato | Italy | Hot over cold | Ice cream | ●●●●○ | ●●●●○ | Optional |
| Bicerin | Turin, Italy (18th century) | Hot | Cream on top | ●●●○○ | ●●●●○ | No |
| Café au lait | France | Hot | Lots | ●●○○○ | ●○○○○ | No |
| Café bombón | Valencia, Spain | Hot | Condensed milk | ●●●●○ | ●●●●● | No |
| Café cubano | Cuba | Hot | No | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | No |
| Café de olla | Mexico | Hot | No | ●●●○○ | ●●●●○ | No |
| Carajillo | Spain (also hugely popular in Mexico) | Hot or iced | No | ●●●●○ | ●●●○○ | Yes |
| Dalgona coffee | South Korea (viral 2020) | Iced or hot | Lots | ●●●○○ | ●●●●○ | No |
| Einspänner | Vienna, Austria | Hot | Whipped cream on top | ●●●●○ | ●●○○○ | No |
| Espresso tonic | Scandinavia (2000s) | Iced | No | ●●●○○ | ●●○○○ | No |
| Freddo espresso | Greece (1990s) | Iced | Optional cold foam | ●●●●○ | ●●○○○ | No |
| Greek frappé | Thessaloniki, Greece (1957) | Iced | Optional | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | No |
| Irish coffee | Foynes, Ireland (1940s) | Hot | Cream on top | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | Yes |
| Kaffeost | Northern Finland & Sweden | Hot | No | ●●●○○ | ●○○○○ | No |
| Red eye coffee | United States | Hot | Optional | ●●●●● | ●○○○○ | No |
| Vietnamese egg coffee | Hanoi, Vietnam | Hot (or iced) | Condensed milk | ●●●●○ | ●●●●○ | No |
| Vietnamese iced coffee | Vietnam | Iced | Condensed milk | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | No |
| Yuanyang | Hong Kong | Hot or iced | Evaporated milk | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | No |
Coffee drink comparisons
More →
Latte vs Cappuccino vs Flat White: Milk Ratios and Sizes Compared
The real differences between a latte, cappuccino and flat white: espresso-to-milk ratios, foam thickness, cup sizes, strength and how to make each at home.
Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee: Taste, Acidity, Caffeine and Which to Make
Cold brew and iced coffee compared: how each is made, taste, acidity, caffeine, time, cost per glass and which beans suit each — with a quick decision guide.
Arabica vs Robusta: Taste, Caffeine and What's Really in Your Coffee Bag
Arabica vs Robusta compared: flavor, caffeine, price, crema and where they grow, plus how to read a coffee bag label so you know what you buy.
How Is Coffee Decaffeinated? The 4 Main Methods Explained Simply
How decaf coffee is made: Swiss Water, CO2, ethyl acetate ("sugarcane") and methylene chloride methods explained, how much caffeine is left and how to choose.
Light vs Medium vs Dark Roast: Taste, Caffeine and the Best Way to Brew Each
How light, medium and dark roast coffee differ in taste, acidity, body and caffeine — and the best brew method, grind and water temperature for each roast.
Ristretto vs Lungo vs Espresso: Shot Sizes, Ratios and Taste Explained
Ristretto, espresso and lungo use the same coffee but different amounts of water. Compare ratios, volumes, taste, caffeine and when to choose each shot.
Cortado vs Gibraltar vs Piccolo Latte: What's the Actual Difference?
Cortado, Gibraltar and piccolo latte look alike but differ in size, milk texture and origin. Compare ratios, cup sizes and how to make each at home.
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