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Coffee beans grow on shrubs. The berries, known as ‘coffee cherries,’ house two coffee beans each. About 5% of these cherries, dubbed ‘peaberries,’ contain only one and according to some, produce a denser and more intense flavor.

Some coffee brands package the roasted coffee beans whole for the drinker to grind, but most offer ground coffee to make the coffee-making process easier for consumers. Grinding machines consist of rollers of various sizes that first break the bean, and then refine it into whatever degree of coarseness is required.

Caffe Americano literally means American coffee, and it is made by diluting espresso with hot water. This lowers the strength of the coffee while preserving the espresso flavor somewhat. Some variations include the Iced Americano that uses cold water to dilute the coffee, and the red eye made with drip coffee instead of hot water.

Recognizing and memorizing all the different types of coffees and their constituents can be difficult, so here is a quick guide and a short introduction to the common types you may encounter in your daily life.

Espresso with cream is quite self-explanatory, made of espresso topped with whipped cream. Some variants can also have ice cream on top. This drink is perhaps older than lattes or cappuccinos and is traditionally served in a demitasse cup in Vienna and Budapest coffeehouses.

The flat white coffee is similar to the latte, except that instead of milk it contains microfoam, which makes for a smoother texture. Microfoam is steamed milk with very fine bubbles that give it a velvety consistency. Flat white is said to have originated in Sydney in the 1980s.

Latte
Cafe latte means milk tea, and that is exactly what it is. Made of espresso and topped with a generous amount of steamed milk, lattes have been around since the 17th century.

The odds suggest that you might be a fan of chocolate, and if you are, mocha could be your coffee of choice. It consists of espresso, a layer of whipped cream, paired with as much chocolate sauce as your heart desires.

A macchiato, often misunderstood, is a shot of espresso with a bit of foamed milk on top. If black coffee does not appeal to your taste buds but you would still like the effects, a macchiato could literally be just your cup of coffee. The milk is usually very little in amount; just enough to moderate the strong and bitter taste of coffee but not overpower its distinctive flavor.

Espresso originates from Italy, and is one of the most intense coffee drinks you can have. So much so, that the espresso drink is often called a ‘shot.’ It is made by forcing boiling water at very high pressures through finely-ground coffee beans. It has the most caffeine volume per ml, but since the serving size is usually smaller, the caffeine amount is less than the standard coffee cup. Because of its drinking method, espresso is bound to give you that kick you need in the morning.