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With all the different names for coffee drinks out there, it’s no wonder that people get a little overwhelmed when they’re ordering. Fortunately, with all the different styles of coffee, there’s actually usually just a simple variation on a classic drink happening. We’ll prep you for a world where hazelnut and pumpkin lattes are confusing you from what’s really going on behind the counter.

First, three of the most popular coffee-style beverages you’re likely to find, whether in Rome or in Starbucks:

Caffe Latte Also referred to as Cafe au Lait, depending on where you’re ordering your drink, this is one of the most popular styles of coffee worldwide, and is really just a fancy way of saying espresso with milk. A single shot of espresso is made with steamed milk, and then served with an extra inch of frothed milk (foam) on top.

Americano Americans are known for their version of coffee, which critics say is usually really watered down. But there’s a variation that makes everyone happy, and combines styles of coffee to suit everyone’s taste. With an Americano, one ounce of strong espresso is combined with some boiling water, usually a cup’s worth. Voila. A short drink designed to be taken like a shot now is large enough to be sipped, with not so much added in between.

Americano An Americano is just a shot of espresso, usually a single shot, with about a cup of hot water added to diffuse the taste. This is a very popular way to serve a high-octane drink, and one of the more popular styles of coffee in the States (hence the name).

There’s more to knowing about styles of coffee than just remembering some of the key names to the drinks. It’s even more important to know some of the processes–i.e. what heats the beans. Here are a couple of the most popular:

The French Press It’s known but a bunch of different names, but the concept is always the same. A glass container has a wire part and a plunger. The coffee goes in, almost-boiling water goes on top of it, and then you physically press the coffee with the plunger part. You use coffee that’s ground a little rougher in here, and basically are filtering the coffee to make a more delicious cup at home. Surprisingly, it really works.

The Drip If you’ve got a coffee maker at home that plugs in and doesn’t sit on the stove, this is what you’re most likely working with. Pour some water into a machine, add your coffee to the other part, and the coffee maker actually heats the water and eventually the dripping boiled water over the grounds makes your cup of coffee. Definitely one of the easiest ways, if not the tastiest ways, to have some coffee.

For the at-home folks, there’s also a stovetop version of an espresso machine, which is a cross between a coffee pot and a percolator. Of course, the Americans amongst us are used to a different style of coffee entirely, with the Mr. Coffee drip system, which unfortunately is accurately known for producing slightly sub-par tasting cups of coffee, even when great beans are used.

So the scary world of coffee vocabulary is actually nothing more than a few fancy foreign language words used to describe strong coffee, hot water, and milk in various stages of being heated. Stop worrying, and start drinking. You’ll be a coffee expert in no time.

Damian Papworth just purchased a new 2 cup coffee maker, he reviewed it on the One Cup Coffee Makers website.

categories: coffee,drinks,beverages,food and drinks,food and beverages,nutrition,health,leisure