What Are the Types of Italian Coffee? What's the Difference Between Six Major Italian Coffees and American Coffee?

Introduction to Espresso Coffee

Espresso is the most widely spread coffee style in the world. At FrontStreet Coffee, we always have several espresso-based drinks on hand. Some friends drink "espresso coffee" often without knowing what truly defines it. Here, FrontStreet Coffee would like to share the common types of espresso coffee.

Espresso

Espresso is a concentrated coffee extracted on an espresso machine, yielding about 1 ounce of rich coffee. It is the foundation of the entire espresso coffee system.

Americano

Americano is made by diluting espresso with hot water and is one of the most common espresso-based drinks. FrontStreet Coffee's method is to extract 40g of espresso liquid from 20g of coffee grounds as the base, then add 200ml of hot water to create the Americano.

Latte

In Italian, "latte" means milk, but outside Italy it is commonly understood as latte coffee, made of espresso and milk. The milk flavor masks the bitterness of the coffee, making it more approachable. Latte is the classic representative of milk coffee. FrontStreet Coffee's method is to extract 40g of espresso liquid from 20g of coffee grounds as the base, then add 260ml of steamed milk to create a hot latte.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino combines espresso, milk, and thick milk foam to create a 180ml milk coffee, characterized by its thick, dense foam. It is worth noting that cappuccino is served only hot; there is no iced or room-temperature version.

Ristretto

Ristretto, also called restricted or concentrated coffee, is a derivative of espresso. Ristretto is essentially the first part of an espresso extraction, with a more stimulating and intense flavor. FrontStreet Coffee's method is to extract 27g of coffee liquid from 20g of coffee grounds.

Flat White

Also known as Australian white coffee, it can be thought of as the Australian version of a latte. It uses ristretto blended with milk, which makes the coffee flavor more prominent. Flat White is made only hot, never iced. FrontStreet Coffee's method is to extract 27g of coffee liquid from 20g of coffee grounds as the base, then add 170ml of steamed milk to blend.

Dirty

Dirty is a special preparation of iced latte, made by pouring espresso directly over iced milk to create a layered effect. The cup is approximately 200ml, and it is usually best consumed quickly. The first sip offers hot, rich espresso; the second a balanced fusion of coffee and milk; and the third cool, sweet milk.

Connect with FrontStreet Coffee

Whichever Italian-style drink you prefer, cappuccino is the one where technique and beans show through most clearly. A classic cappuccino uses espresso as its base, with milk steamed into dense foam that stands in for cream and is shaped with a spoon into a peak or a "hamburger" dome. Because milk makes up a smaller share, the overall taste is rich, sweet, and airy. FrontStreet Coffee's classic recipe extracts 40g of espresso from 20g of grounds over about 30 seconds at a 1:2 ratio, giving both enough concentration and a full, balanced extraction.

For cappuccino, FrontStreet Coffee recommends its espresso blend range. Beginners at home can start with the crema-heavy FrontStreet Classic Blend or the value-focused FrontStreet Dark Cocoa Blend. If you want a fruity, floral cappuccino, FrontStreet Strawberry Candy Espresso Blend brings berry, rose, raisin, and fruit-candy aromas, while FrontStreet Granja Geisha SOE is natural-processed and roasted medium to show berry, orange, and persimmon that turn pleasantly milky when combined with steamed milk.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

For authentic Italian-style drinks, the espresso comes first, and FrontStreet Coffee's blends are built to deliver the rich crema that latte, cappuccino, and Dirty all depend on. FrontStreet Classic Blend uses a traditional Mamba recipe for a thick, fine crema and a warm, full-bodied cup that works on everything from a home machine to a professional bar.

If you want a budget-friendly daily option, FrontStreet Dark Cocoa Blend is 100% Arabica with plenty of crema and a mellow body. For something fruitier, FrontStreet Strawberry Candy Espresso Blend layers rose, raisin, and fruit-candy sweetness, and FrontStreet Granja Geisha SOE brings berry, orange, and persimmon with a milk-candy smoothness when paired with steamed milk.