Different Coffee Roasts
While there are many different coffees of many different flavors, there are three main types of coffee roasts.
Light Roast
"Roast" refers to how long the coffee beans are roasted for, and Light Roasts are roasted for the least amount of time. The longer the roast, the less caffine and acidity a bean will have; therefore, Light Roasts typically have the most caffeine and the most acidity. Original flavors of the bean are more noticable, and Light Roasts are often accompanied with a lemon (or general citrus) flavor.
Medium Roast
Medium Roasts are roasted for slightly longer, tend to have a more balanced flavor, and have a little bit more body. This is the type of roast that most Americans are used to, and it's incredibly common for it to be used in coffee drinks. Medium roasts can include House Roasts, American Roasts, and Breakfast Roasts.
Dark Roast
Dark Roasts consist of beans roasted for the longest, and have visible oils on them due to the roasting process and time. These roasts have the least amount of caffeine as most is cokked out, and are usually the least acidic as well. Dark Roasts tend to have European names due to their popularity on Europe. If cooked for too long, the natural oils and sugars cooked out in Dark Roasts will burn.
Types of Coffee
Next, we'll go over the most common types of coffee
Espresso
Espresso is moreso a way to make coffee, but espresso shots can be drunk independently. The difference between espresso and regular coffee is the amount of water used; specifically, espresso uses less water so the coffee is in a more concentrated form. This helps bring out the caffeine, the flavors, etc.
Macchiato
There are two types of Macchiato's: Espresso Macchiato and Latte Macchiato. Espresso Macchiato has more espresso than milk and a latte macchiato has more milk than espresso. Macchiatos (especially latte macchiato's) are popular for their versatility.
Latte
Latte's are very similar to Cappuccino's in the sense that they use the sa,e three things: espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. The difference? Latte's have more steamed milk added to the drink then cappuccino's do. Latte's are not very strong in taste, and are also very popular drink due to their versatility!
Flat White
Flat Whites consist of espresso and steamed milk, with a higher ratio of espresso. It is also topped with a thin layer of milk foam. The steamed milk is also folded in as it is poured, which helps create a velvety texture!
Cappuccino
The Cappuccino has a balanced mix of espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. The steamed milk is added to the espresso, and then the drink is topped with the milk foam. These are a coffee shop favorite due to the ability for baristas to include latte art using the milk foam.
Mocha
Mocha's consist of espresso, hot milk, and some form of chocolate addition. The chocolate additions are typically syrups or cocoa powders. They are also a very popular form of coffee drink.
Americano
An Americano consists of one shot of espresso that has been diluted with water, and a thin layer of cream on top. Americano's are dark and rich in flavor, and the strength can be increased by simply including more shots.
Breve
Breve's are liked Cappuccino's and Lattes; it includes espresso and foam, but rather than steamed milk, it uses steamed half-and-half. It also has more foam than other milk-based drinks like the cappuccino and latte. The steamed half-and-half helps create a very rich and creamy drink.