Types of Coffees Explained

Have you ever wondered why you prefer certain type of coffee? Or the reason you are drawn to a certain kind of characteristics when drinking your cup of coffee?

In this guide, find out what goes into your cup of coffee. From the type of coffee bean, roasting techniques to the type of coffee preparations, learn the origins of coffees so you know what makes your favourite coffee so special.

How Roasting Affects The Taste of Coffee

You can unlock the full potential of your coffee’s aroma through the roasting process. The intensity in Nespresso coffee is defined by the coffee’s degree of roasting, its body and its bitterness.

Light roasts

Light Roasts are usually light brown in colour and have no oil at the surface. With a short roasting process, it tends to be lower in body, more acidic, and preserve more delicate aromatics (floral, for example), retaining a lot from the origin flavors of the bean.

Medium roasts

Medium Roast coffee beans present a slightly darker shades of brown, with little to no oil at the surface. These coffee beans tend to have a more balanced flavor, aroma and acidity when compared to light roast.

Dark roasts

Dark roasts, as its name suggests, are dark brown in colour, sometimes almost black. It is characterised by its pronounced bitterness and smoky flavors. Unlike light and medium roasts, dark roast coffee beans have an oily sheen on the surface. It is also the preferred choice for a pick-me-up morning coffee.

What is Your Coffee Preference?

Black coffee often refers to freshly brewed coffee that mixed with water, without the addition of any milk or flavours such as cream or syrups. There are multiple ways to enjoy a cup of black coffee, find out what interests you.

Espresso - Espresso is normally extracted where hot water is forces through finely-ground coffee, resulting a concentrated coffee liquid with an intense and bold flavor. It is also commonly served as the foundation for most milky coffee drinks such as Lattes and Macchiatos. Find out how Nespresso’s Espresso machine achieved optimal extraction with its precision brewing technology.

Ristretto – Unlike a normal Espresso shot, a ristretto uses half the amount of water than a normal Espresso would use to extract, resulting in a much richer mouthfeel than Espresso.

Lungo - Lungo in Italian stands for “long”. You probably guessed it right, unlike Ristretto, a Lungo uses double the amount of water to extract the coffee ground.

Americano - Americano are espresso diluted with hot water. The water to coffee ratio is commonly 2 part water and 1 part Espresso, but might vary based on preferences. If you like Americano, check out our Essenza Plus coffee machine which already comes with a hot water function.

For those who enjoy the local café scene, milk-based coffee should not be a new concept. Milk coffee lowers the caffeine concentrations and tame the acidity coming from the coffee, which makes it great for evening drinks.

Latte – Latte is one of the most popular milk-based coffee beverages. It is essentially a shot of espresso combined with steamed milk and top with a layer of foamed milk.

Cappuccino - The classic cappuccino is made with one part espresso, one part steamed milk, and one part milk foam; dust a layer of chocolate powder to complete the preparation.

Mocha - A latte with the added flavoured of chocolate. The chocolate flavour can be easily adjusted to your preference from using a chocolate syrup, cocoa powder or even chocolate milk.

Macchiato – A macchiato is a shot of espresso with a dash of steamed milk or foam.

Affogato – Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to a double shot hot espresso, and voila! You have yourself a delightful dessert after dinner.

Whether you love the intense bitterness from an Espresso shot or a cup of silky-smooth Latte, you can be your own barista at home, and start your coffee journey with Nespresso. Discover a wide range of coffee machines, suitable for all types of drinkers today!