Coffee: we all love it! Some of us would even go so far to say that we need it to get through the day. Whether you’re an oat latte, black americano or double shot salted caramel Frappuccino with extra whipped cream type of person, we all have a preferred method of taking our daily caffeine hit.

It is so easy to opt for your classic latte, cappuccino or americano when reaching the front of the queue in your local cafe. But there is a whole world of coffee brews out there to explore! In this blogpost we highlight some of the more unusual brews out there. Some of these you may have heard of before, but not known the meaning of, and some may be totally new.

Either way, it’s a fun way to change up your routine and get your barista smiling.

RISTRETTO

A Ristretto is similar to an espresso but is a shorter extraction – usually around 15mls to 20mls. A classic espresso is around 30mls to 44mls. This means the Ristretto lacks the acidity present in espresso-based coffees, while remaining smooth and full-bodied.

CORTADO

This is a coffee with Spanish roots but is also popular in Portugal, where it is called Pingo or Garoto. It is a single shot of espresso with steamed milk to balance the acidity of the coffee. Sometimes baristas will add a tiny layer of micro foam in order to make coffee art.

PICCOLO OR PICCOLO LATTE

An Italian favourite! This directly translates to a “Little Latte” from Italian and contains a Ristretto shot of coffee (see above). It uses the same ratio of a latte, around 1:3, with both steamed and textured milk. It is served in a smaller cup however to produce a small drink that is only around 120mls.

MACCHIATO OR DOUBLE MACCHIATO

This kind of coffee is very popular in a lot of restaurants and cafés. Think of an espresso, but witha dollop of frothy milk on top. Double Macchiato is the same but with a double shot of coffee.

GALÃO

This is the Portuguese version of a latte. It uses steamed milk and a single shot of coffee, at about a 1:3 ratio. In the UK, if you order a Latte at the Portuguese dining chain Nando’s, they will serve you a Galão.

TURKISH COFFEE

Extremely fine ground coffee is boiled with water and sugar in a unique kettle called an Ibrik. It is served unfiltered and a natural foam forms on top once it settles. It is traditionally served with cardamom. This kind of coffee is also very popular in Eastern Europe and other parts of the Middle East.

COLD BREW

An Australian trend, Cold Brew coffee is never heated up and instead uses time to extract the caffeine and oils from the beans. Coffee grounds and cold water are left to brew for around 18 to 24 hours and then filtered. This process is called “immersion”. The resulting product, which is similar to a concentrate, is added to cold water and then poured over ice.

VIETNAMESE COFFEE OR CA PHE NAU OR CA PHE SUA

Indulgent and rich, this is an iced coffee made using a traditional slow drip method. Coarsely ground beans go into a French drip filter which sits on top of the cup. Water is poured in the top. and it slowly drips into the cup below. This process is repeated several times to produce enough coffee for one serving. Most commonly, this is combined with condensed milk and is poured over ice. There are other variations made with eggs and yoghurt.

COLD DRIP

This coffee is similar to the Cold Brew – and is also an Australian trend. This variant of iced coffee uses a drip tower. This is made of three glass vessels that sit in a column (usually attached to a pole which holds them upright). The top receptacle contains iced water which drips out a small hole at the bottom into the middle glass vessel which contains the ground coffee. This then drips into the bottom receptacle. The coffee is then poured over ice. This process can take between 3.5 to 12 hours depending on the size of the drip tower.

NITRO COFFEE

Nitro Coffee is Cold Brew coffee infused with nitrogen. It is stored in a keg and served on draught, the nitrogen forming a foamy head when it settles in the glass – like that of a stout beer.It is also sometimes served from cans. This brew is thought to be healthier than other coffee varieties as the nitrogen adds a level of sweetness and flavour without any added sugar.

BULLETPROOF COFFEE

A favourite of the health conscious; unsalted butter and a derivative of coconut oil are mixed into coffee. It’s a drink that is high in calories and is often used as a meal replacement. Bulletproof is the name of the company that first developed the concept and they advertise their coffee as aiding weight loss and improved cognition.

DALGONA COFFEE

This is a very new trend and is taking the internet by storm! The coffee brew is inspired by the similar South Korean street food Dalgona. It is made of instant coffee granules, white granulated sugar and boiling water. The ingredients are whisked together until a very thick and aerated foam forms. This is then spooned over milk and ice. Delicious!

COFFEE AND AVOCADO MILKSHAKE

An odd (but yummy) recipe. Vanilla ice cream, avocado, espresso and ice are blended together into a milkshake consistency. The avocado doesn’t affect the flavour but makes the shake extra creamy and delicious.

LONG BLACK

The Long Black is simply the name for an Americano in Australia and New Zealand. Some Long Blacks will be shorter and therefore more flavoursome than the traditional Americano.

AND LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST...COFFEE BAGS!

It wouldn’t be a New Kings post without speaking about our favourite coffee brew. This way of brewing coffee is the exact same as brewing tea bags. Instead of tea the bags contain fresh, ground coffee. It’s shocking it hasn’t been thought of before! Our coffee bags are made of cornstarch, so they are biodegradable and better for the planet. They are also no-mess and no-fuss, with five delicious roasts for you to try.

So what’s your favourite?
What have we missed from this list?
Let us know in the comments below.
Stay curious!

Jason
Founder
New Kings Coffee