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The first time I started comparing espresso drinks side by side, I was surprised by how different they felt even when the ingredient lists looked simple.
This list covers the main espresso drinks I keep coming back to, plus a few notes on making them at home once the basics started to make sense to me.
13 Best espresso drinks (Coffee lovers need to know)
Espresso is a concentrated coffee served in small shots, and the first thing I notice is how much aroma comes off before I even taste it.
Because it is pulled from finely ground beans under pressure, it usually tastes bolder and more intense than drip coffee.
I still drink it on its own, but I also use it as a base for a wide variety of other coffees.
1. Regular Espresso
I usually start with espresso itself when I want to compare drinks, because it tells me immediately how the shot was pulled.
Regular espresso is essentially a brewed coffee shot that’s meant to be slowly savored and not gulped down.
Rich in flavor, it’s enjoyed by coffee connoisseurs and can be drunk as either a single or double shot of espresso.
I usually keep the first sip plain, then decide whether it needs sugar or a biscuit like biscotti on the side.
Espresso does have a reputation for being high in caffeine, but a single shot can still feel less caffeine-heavy than a big mug of brewed coffee. The strength is more about concentration than volume.
Low on calories, each espresso cup only has 3 calories, but 64mg of caffeine , which is part of why it feels so compact.
If I want the same flavor but something colder, I go for an iced espresso and let the temperature change the drink more than the recipe does.
2. Latte
Lattes are the espresso drinks I come back to when I want the coffee softened rather than hidden.
Lattes come with a shot of espresso and are topped with steamed milk and foam.
The milk foam gives the drink that silky finish, and swapping milks or adding sweetness changes the cup more than most people expect.
I have also seen dirty chai lattes work well because the spice cuts through the milk without making the drink feel harsh.
A good latte feels smooth and gentle, which is why I used to reach for it first thing in the morning.
Calories vary by size and milk, but a medium latte is typically about 200 calories .
You can also enjoy hot or as an iced latte – making it the perfect summer espresso drink!
3. Cappuccino
Cappuccinos get lumped in with lattes all the time, but the foam changes the drink enough that I stopped treating them as interchangeable.
While a cappuccino is made with a shot of espresso (or double espresso if you like it stronger) and topped with steamed milk and one third milk foam – usually finished with a dust of chocolate powder or cocoa powder.
Compared with a latte, a cappuccino feels a little less creamy and a little more airy, which is usually why I order it when I want the espresso to stay more visible.
Similar to lattes, however, cappuccinos can come in a variety of flavors, and you’re more than welcome to use different kinds of hot milk, such as almond milk, oat milk, and more.
Calories also differ depending on the milk and size you pick, but it is typically 130 calories for a regular cappuccino.
An iced cappuccino is less common, but the basic idea stays the same, with cold milk keeping the coffee focus intact.
4. Cortado
Are you looking for a robust and delicious espresso drink that isn’t a latte or a cappuccino? The Cortado, aka the Gibraltar, is exactly what you need.
This Spanish coffee drink feels balanced to me because the espresso is present, but the hot milk keeps it from landing as sharply as straight espresso.
So, what exactly is Cortado? It’s an espresso drink with equal parts espresso and steamed milk.
Some cafés keep the Gibraltar in a smaller format, because a double shot can start to push the balance away from what I expect.
It is the drink I reach for when I want a little more coffee character than a latte gives me, but not the full hit of straight espresso.
In terms of calories, it has about 15 calories , which is very low compared with most other espresso drinks.
5. Flat White
A flat white is one of those drinks I used to mix up with a latte until I started paying attention to the milk texture.
It’s a coffee drink with espresso brewed coffee, steamed milk, and comes with a foam that’s relatively thin.
It has a thinner layer of foam than a latte but more foam than a cappuccino, so the coffee comes through with a little more clarity.
That thinner foam also leaves enough surface for latte art, which is why I often see baristas treat it as a nice canvas.
The texture feels smooth and silky, and it stays easy to customize without turning into a heavier milk drink.
When it comes to calories, it has about 264 calories for a grande size.
6. Macchiato
A macchiato is basically espresso with a small amount of milk on top, and I think of it as sharper than a latte or cappuccino.
Compared to the latte and cappuccino, however, a macchiato has far less steamed milk, giving it a bolder taste than a latte.
It suits people who want the espresso to stay front and centre.
There are a few variations, including caffe macchiato and espresso macchiato.
The espresso macchiato, with a little frothed milk on top, feels lighter than a straight espresso but still very coffee-forward.
You can also get a latte macchiato, which goes the other way and feels creamier, so it sits somewhere between the two.
7. Americano
The Americano is one of the simplest espresso drinks, and I usually think of it as espresso stretched into something I can sip more slowly.
It’s a particularly popular drink in the United States and is essentially a shot of espresso that’s been topped with hot water.
As the hot water softens the espresso flavor, you still get the roast and bitterness without the full punch of a straight shot.
That is what makes it one of the easiest espresso drinks to carry around when I want coffee without milk.
In terms of how to make it, an Americano is made with either one or two shots of espresso and varying ratios of water.
It is low in calories and only has about 10 calories in a drink. You can also opt to have the Americano iced if you want something a little brighter.
8. Mocha
If you are someone who enjoys espresso drinks that lean sweeter, then a mocha is the one that usually makes the most sense to me.
It’s made with espresso, chocolate (sometimes chocolate syrup), steamed milk, and whipped cream – what more do you need?
I think of it as a drink for after a meal or beside dessert, because the chocolate pushes it firmly into sweeter territory.
Extra chocolate syrup or sprinkles just make that dessert-like side more obvious.
Since a mocha is usually treated like a dessert drink, it has a higher amount of calories, with about 440 calories in a medium-sized cup.
Hot or iced, the chocolate still carries the drink, and the coffee sits underneath it rather than taking over.
9. Breve
A breve feels richer than most espresso drinks the first time you sip it, and that extra weight comes through immediately.
It’s one of the simplest espresso drink recipes; essentially a shot of espresso paired with half and half.
It is easy to make at home, but I would still call it more of an indulgent coffee than an everyday one.
Since the Breve is made with half and half instead of regular milk, the texture turns much creamier and the espresso lands with a silky finish.
In terms of calories, it has about 550 calories in a medium-sized cup, making it one of the most calorie-laden espresso drinks of the lot.
10. Espresso Con Panna
If you have always wanted an espresso drink that feels close to dessert, this is the kind of cup that does it.
Simple yet delicious, the espresso con panna is simply a shot of espresso topped with whipped cream.
The whipped cream softens the espresso bitterness right away, and the first sip feels gentler than a plain shot.
Typically served in a shot, the espresso con panna can come with one shot of espresso or two shots of espresso, depending on how strong you want it.
I tend to think of it as more of an afternoon pick-me-up or an after-dinner treat.
11. Ristretto
Ah, the ristretto. It’s essentially a short espresso that’s pulled in less time than the standard shot.
The whipped cream does not hide the espresso completely, but it takes the edge off right away.
A ristretto is one of those drinks that taught me concentration does not always mean more time on the machine.
If you order ristretto in most coffee shops, it is likely that your barista will also serve it with a glass of sparkling water so you can drink it between sips.
12. Lungo
The opposite of a ristretto is the lungo. With the lungo, the brew time is increased rather than decreased.
What this means is that you get a more concentrated shot, while the lungo moves in the opposite direction and feels longer and a little more spread out.
The lungo is the one I would choose later in the day if I wanted a bit more caffeine feeling without switching to a milk drink.
It also tastes especially good with biscotti, since the sweetness helps balance the bitterness from the espresso.
Since it’s also an espresso shot on its own, the lungo is low on calories – great for individuals that might be wary of the calories in their drink.
13. Affogato
An affogato is one of the few coffee desserts that still feels like coffee first and dessert second.
It’s essentially a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a single or double espresso poured over it.
I usually notice the dark roast against the vanilla gelato right away, and the bitterness only works because the sweetness is so direct.
Toppings are optional, so crushed biscotti, chocolate syrup, or whipped cream just push it further into dessert territory.
A serving is often about 240 calories , most of it coming from the gelato.
How to make coffee drinks at home with an espresso machine
If you are making coffee drinks at home, the espresso machine is the part that does most of the work.
Once I got comfortable with the machine, the drinks stopped feeling complicated.
The latte is one of the easiest to start with because it is just espresso with steamed milk and foam.
Any good latte starts with a solid shot of espresso, and that is usually the step that tells you whether the machine is behaving.
- 1Start by grinding and measuring your beans
For a single espresso shot, you'd typically need about 6 to 8 grams of finely ground coffee beans. For a double shot of espresso, about 15 grams of coffee grounds will do. It's always good to measure all of this on a kitchen scale - especially if you're making a strong double shot. Make sure that your coffee grounds are powdery and fine. - 2Distribute and tamp down your shot
After you've got a good amount of coffee grounds, distribute it evenly on the portafilter before using the tamper to tamp it down. Remember you'll need to use more for two shot of espresso. - 3Pull your shot
Then, run the machine briefly without the portafilter before locking it in place, positioning it, and starting your shot. If you're making a regular espresso shot, it should be ready after 25 to 30 seconds. Note that this can differ depending on what you like and the machine you're using. - 4Prepare milk
If you're adding milk to your drink, you'll usually need to create steamed milk or froth milk up. If not, enjoy your espresso drink as it is! If you're drinking your espresso on its own, you're more than welcome to have it hot or cold – whichever you prefer, but you'll need a cooled shot for iced coffee. Each shot of espresso only comes with about 3 calories, making it a great guilt-free drink. You're also more than welcome to drink espresso every day, just don't overindulge and have it in moderation!
FAQs
Are espresso drinks stronger than regular coffee?
Espresso drinks are usually stronger by volume than regular drip coffee. One ounce has about 63mg of caffeine, while regular coffee has about 12 to 16mg of caffeine in every ounce.
Is there a drink with coffee and espresso?
There is a drink called a red-eye that consists of a typical cup of drip coffee with a shot of espresso added in. If I want something even more potent, a black eye adds two shots instead.
What can you mix espresso shots with?
You can mix espresso with whatever you like, from chocolate to biscotti, and it also works in drinks like an espresso martini. Single or double espresso shots can also be mixed with alcohol to create drinks like an espresso martini.
Which coffee drink has the most espresso?
A ristretto has the most concentrated type of espresso, so it also tends to taste the strongest. It is made with less hot water and a shorter extraction time.
Try an espresso coffee drink today!
As seen above, there are plenty of hot or iced espresso drinks for you to try in a coffee shop or at home.
From a breve to an Americano, the range is wide enough that I still switch depending on the day.
