Espresso
Espresso – a shot of espresso made by forcing steam through finely ground coffee under high pressure. Espresso is the foundation for most coffee drinks.
Who drinks Espressos? Coffee connoisseurs and coffee snobs, hipsters, caffeine freaks (who pronounce it “expresso”). People with tattoos involving flames.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino – made with one part espresso, one part steamed milk, one part frothed milk. Sweet, milky, and luxurious.
Who drinks cappuccinos? Men in ascots, people wearing turtlenecks, beautiful women at sidewalk cafes, couples on a date at a romantic restaurant. Cappuccino drinkers look down on Latte drinkers.
Latte
Latte – made with one part espresso and 3 parts steamed milk. Can include a dollop of foam on top and a sprinkling of spice.
Who drinks lattes? Italians, children, people who are just starting to drink coffee. Women wearing sweaters and gazing absentmindedly into space.
Macchiato
Macchiato – a shot of espresso with a dollop of foamed milk on top.
Who drinks macchiatos? Movie stars, men with moustaches. People with ear spacers.
There’s also a Starbucks macchiato, which is more like a latte with a dollop of foam on top and caramel or hazelnut syrup added – people writing novellas would drink these.
Café au Lait
Café au Lait – coffee mixed with a hefty amount of steamed milk.
Who drinks café au laits? Parisians and tourists in New Orleans. People who want a bowl of coffee for breakfast.
Americano
Americano – espresso with hot water added.
Who drinks Americanos? American G.I’s in Italy, journalists.
Mocha
Mocha – a latte with chocolate powder or chocolate syrup added. May include whipped cream on top.
Who drinks Mochas? People who don’t really like coffee. Children. People who like Cafe Mocha and are not afraid to be seen drinking them.
All photos licensed by CC-BY-2.0. Coffee Drinker by David Hodgson, Coffee Cuppers by DFID, Hipster by AJ, Tattoo by Ryan, Ascot by S. MiRK, Turtleneck by Inessa Akhmedova, Woman at Cafe by Christopher Michel, Sweater by bachmont, Italian by Eddy Van 3000, Child by Giulio, Paul Newman by kate gabrielle, Moustache by Petras Gagilas, Ear Spacer by Jason Rogers, Novella by Pedro Ribeiro Simoes, Parisians by La Citta Vita, Cafe du Monde by Lauren Mitchell, Cafe au Lait by Francis, Soldier by Marion Doss, Journalist by Jerome Starkey, Mocha by Simon Doggett, Kid by Steve Fishman, Mocha Drinker by bark
