The Top 10 Most Popular Coffee Shop Drinks in the US

Don’t know the difference between a regular coffee vs an espresso or a latte vs a cappuccino? Whether you make them at home or order them at your favorite coffee shop, this handy guide to the most popular coffee shop drinks will tell you everything you need to know.

What Are the Top 10 Most Popular Coffee Shop Drinks in the US?

We Americans have a love affair with coffee that shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Whether you grab your coffee at Starbucks or make your own at home, you probably already have your favorite coffee drink.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t branch out and try different types of coffee! And, if you don’t know the difference between a regular coffee vs an espresso or a latte vs a cappuccino, this hand guide to common café drinks will tell you everything you need to know.

Our list of popular coffee drinks to make at home or order at your favorite café is sure to inspire any coffee lover, so let’s dive right in.

Here are the 10 most popular coffee shop drinks in the US to get your creative coffee juices flowing!

1. Espresso

EspressoEspresso is by far the most popular coffee drink around the world, not just in the US. Many people enjoy a single or double shot of espresso on its own, especially as an after-dinner drink. But espresso also forms the base of many of your favorite coffee drinks, too, so it’s incredibly versatile, not to mention delicious!

Espresso is brewed in a pressurized machine that shoots nearly boiling water through packed, finely ground, specially roasted coffee beans. The espresso brewing process results in an aromatic, bold, complex, highly caffeinated single or double shot of espresso with a layer of crema on top.

The difference between regular coffee and espresso lies in the preparation. Coffee beans for espresso are roasted longer, ground finer, and brewed under pressure. Regular coffee beans come in a variety of roasts and grinds, depending on your brewing process, most commonly with a drip coffee machine.

Here’s our Step by Step Guide to Making Espresso at Home and here are Our Favorite Espresso Machines for Home Use, in case you want to learn more.

And, here’s our Guide to the Best Drip Coffee Makers, if regular coffee is more your style.

2. Cappuccino

The cappuccino is an espresso-based coffee drink that’s loved and adored by coffee drinkers everywhere. This popular café drink is topped with a thick layer of dreamy microfoam, resulting in a drink that’s airy, indulgent, and oh so delicious!

Proportionally, a cappuccino has a ratio of 1/3 espresso and 1/3 steamed milk, topped with 1/3 milk foam. It can be customized in a variety of ways, such as adding syrups, cocoa powder, or spices, or foaming cream instead of milk for an even more indulgent drink.

Here’s How to Make Cappuccino at Home, With or Without an Espresso Machine.

And, if you love cappuccino, the Mr. Coffee Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte Maker is the perfect, easy-to-use cappuccino maker for home use. Of course, you can use it to make many other popular coffee shop drinks, too.

3. Latté

A latte is another espresso-based drink that’s incredibly popular in the US and around the world. Latte is an Italian word that literally means “coffee and milk.” A latte is different from a cappuccino because it contains more steamed milk and only a thin layer of microfoam.

Lattes are a great choice for those who don’t want anything super strong or bold. Since the drink is diluted with steamed milk, the caffeine content is also lower than straight espresso or coffee.

The correct ratio of espresso to milk for a latte is 1/3 espresso to 2/3 steamed milked, topped with a very thin layer of milk foam. Lattes are extremely customizable and can be made with any type of milk or milk substitute.

You can also add flavorings to your latte, such as syrups, cocoa powder, or even make your latte with tea instead of coffee. Here are the best syrups and flavorings for making lattes at home and here are the best cocoa powders for coffee drinks.

And, these are some easy latte recipes you can make at home:

4. Americano

An Americano is a popular coffee shop drink made from water and espresso. It’s a great choice for those who find straight espresso to be too strong.

The correct ratio of water to espresso for an Americano is typically 1/3 espresso to 2/3 water, although some people prefer equal parts of each.

Americanos are typically served without milk, but you can add it or ask the barista to do it for you. Americanos can also be ordered iced if that’s your preference.

5. Cold Brew

Cold brew coffee has become very popular in recent years. Cold brew is a method of preparing the coffee by soaking the grinds at room temperature or in the fridge for 12 hours or more. There’s no heat involved in this brewing process at all.

The cold brewing process results in a super-smooth, low acid, and highly caffeinated coffee that can be served hot or cold. It can also be served on its own, with milk, or it can be used to make a variety of popular coffee shop drinks.

Cold brew is different from iced coffee because iced coffee is brewed with a traditional drip coffee maker and then chilled over ice or in the fridge to make iced coffee drinks. Cold brew can be made in advance and stored in the fridge to make your favorite coffee shop drinks on the fly.

Here’s Our Complete Guide to Making Cold Brew at Home + 3 Cold Brew Recipes to Try.

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6. Frappuccino/Frappe

The terms Frappuccino and frappe generally describe a popular frozen coffee shop drink that may or may not contain coffee. The difference is, the term Frappuccino is used exclusively by Starbucks, while the term frappe is universal across the globe.

There are literally hundreds of versions of frappes to try, from fruit flavors to caramel and everything in between. These drinks are generally blended in a blender with ice, but every coffee shop has its own process, so it’s fun to experiment and see what you like.

The variations are virtually endless, but in general, you can expect a sweet, thick drink that’s a lot like a milkshake.

Here are two frappe/Frappuccino-style drink recipes you can easily make at home:

7. Caffe Mocha

The Caffe Mocha, sometimes called a café mocha or mocha latte, is a popular coffee shop drink that’s basically a latte with chocolate syrup or cocoa powder added to it.

It generally contains two shots of espresso, 1 or 2 pumps of chocolate syrup, steamed milk, and a little milk foam. It can be ordered with or without whipped cream on top, depending on your preference.

Here’s How to Make a Caffe Mocha at Home and here’s our guide to the Best Cocoa Powders for Making Coffee Drinks.

8. Café au Lait

A café au lait is a popular café drink that originated in France. A café au lait is made with equal parts French Press brewed coffee and steamed milk. There’s traditionally no milk foam on the top, but some coffee shops may serve it with a very thin layer.

The difference between a latte and a café au lait is that a latte is made with espresso, while a café au lait is made with regular coffee (usually brewed in a French press but you can use drip coffee, too.) A café au lait typically has less caffeine than a latte and a weaker coffee flavor.

Here’s our Guide to Making French Press Coffee, in case you’d like to try your hand at making a café au lait at home.

You’ll need an easy, way to steam milk for your café au lait without an espresso machine. We love this adorable little milk steamer and frother by Miroco. Of course, you can use it to foam milk for all kinds of hot and cold espresso and tea drinks, too.

9. Macchiato

The traditional macchiato is an espresso-based drink that is made with one or two shots of espresso, a splash of steamed milk, and topped with just a slight bit of milk foam.

A macchiato is different from a latte because it only has a splash of milk, which makes the macchiato a stronger coffee drink. You will love a macchiato if you want the bold taste of espresso with just a hint of creaminess from the steamed milk.

That said there are limitless variations of this popular coffee drink served at coffee shops all over the US, and sometimes they don’t resemble a true macchiato at all.

Here’s a super yummy recipe for a popular macchiato drink that you make at home:

How to Make a Caramel Macchiato (Hot or Iced)

10. Affogato

An affogato is a popular coffee shop and café drink made with espresso and vanilla ice cream. It’s a rich, sweet, and creamy Italian coffee and dessert in one cup.

If you’re looking for it on the menu at your favorite specialty coffee shop or restaurant, you could find it listed under desserts or drinks, and both categories are technically correct. You’ll need a spoon to eat it since the hot espresso is poured over the ice cream immediately before serving.

People love to experiment with different variations of the Affogato, just like they do with other coffee shop drinks. It can be served with virtually any flavor of ice cream or gelato and changing up the type and flavor of the espresso will change the intensity of the flavor.

In Brazil, Affogato is often served with fruit-flavored ice creams. Affogato served with liquor or flavored syrups is also quite popular.

Here’s How to Make an Affogato at Home + some yummy variations to try. Or, if you’re in the mood for a boozy coffee drink, here’s a recipe for an Affogato Martini and another recipe for an Irish Cream Affogato that’s to die for!

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