If you have always wondered why the world revolves around coffee but haven’t made the jump yourself, this post might help you find your ticket in. As it turns out, some methods of coffee preparation and types of coffee drinks are way more palatable to beginners than others.
In another article I wrote a while back, I made a list of ways to drink coffee that I considered friendliest to beginners, from most drinkable to least. In this article, I wanted to look at some of the best types of coffee drinks from that list in more detail, along with a few other suggestions. This post is also arranged with the most beginner friendly drinks listed first.
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1. The Latte
In my opinion, the latte is the most accessable coffee beverage, in terms of taste. A latte is basically a shot (or two) of espresso combined with steamed milk (or regular milk in the case of the iced latte). You can order lattes at any coffee shop or restaurant with an espresso machine. If you have no issues with milk, this is probably the drink to start with. Many coffee shops can offer different types of milk (soy, almond, etc) if you are lactose intolerant.
Although most coffee shops have all sorts of syrups and flavorings they can add to your latte, I would encourage you to try it without any additives, especially if you are looking to drink this style of coffee on a regular basis. Steamed milk is thick and creamy and masks the intensity of espresso well. The flavor of just the coffee and milk alone in a well-prepared latte tastes great. Plus, flavoring usually increases the price of your drink.
The only downside to lattes is that they require an espresso machine to make properly. For most people who aren’t coffee enthusiasts, this means they only get lattes when they are out and about. I wrote a post a while back detailing a few different options for espresso at different price points, which I recommend you check out if you are interested in making any espresso-based drinks at home.
2. The Cappuccino
The cappuccino is very similar to the latte except the espresso is combined with frothed milk rather than steamed milk, and then topped with milk foam, which is created during the frothing process. Lattes are thick and creamy throughout while cappuccinos have a layering to them.
Since this drink is still basically milk and espresso, it retains all the same drinkable qualities that the latte has. Cappuccinos don’t typically have anything added (because stirring in any syrups messes up the layering) and are a great starting point to begin appreciating the taste of coffee itself.
Cappuccinos are a bit easier to make at home because frothed milk is more accessible than steamed milk. You will still need espresso or some other form of concentrated coffee, but the milk can be prepared using a variety of different devices.
3. The Caffè Americano
The caffé americano refers to a coffee drink that combines a shot of espresso with hot water. The experience of drinking an americano is very similar to that of regular black coffee, except the presentation is noticeably smoother, especially to beginners.
This drink is much more palatable than regular drip coffee, especially if you are looking to go without cream or sugar. Espresso is rich and bursting with flavor but also quite strong and bitter to beginners. By diluting espresso with water, you still get some of the nuance and flavor with almost no bitterness at all.
If you want to start drinking americanos, you can order them at a coffee shop or any restaurant that has an espresso machine. If you prefer your coffee on the stronger side, you may opt for a double americano instead (two shots rather than one).
As with lattes and cappuccinos, this drink requires espresso to be authentic. If you are wanting to prepare an inexpensive alternative, you can use concentrated coffee from an aeropress, which I detail in the next section. Otherwise, you may be happy to know that Americanos are usually much cheaper to order than their milk-based alternatives.
4. AeroPress Coffee
The AeroPress is a small, inexpensive coffee gadget that makes coffee for one person at a time. Aeropress coffee can be brewed in a variety of ways, most of which taste smoother than other styles of coffee. These devices are easy to use and very forgiving of mistakes with grind or extraction. This is a great way to get started making awesome coffee at home (and I have written quite extensively about it for this reason).
The AeroPress can make regular brewed coffee and americano style coffee, strikingly similar to that which comes from an espresso machine. You can find AeroPress coffee in some coffee shops, but usually this is something you will want to pick up for making coffee at home. As an added bonus, you can make lattes with an Aeropress!
Generally, Aeropress coffee uses a short extraction time (just like espresso) and a relatively fine grind (although not as fine as espresso). Although you can modify these parameters to suit your tastes, AeroPress coffee is relatively foolproof and is a great option to get folks started using something other than a coffee pot.
5. Chemex Coffee
The Chemex is a pourover style coffee maker that looks sort of like an hour-glass. Although the Chemex has been somewhat trendy in the past few years, it was actually invented in the 1940s and has certainly been time-tested. Many higher end coffee shops can brew Chemex coffee upon request, but this is also a great brewing method to have at home.
Chemex coffee is similar to pour-over and drip coffee except that it has a super-clean and sort of pointed taste. I should mention that brewing technique is important with the Chemex for this statement to hold true. If you have questions about anything Chemex related, I would encourage you to check out my post where I answer all your Chemex related questions.
The Chemex costs just a bit more than the AeroPress; however, the Chemex can brew for multiple people and effectively replace your coffee pot. The Chemex uses a special filter that pulls sediment and coffee oils out of your coffee. This filter slows down extraction and allows the flavor to which results in clean but very tasty coffee.
6. French Pressed Coffee
The French press, also known as a press-pot, coffee plunger, and coffee press (among other names) has been around a bit longer than the Chemex and will probably always be around in some shape or form. Many high-end restaurants (in addition to coffee shops) will serve french pressed coffee and you might have already had it without realizing it.
In terms of technique, the French press is very similar to brewing loose leaf tea. In fact, you can actually brew tea using a french press since the method is basically the same. The resulting coffee is bold and heavy and tastes very different compared to everything else on this list. Nuance is not really associated with the french press.
Although I don’t think french pressed coffee appeals to everyone, I included it on this list because its one of the easiest to use brewing methods out there, and there are ways to make it palatable. You simply use a coarse grind, steep for a few minutes, press the plunger down, and pour out your coffee. If you need more details, I wrote a post that walks you through the process and discusses grinding and all that.
Although I am not a cream/sugar/additive person, I do particularly love french press coffee mixed with some Baileys Irish Cream. The strength of the coffee really stands up to anything you could possibly add to it. I recommend picking up a french press for the sake of variation if nothing else.
7. Drip Coffee
I didn’t originally want to include drip coffee on this list since the prevalence of junky coffee pots (and stale coffee) have convinced many people that coffee tastes bitter and unpleasant, especially on its own. However, if you prepare your coffee properly, drip coffee can be very enjoyable.
The automation and consistency of a typical coffee pot can be very convenient, especially if you have a lot going on. I use a Breville Precision Brewer Thermal, which you can read about in a review post I did a while back, and I still enjoy drip coffee quite often.
The best coffee device to start with is probably the one you already have, provided yours is not too worn out. You can test this by descaling your coffee pot, using filtered water, and using quality coffee purchased pre-ground from a roaster. If your coffee still tastes like burnt plastic, its time for an upgrade.
Bonus: Cashew Coffee
Cashew coffee is something I discovered recently when I was browsing Pinterest and I thought I would list it as an option here since I haven’t written about it anywhere else yet.
The basic idea with cashew coffee is to blend up a serving of cashews with a cup of brewed coffee. If you haven’t tried this yet, you would be seriously surprised at how good cashew coffee tastes (provided you enjoy cashews).
Cashews replace the need for milk and add a milky texture to your coffee along with an appealing nutty flavor. If you are looking for something different, I highly recommend giving this drink a try. Let me know in the comments if you are as surprised as I was when you first try it.
At some point, I’ll come up with a list of cashew coffee recipes and link to them here.
Closing Thoughts
I hope something from this list will appeal to your taste. Many options listed above can be prepared reliably and inexpensively at home, although you may wish to get something from a coffee shop first before spending any money on brewing methods.
In general, adding milk (or some milk substitute) to your coffee will make the coffee taste much less prominent, so if you are looking for the most beginner friendly entry into coffee, consider something with milk. If you prefer to skip the dairy, the Caffè americano (or AeroPress equivalent) are the best choices.
If you are new to this site, I would encourage you to click on some of the links in the menu to see the different kinds of things I have written about. My general focus for this site is to make quality coffee accessible to regular people with busy lives and provide resources for home-baristas. I hope you enjoy your stay!
Happy Brewing!
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