Coffee Recipes: 11 Coffee Drinks to Try at Home

Coffee is a brewed beverage made from roasted coffee beans. These beans are the seeds of the Coffea genus of flowering plants, a fruiting shrub in the Rubiaceae family. The fruits of the coffee plant, known as cherries, produce two “beans,” or pips, which producers harvest as part of the coffee trade. They soak these immature green coffee beans for two days to remove an outer layer of sticky pulp and roast them to varying degrees to produce a light, medium, or dark roast.

After roasting, producers sell the beans to stores and coffee shops, where baristas grind and brew them with water to create different types of coffee drinks.

You can grind coffee beans to various consistencies before using them to brew coffee drinks, from fine powders for concentrated espresso-based drinks to coarse, pebbly grinds for pour-overs, drip coffee, and French press carafes.

If you’re looking for a new way to experience coffee’s bitter, earthy flavor, try one of the following coffee recipes and play barista in your own home:

1. 1. Affogato: This Italian creation lets you have coffee for dessert. An affogato consists of a double shot of espresso poured over vanilla gelato—though it’s easy enough to substitute chocolate or vanilla ice cream.
2. 2. Café au lait: French for “coffee with milk,”café au lait features brewed coffee and hot milk served in a footed bowl. Combine equal parts black coffee and frothed milk in your favorite mug for a silky smooth breakfast treat. Learn how to make a café au lait at home.
3. 3. Cold brew coffee: Cold brew coffee features coffee grounds combined with cold or room temperature rather than hot water, left to steep for hours. Try cold brew at home.
4. 4. Dalgona whipped coffee: Dalgona coffee is a fun way to dress up instant coffee by aerating it with hot water and sugar and pouring it over hot or cold milk. To take whipped coffee to the next level, sprinkle some cinnamon or cocoa powder over the top.
5. 5. Espresso macchiato: If you have a frother and an espresso machine, a macchiato is a great way to enjoy espresso’s intense flavor without downing a straight shot but instead adding just a bit of milk foam. Learn how to make an espresso macchiato at home.
6. 6. Espresso Martini: Some coffee liqueur, simple syrup, and vodka turn espresso into a bracing after-dinner coffee cocktail. Learn how to make an espresso Martini.
7. 7. Flat white: Popular in Australia and New Zealand, a flat white is an espresso drink similar to a latte but with less milk and the addition of microfoam. Make a flat white at home with this easy-to-follow recipe.
8. 8. Iced coffee: Instead of drinking hot coffee, refrigerate it after you brew it in a drip machine or French press once it’s reached room temperature to create a refreshing drink. If you’re in a rush and don’t mind diluting your coffee, pour brewed coffee over ice cubes to make iced coffee.
9. 9. Irish Coffee: For a boozy brunch, try adding brown sugar and Irish whiskey or bourbon to your coffee. Top it off with whipped cream for a classic Irish Coffee cocktail.
10. 10. Latte: Caffè latte, or latte for short, is an Italian espresso drink made with steamed milk—“latte” is Italian for “milk.” A latte is one-third espresso (typically one or two shots) and two-thirds steamed milk, topped with a layer of foam. Baristas often customize lattes with flavored syrups to make peppermint lattes, vanilla lattes, and more.
11. 11. Mocha: Combine espresso or strong coffee with chocolate syrup and steamed milk to create a hot chocolate that’s also a pick-me-up. Learn to make a mocha at home.

Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Gordon Ramsay, Gabriela Cámara, Chef Thomas Keller, Dominique Ansel, Yotam Ottolenghi, Alice Waters, and more.