Coffee has always been available in our house. Mum doesn’t function without a set number of cups in the morning and I must admit, as I get older I’m more of a coffee drinker than ever. But it is a pretty straightforward style of coffee – sugar, coffee, hot water, and milk. It wasn’t until Starbucks and other big coffee shops started to appear around the UK that I realised there were a whole lot of specialty coffee recipes out there to try.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes recommend products from other sellers at no extra cost to you. For more details see my disclosure policy and privacy policy.
What are speciality coffee recipes?
The first time I really studied a menu in Starbucks, I was fascinated. What is a Caffe Americano versus a Cortado? An Espresso Macchiato? I knew some of the drinks because things like cappuccinos and lattes were commonplace but the range of coffee recipes on offer was amazing.
Then there were hot chocolates, exotic teas, iced coffee, and frappucinos. Choosing a drink could be a major undertaking because there were so many choices! Since then, I’ve become more used to the coffee lingo and since we are on our second generation of coffee machines, I’ve got the hang of what makes a cappuccino and what part an espresso plays in it all.
The Coffee Chef Planner
Daily planning, journalling, and a proper coffee tasting log with a flavour wheel — 20 pages in one printable bundle.
Shop the planner →
Brewforge
A growing edit of coffee bar gear we’d genuinely want on our own counter, added to as we find things worth having.
Shop Brewforge →12 Espresso based coffee recipes
When you want to start learning about coffee recipes, the place to start is with espresso-based drinks. These account for a good portion of the Starbucks menu as well as many other cafes and also drinks that come from my coffee machine.
There are three common ingredients in all the drinks – espresso, steamed milk, and foam. The differences come in proportion and if there are extra toppings or other additions to give them a different flavour. Let’s meet 12 of the most popular:
- Espresso – 1 shot of espresso served in an espresso cup
- Double espresso (doppio) – 2 shots of espresso in an espresso cup
- Short macchiato – 1 short of espresso, a dollop of steamed milk and foam on top in three equal layers
- Long macchiato – 2 shots of espresso, a dollop of steamed milk, and foam
- Ristretto – 1 shot of espresso with half the water
- Long black (Americano) – cup 2/3rds full of hot water, add 1 shot of espresso
- Café latte – 1 shot espresso, steamed milk, 1 cm foam on top served in a tumbler glass
- Cappuccino – 1 shot of espresso, steamed milk, 2-3 cm foam, chocolate sprinkled on top
- Flat white – 1 shot of espresso, steamed milk but no foam
- Piccolo latte – 1 shot of espresso or ristretto, steamed milk, a small amount of foam
- Mocha – 1 shot of espresso, one spoon of chocolate powder, steamed milk, 2-3 cm foam, chocolate sprinkled on the top
- Affogato – 1 scoop vanilla ice cream, one or two shots of espresso over the top
You might also like The Science of Coffee: How Many Coffee Beans in a Tablespoon? by The Coffee Chef
Seasonal coffee recipes
Once you find your favourites in the world of espresso-based drinks, you start to want to expand your horizons and try more. Seasonal coffee recipes have become big business, especially due to the success of the pumpkin spice latte (which, honestly, I have not tried).
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients:
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp. canned pumpkin puree
- ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup coffee
- 2 tbsp. half and half
- 1 tsp sugar
- Whipped cream
- Nutmeg
Add the first four ingredients to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes until frothy – watch it doesn’t boil over. Pour into a tall mug and the coffee then cream and sugar. Stir well and top with whipped cream and a little nutmeg.
Gingerbread latte
Ingredients:
- 1 cup steamed milk
- 1 cup of strong coffee
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 tablespoon gingerbread syrup
- Whipped cream
- Ground cloves
- Sprinkles
Make your coffee as normal then add gingerbread syrup and sugar. Pour into the cup and stir to dissolve the sugar then add milk while stirring. Add a dollop of whipped cream and a dusting of cloves.
Peppermint Mocha
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coffee to taste
- 1 packet of your favourite hot chocolate
- 1 tbsp. peppermint syrup (store bought)
- 1 to 2 oz. milk
- Whipped cream
- Crushed candy cane
Add coffee to a mug then stir in the hot chocolate and keep stirring until dissolved. Add the peppermint syrup to taste then a little milk. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.
Peppermint Patty Coffee
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces coffee
- 2 tbsp. cocoa mix
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 ounces milk
Add the dry ingredients to a mug then add coffee. Stir until mixed then add peppermint extract and milk and stir until blended.
Mocha Eggnog
Ingredients
- 1 quart eggnog
- 1 cup strong coffee
- ½ cup chocolate syrup
- Whipped cream
- Shaved chocolate
- Ground nutmeg
Mix the eggnog and coffee in a pan and heat until warm. Stir the chocolate syrup and pour into mugs. Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and nutmeg.
You might also like Iced Honey Oatmik Latte (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) by The Coffee Chef
Coffee with extra flavours
Adding chocolate to coffee in a mocha is a classic coffee recipe but is just the start of the ideas out there to make coffee with extra flavours.
Nutella blended coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tsp instant coffee
- 4 tsp Nutella
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 cup ice
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate syrup
- Cocoa powder
Add the first six ingredients to a blender and blend. Swirl chocolate syrup around the sides of a tall clear cup and add the mixture. Top with whipped cream and a little cocoa powder.
Black Magic Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly brewed coffee
- ¼ tsp chocolate extract
- ¼ tsp hazelnut extract
- ¼ tsp rum extract
- Sugar, to taste
Add coffee to a mug, add the extracts and sugar to taste, stirring well.
Coffee Imperial
Ingredients
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 6 cups strong brewed coffee
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Sugar, to taste
- Crushed ice
- Whipped cream
- Cinnamon
Add the cinnamon sticks to the hot coffee and leave for an hour then remove the sticks. Add sugar and store in the refrigerator until chilled. Add to tall glasses for ice and finish with whipped cream and a little ground cinnamon.
Black Forest Coffee
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups hot coffee
- ¼ cup chocolate syrup
- 2 tbsp. maraschino cherry juice
- 1 ½ tsp sugar
- Whipped cream
- Maraschino cherry
- Chocolate syrup
Add the first four ingredients to a mug and stir well. Add whipped cream with a cherry on top and drizzle with chocolate syrup.
Fancy Italian coffee
Ingredients
- 3 cups strong black coffee
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp. light brown sugar
- Whipped cream
- Ground cinnamon
Add coffee and milk to a pan and simmer. Moisten the edge of the cups with water and dip them into brown sugar. Add the coffee and finish with whipped cream and a little ground cinnamon.
Milky Way Mocha
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brewed coffee
- ½ cup milk, steamed
- Caramel sauce, to taste
- Whipped cream
Add the caramel sauce to a mug then pour in the coffee. Stir well and add steamed milk and stir again. Add whipped cream and drizzle with caramel syrup.
Find a favourite coffee recipe
The great thing about these and the other coffee recipes out there is that you can adjust them to suit your taste. Easy coffee recipes can be adjusted to make them sweeter if you have a sweet tooth or reduce the sugar if you prefer. And you can experiment with the different syrups to see what new combinations you can find.
What are your favourite coffee recipes? Pop it in the comments below so we can all try it!
More From The Coffee Chef:
Coffee Cup vs Mug: The Difference and How to Choose the Right One
The Best Coffee Syrups: Top Brands and How to Use Them
