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Coffee Recipes

Café-style drinks you can make in your own kitchen: creamy lattes, bold espresso classics and colorful iced coffees, with simple ingredients and clear steps.

9

Recipes

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Oct 2026

Last updated

All coffee recipes

Know your drinks

Coffee drink terms to know

Espresso (not "expresso")
From the Italian for "pressed". A strong, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under pressure. It is the base of most café drinks.
Crema
The thin layer of small bubbles, a light brown foam, that forms on top of a freshly made espresso.
Ristretto
A "restricted" espresso shot pulled with less water. It tastes sweeter and more intense, and is the base of a classic flat white.
Latte art
The pattern a barista pours into the foam of an espresso drink with textured milk, such as a heart or a rosetta.
Half-and-half
A mix of equal parts whole milk and cream. Steamed, it makes the rich, silky foam of a breve.
Cold brew vs. iced coffee
Cold brew is steeped in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, which makes it smooth and low in acidity. Iced coffee is regular hot-brewed coffee served over ice.
Flavor notes
A written description of a coffee's taste, smell and character, used as a guideline for your taste buds.
Acidity
A bright, sparkling sensation, usually felt at the front of the tongue. In good coffee it reads as liveliness, not sourness.

Our process

From a barista's bar to your kitchen

Our recipes are written by Sasha Pavlovich, a barista and coffee educator, with exact amounts and the small café techniques that make a drink taste right: how to texture milk, how strong the coffee base should be, and how to keep iced drinks from tasting watery.

Every recipe is made for home equipment. Where a drink calls for espresso, we suggest alternatives, like a moka pot or strong brewed coffee, that still give good results.

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Sasha Pavlovich Founder · Barista and coffee educator View profile and guides

Coffee recipe questions and answers

What can I make with coffee besides drinks?

Aside from hot and cold drinks, coffee is a great ingredient in desserts. Popular ideas include tiramisu, coffee jelly, coffee truffles, coffee cupcakes and coffee mousse.

Can I make espresso drinks without an espresso machine?

Yes. A moka pot or an AeroPress makes a strong, concentrated coffee that works well in lattes, cortados and iced drinks. Strongly brewed coffee is the next best option.

What are coffee syrups?

Coffee syrups are sweet flavorings, such as vanilla, caramel or hazelnut, that you mix into hot or cold coffee drinks. You can buy them or make your own by simmering sugar and water with your flavoring.

What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?

Cold brew is made by steeping coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, which gives a smooth, low-acid concentrate. Iced coffee is regular hot-brewed coffee that is cooled and served over ice.

How do I keep iced coffee drinks from tasting watery?

Start with a stronger coffee base, such as espresso or a stronger brew ratio, so the melting ice does not dilute it too much. Coffee ice cubes are another easy trick.

Brew the perfect base