What’s your drink of choice?

Confused in the coffee shop? These are the main coffee-based drinks

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Have you ever stood in a coffee shop and thought, "Is there a real difference between all these drinks?". Coffee names seem to be all over the place. Long gone are the days when the options were as simple as choosing between regular and decaf, or deciding whether you wanted cream or milk. But between the onslaught of milk types, syrups, creamers, and quirky names, there are real differences between the most popular coffee options, even if they look very similar.

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The most basic form of coffee and the stepping stone for most drinks, espresso is short and highly concentrated. The high pressure of the espresso machine allows for a thicker coffee than regular drip methods, with a slightly higher caffeine content per ounce. Espresso, when done correctly, should have two distinct layers: a dark body and a light-colored foam called crema.

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Of Spanish origin but popular across many countries, this drink combines espresso with milk to reduce acidity, usually in a one-to-one ratio. Unlike other popular coffee drinks, the milk for a cortado is steamed but not frothy, and the amount used can vary depending on the region. The name comes from the Spanish verb cortar ("to cut"), referring to the espresso being cut with milk.

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Contrary to popular belief, a macchiato is not the Italian version of a cortado. Meaning ‘stained’ or ‘spotted’, a macchiato uses a very small amount of foamed milk to slightly soften the strong espresso flavor. Among the traditional espresso-based drinks, macchiatos use the least amount of milk.

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Despite its simplicity, cappuccino has become one of the most controversial and reinvented coffee drinks. A traditional Italian cappuccino consists of equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam, and the addition of a slight dusting of cinnamon or cocoa powder is optional (or considered a culinary blasphemy, depending on where in Italy you are). While many Italians consider cappuccinos a morning drink due to the high milk content, you can order them at any hour at your own risk.

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Allegedly originating as a way for American soldiers to make espresso more palatable during the 20th century, an Americano is made by diluting an espresso shot with hot water, softening the coffee without losing its flavor complexities. In Australia and other neighboring countries, a long black is a similar variant, though there are some differences in the preparation method, while an iced Americano is the unofficial drink of choice of most South Koreans.

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Usually known simply as a latte in English-speaking countries, a caffè latte is made by mixing one or more shots of espresso with steamed milk. Though it sounds similar to a cappuccino, a latte is served in a larger cup and with less foam, making it milkier and milder. In a traditional caffè latte, the steamed milk is poured on top of the espresso, whereas in a latte macchiato, the milk is added to the cup before the coffee. In the U.S., most coffee shops offer flavored versions of a latte.

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Though sometimes compared to a caffè latte, a café au lait is simpler and less milky. Traditionally, it is made with French-press or drip coffee, although espresso-based versions are common today. The proportions are typically one-to-one coffee and steamed milk, and it is usually served in a large cup.

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Of Australian origin, a flat white is more coffee-forward than a latte and has less foam than a cappuccino. It consists of one or two shots of espresso and steamed milk, but, being served in a smaller cup, it contains less milk than a latte. The name "flat white" comes from the absence of foam on top and the drink’s smooth texture.

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If espresso is a concentrated form of coffee, ristretto is an espresso on steroids. It is made from the same amount of ground coffee but only half the water; it produces a short, highly concentrated shot. Its opposite version, the lungo, has the same amount of coffee as an espresso, but twice the amount of water.

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Today, the word "frappe" is often used for any blended iced coffee, but a traditional frappe is simple and straightforward. Invented in Greece, it is usually made with instant coffee, sugar, and water mixed until foamy, then topped with ice and milk. A more "elevated" version, the freddo espresso, substitutes the instant coffee with a shot of espresso.

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Also known as a "shot in the dark," a red eye is for those moments when a single espresso won’t cut it, but you want something stronger than a ristretto. A red eye is made by adding an espresso shot to a regular cup of drip coffee, increasing the caffeine content. The name comes from red-eye flights, where passengers would need something to wake them quickly.

10 weird historical events that no one has been able to explain (yet)

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Who doesn't like a good mystery? And if the mystery isn’t a work of fiction but the result of a true story, even better! The great unsolved enigmas of history are absolutely fascinating. Some have been solved over time, but there are still many old secrets for which neither scientists nor historians have found an explanation—yet. Time-travel with us as we uncover 10 of the biggest historical mysteries that will probably never be cracked!

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Bermeja Island is mentioned in navigation texts written by European travelers and appears in cartography from the 16th to 19th centuries. Old maps place it off the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula; however, multiple searches over the years have yielded no concrete evidence of its existence.

So, what happened to Isla Bermeja? Was it a cartographic error? Did it sink due to a tidal wave? Because of its geopolitical significance, some have even suggested that it was blown up by the CIA! A 2009 study by the Autonomous University of Mexico concluded that Isla Bermeja does not exist today, nor were any traces found at its supposed coordinates. Yet, it will forever remain a mystery that will surely keep many entertained.

Image: Credit: Big Ear Radio Observatory and North American AstroPhysical Observatory (NAAPO)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1977, Ohio State University’s Big Ear radio telescope, used in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, detected a signal now known as the Wow! signal. While reviewing the data, astronomer Jerry R. Ehman noticed a sequence represented as "6EQUJ5." Baffled by the anomaly, he circled it and wrote "Wow!" in the margins.

The signal lasted 72 seconds and, unfortunately, has never been repeated. To this day, no one can fully explain the phenomenon, although some suggest it may have come from a man-made source. Still, the Wow! signal remains one of the strongest candidates for potential extraterrestrial contact ever detected.

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How is it possible for an entire village to vanish without a trace? Believe it or not, this is said to have happened nearly a century ago. According to lore, a small Inuit village in Canada was well known among fur trappers who visited regularly to trade. But in 1930, something very strange supposedly occurred.

A hunter named Joe Labelle claimed he visited the village one day and couldn’t find a single person. Reports said there were guns and food left behind, and even claims that the graves in the cemetery were empty. A thorough investigation, however, found no conclusive evidence of what happened to the villagers. Some witnesses from nearby towns even reported seeing a huge green light. Theories ranged from mass migration to extraterrestrial abductions. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has since dismissed the case as an urban legend. Some still believe the story to be true.

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We know thousands of shipwreck stories, but this one is quite unique. The MV Joyita, designed to be nearly unsinkable, was found adrift in the South Pacific, practically unharmed, but the crew had disappeared completely.

In October 1955, the American merchant vessel left the port of Apia in Samoa with 16 crew members and 9 passengers bound for the Tokelau Islands. After days without news, a rescue mission was launched. Five weeks later, the Joyita was spotted more than 600 miles west of its intended route. The vessel was partially submerged, and there was no sign of the passengers or crew. Four tons of cargo and all three life rafts were missing. They were never seen again.

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Do you know where one of the best-preserved mummies was found? Hint: not in Egypt. Xin Zhui, the Marquise of Dai during the Western Han Dynasty in China, was discovered in her tomb at Mawangdui 2,000 years after her death, along with hundreds of valuable documents and artifacts.

What makes this mummy so extraordinary is how well-preserved her body is. Her organs and veins remain intact, and she still has hair and even eyelashes. Scientists analyzed the fluid present in the coffin and discovered it was acidic and contained salt and magnesium. They believe this mysterious liquid may have been responsible for preserving Xin Zhui so well. What they don’t know is whether it was intentionally poured into the coffin or came from the body itself.

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The United States has its fair share of presidents who died while in office, but none of our 45 presidents have ever disappeared without a trace. Did you know that this actually happened in The Land Down Under?

Harold Edward Holt was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1966 until his presumed death in 1967. He loved the ocean and spearfishing. During a weekend trip with friends, Holt visited the remote Cheviot Beach to take a swim. Rough sea conditions that day caused him to be swept away by the waves, and he never reappeared. Despite an intensive search, his body was never found, which has given rise to numerous conspiracy theories. Ironically, Australians built the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre in Melbourne in his honor.

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Many famous criminals have managed to remain unidentified for decades, but the D.B. Cooper case is something else entirely. In 1971, Cooper boarded a flight from Portland to Seattle. Shortly after takeoff, he showed a flight attendant a device he claimed was a bomb and demanded four parachutes and $200,000 in cash.

The crew landed to meet Cooper’s demands in exchange for the passengers and then took off again. As the plane flew over southwestern Washington, Cooper jumped into the cold, rainy night carrying his haul. His whereabouts and true identity were never discovered, although it is likely he didn’t survive the jump. In 1980, some of the ransom money was found near the Columbia River. Although the FBI officially closed the case in 2016, amateur sleuths continue to try to crack it.

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Can you imagine an epidemic where the main symptom is uncontrollable dancing? Sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it? Yet this really happened during the Middle Ages. In 1518, a dancing plague struck Strasbourg, Alsace, in what is now France. This strange condition affected up to 400 people, making them dance frantically for weeks. It is said that some even died of heart attacks, exhaustion, or strokes.

Doctors and authorities tried all kinds of measures to stop the spread. They even banned music for a while! To this day, scientists are not certain what caused this bizarre condition: it may have been food poisoning from toxins in the ergot fungus, or perhaps a case of stress-induced mass hysteria.

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The Voynich manuscript is a codex written roughly 500 years ago in an unknown language and writing system by an anonymous author. Known as Voynichese, the manuscript was named after Wilfrid Voynich, a Polish bibliophile and antiquarian who purchased it in 1912.

Radiocarbon testing has shown that it dates to the early 15th century. Many cryptographers and codebreakers have attempted to decipher its roughly 240 pages without success. The manuscript contains diagrams and illustrations of unknown plants and astrological symbols. Some believe it may be a made-up language, a secret code, a work of fiction, or even a hoax. If you think you can solve this mystery, the Voynich manuscript is available for viewing at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

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Similar to the Voynich manuscript, the Phaistos Disc is a fired clay disc believed to have been created during the Bronze Age. It was discovered by an Italian archaeologist in the basement of a palace in Crete, Greece, in 1908.

What makes this disc fascinating is that it contains a mysterious message. Stamped into the clay is a set of signs, forming a text that many scientists have tried to decipher—without success. It is considered an early attempt at printing, a technological innovation that would not become widespread for several centuries. While enthusiasts still hope the enigma can be solved, this is unlikely unless other documents are discovered to provide context.