The Only 9 Coffee Drinks You Need To Master Before This Weekend

Most people drink coffee daily, but few actually make coffee worth talking about. If you’ve ever looked at your favorite café’s menu and thought, “I wish I could make that,” here’s your list. No fluff—just recipes, gear suggestions, and tips to help you make café-quality drinks at home.

1.     Classic Espresso

This is the foundation for most coffee drinks. You’ll need a reliable espresso machine, ideally with 9-bar pressure. Try the Breville Bambino Plus (around $500). It heats up fast, pulls solid shots, and fits on most counters.

How To Make It?

1． Grind fresh beans (18–20g) fine using a burr grinder like the Baratza Encore ESP.

2． Tamp evenly with 30 pounds of pressure.

3． Pull a 25–30 second shot. Look for a golden crema on top.

Use medium to dark roast beans. Try Stumptown’s Hair Bender or Intelligentsia’s Black Cat for chocolate and caramel notes.

2.     Iced Shaken Espresso

This drink is strong, smooth, and easy to customize. Starbucks made it famous, but your version will taste better and cost less.

Ingredients

2 espresso shots

Ice

1–2 tsp simple syrup

Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Splash of oat or whole milk

How To Make It?

1. Combine espresso, syrup, and ice in a shaker.
2. Shake hard for 15 seconds.
3. Pour over fresh ice and add milk.

Great for mid-morning or post-lunch.

3.     Cappuccino

Balance matters here: one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, one-third microfoam.

Gear Tip

Use a milk frothing pitcher with a pointed spout. The Fellow Eddy pitcher (about $35) gives better control for pouring.

Steps

1. Pull a double shot of espresso.
2. Steam 150ml milk to about 140°F.
3. Tap and swirl the milk to remove bubbles.
4. Pour slowly into the espresso, finishing with a gentle lift to create a dome of foam.

Best with whole milk or barista-style oat milk.

4.     Cold Brew Concentrate

Cold brew is mellow and smooth, and it stores well. Make it in batches and dilute as needed.

Recommended Gear

The OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker (around $50) handles this well.

How To Make It?

1. Coarse grind 1 cup of coffee beans.
2. Add to the cold brew maker 4 cups of filtered water.
3. Steep for 12–18 hours at room temperature.
4. Drain, then refrigerate.

Serve over ice with milk or use in coffee cocktails.

5.     Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

This is for people wanting café-style texture without a frother. It’s creamy but pourable, perfect over cold brew.

Ingredients

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup 2% milk

1 tsp vanilla syrup

How To Make It?

1. Whisk or shake until thick but not stiff.
2. Pour gently over iced coffee or cold brew.

You can also use an electric milk frother like the Nespresso Aeroccino 4 (around $120) to streamline this.

6.     Mocha Latte

The key here is rich chocolate flavor without overwhelming the espresso.

Ingredients

2 espresso shots

1 tbsp cocoa powder or 1 oz melted dark chocolate

1 tbsp simple syrup or sugar

6 oz steamed milk

How To Make It?

1. Mix the chocolate and syrup with the espresso until smooth.
2. Steam and pour milk as with a latte.
3. Top with a pinch of cocoa powder or shaved chocolate.

Use a darker roast bean to stand up to the chocolate.

7.     Café au Lait

This is not a latte. It uses brewed coffee, not espresso, and has a more straightforward flavor. Great for breakfast.

Steps

1. Brew strong drip coffee (French press or pour-over recommended).
2. Heat equal parts milk to around 140°F.
3. Froth gently with a hand frother or whisk.
4. Combine in a 1:1 ratio.

Use a classic diner-style mug. Try beans like Verve’s Streetlevel for a nutty, comforting profile.

8.     Cortado

This is the best option when you want something small but balanced.

How To Make It?

1. Pull a double espresso.
2. Steam 2 oz of milk with very light foam.
3. Pour directly into the shot.

The ratio is close to 1:1. Use whole milk or a non-dairy option with high fat content. It’s rich, quick, and satisfying.

9.     Affogato

This is dessert and coffee in one. No special equipment needed beyond espresso capability.

Steps

1. Scoop quality vanilla gelato or ice cream into a small bowl.
2. Pour a fresh espresso shot over the top.
3. Eat immediately.

You can try variations with pistachio, chocolate, or salted caramel ice cream.

Beans Worth Trying

Don’t overlook the coffee itself. Rotating through good beans is one of the easiest upgrades.

Medium Roast Favorites

Counter Culture Big Trouble: Nutty, sweet, and easy to dial in.

Verve Seabright House: Clean, citrusy, and perfect for pour-over.

Darker Roast Options

Stumptown Hair Bender: Great in milk drinks, balanced.

Lavazza Super Crema: Budget-friendly and reliable for espresso.

Buy whole beans and grind fresh. Look for roast dates within the past two weeks. Store in a cool, airtight container.

Final Thoughts: Try To Master the Recipe This Weekend

Pick three drinks from this list and make them this weekend. Try one hot, one iced, and one with milk. If you don’t have an espresso machine yet, start with café au lait, cold brew, or pour-over-based drinks. . Once you’ve dialed in a few recipes, add tools as needed. Better coffee doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need attention to detail—and good ingredients.