Why trust this guide?

We’re Jeremiah and Raja — The Coffee Twins. Before launching our UK speciality coffee brand, we trained in five-star hotel food and beverage and ran our own coffee shop in Farringdon. Specifically, we’ve served every drink on this list to a variety of London customers. As a result, this guide is the honest version of what we’d recommend when someone asks “what’s actually worth ordering?” at a UK speciality café.

Table of contents

1. The Classics: 6 UK coffee shop staples
2. Modern Favourites: 5 drinks trending in UK cafés
3. Specialist Drinks: 4 for serious coffee lovers
4. Which coffee drink should you order?
5. Making the best coffee drinks at home
6. The right beans for each drink
7. FAQ

The Classics: 6 UK Coffee Shop Staples

Specifically, these are the drinks you’ll find on every UK speciality coffee menu. Furthermore, they’re also the drinks worth mastering at home first.

1. Flat White

The Australian and New Zealand classic that took over UK coffee culture. Specifically, a flat white is a double espresso (36g) topped with 120ml of steamed milk with thin, glossy microfoam — served in a 150-170ml cup. As a result, the flat white is coffee-forward: you taste the beans clearly through the milk.

What it tastes like: Rich, chocolatey, coffee-led. Furthermore, the microfoam gives it a silky mouthfeel.

Order it if: You want proper coffee flavour with just enough milk to round the edges.

Making at home: See our full guide to making a flat white at home.

2. Cappuccino

The Italian classic — equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and thick foam in a 180ml cup. Specifically, the cappuccino is the frothiest of the standard drinks. Furthermore, traditional Italian cappuccinos are dusted with cocoa or cinnamon.

What it tastes like: Balanced, airy, warming. Furthermore, the thick foam gives it distinctive texture.

Order it if: You love the airy foam texture and want a balanced coffee-and-milk experience.

Making at home: Similar technique to a flat white but with more foam and less milk. Specifically, see our latte vs cappuccino vs flat white guide for the full breakdown.

3. Latte

The largest and milkiest of the standard drinks. Specifically, a UK latte is a double espresso in 200-300ml of steamed milk with a thin foam layer. As a result, the latte is the mildest, most milk-forward drink — the classic starter drink for people new to speciality coffee.

What it tastes like: Mild, milky, comforting.

Order it if: You want a larger, milder drink. Furthermore, lattes are the best base for adding vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut syrups.

4. Espresso

The foundation of every milk-based drink — and a serious drink in its own right. Specifically, a UK espresso is 36g of concentrated coffee brewed under pressure in 27-30 seconds. Furthermore, it’s served in a small 60ml cup.

What it tastes like: Intense, layered, with a sweet crema on top. Above all, this is where you truly taste what the beans can do.

Order it if: You want to actually taste the coffee — no milk to mask anything.

Making at home: See our guide to the best coffee beans for espresso UK.

5. Americano

A double espresso topped with hot water in a 200-250ml cup. Specifically, invented for American soldiers in Italy during WWII who wanted their coffee closer to filter strength. As a result, the Americano gives you espresso flavour in a longer, milder drink.

What it tastes like: Similar to filter coffee but with espresso’s distinctive body.

Order it if: You want a longer black coffee with espresso character.

6. Long Black

The Australian version of an Americano — but done in reverse. Specifically, hot water first, then espresso poured on top. Furthermore, this preserves the crema (the golden layer on top of espresso). As a result, the Long Black tastes slightly more intense than an Americano despite similar composition.

Order it if: You want an Americano with more crema and character.

Modern Favourites: 5 Drinks Trending in UK Cafés

Specifically, these are the drinks that have gained massive popularity in UK cafés over the last few years. Furthermore, they’re worth knowing about even if you tend to stick with the classics.

7. Cold Brew

Coffee brewed with cold water over 12-18 hours. As a result, cold brew produces roughly 60% less acidity than hot brewing — creating an incredibly smooth, sweet coffee. Furthermore, cold brew tends to be higher in caffeine than iced coffee.

What it tastes like: Smooth, sweet, low-acid, chocolatey. Above all, it’s coffee that even non-coffee-drinkers often enjoy.

Order it if: You want the smoothest possible cup, especially in summer.

Making at home: See our iced coffee guide for the cold brew recipe.

8. Iced Flat White

Australian-style iced coffee — a double espresso poured over ice with cold milk. Specifically, the ratio is 1 part espresso to 2 parts cold milk. Furthermore, this is one of the fastest-growing UK coffee orders in the last two years.

What it tastes like: Sharper, more coffee-forward than an iced latte. Furthermore, refreshing without being watery.

Order it if: You love flat whites and want the cold version.

9. Iced Latte

Espresso poured over ice, topped with cold milk. Specifically, more milk than an iced flat white. As a result, the iced latte is milder and creamier — the summer version of a hot latte.

What it tastes like: Mild, milky, refreshing.

Order it if: You want a cold coffee that’s easy to drink without being intense.

10. Spanish Latte

The rising 2026 trend across UK cafés. Specifically, a Spanish latte is espresso, condensed milk, and cold milk over ice. Furthermore, you’ll now find it on the Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero, and Pret menus. As a result, this is the drink to try if you want something sweet and indulgent.

What it tastes like: Sweet, creamy, dessert-like. Furthermore, the condensed milk adds distinctive richness.

Order it if: You have a sweet tooth and want a treat rather than a coffee.

Making at home: See our iced coffee guide for the recipe.

11. Piccolo Latte

Australian-Italian hybrid — a double ristretto (30g rather than 36g) in a 100ml cup topped with steamed milk. Specifically, the piccolo is smaller and more intense than a flat white. Furthermore, it’s popular in London’s Antipodean-style cafés.

What it tastes like: More intense than a flat white in a smaller cup. As a result, coffee-forward without being overpowering.

Order it if: You love flat whites but want something even more coffee-forward.

Specialist Drinks: 4 for Serious Coffee Lovers

Specifically, these are the drinks that show off the coffee beans themselves. Furthermore, they’re what serious speciality coffee drinkers gravitate toward.

12. V60 Pour-Over

Hand-brewed coffee using the Hario V60 dripper — a cone-shaped brewer with paper filter. Specifically, pour-over produces a clean, aromatic cup that showcases the origin character of single-origin beans. Furthermore, a good V60 tastes dramatically different from espresso-based drinks.

What it tastes like: Clean, aromatic, complex. Above all, this is where you taste the difference between an Ethiopian, a Brazilian, and a Guatemalan coffee.

Order it if: You want to actually taste what speciality coffee can do.

Making at home: See our best coffee for V60 guide — specifically our Jojo Ethiopian Limu is built for this.

13. Cortado

Spanish classic — equal parts espresso and steamed milk in a 110-120ml glass. Specifically, the cortado sits between a flat white and a macchiato. Furthermore, it’s coffee-led but with enough milk to smooth the espresso.

What it tastes like: Coffee-forward, warming, less foamy than a flat white.

Order it if: You love strong coffee flavour but find espresso too intense.

14. Macchiato

Italian classic — a double espresso “marked” with a small dollop of milk foam. Specifically, an authentic Italian macchiato is 90% espresso, 10% foam. Furthermore, this is not to be confused with the Starbucks “caramel macchiato” (which is essentially a latte).

What it tastes like: Almost pure espresso with a hint of milk foam softening it.

Order it if: You want espresso with just a whisper of milk.

15. Affogato

Espresso poured over vanilla ice cream. Specifically, dessert and coffee in one glass. Furthermore, this is a brilliant after-dinner option — genuinely decadent without being complicated.

What it tastes like: Sweet, creamy, intense. As a result, the hot espresso melts the ice cream into something between a milkshake and a dessert.

Order it if: You want dessert with your coffee (or coffee with your dessert).

Which Coffee Drink Should You Order?

Making the Best Coffee Drinks at Home

Honestly? Most of these drinks are surprisingly achievable at home. Specifically, you need three things:

1. An espresso source

Furthermore, this can be a proper espresso machine, a moka pot, or even a strong AeroPress. Specifically, for beginners, a Bialetti moka pot (£25) delivers 80% of what you need for under £50 total kit. As a result, don’t feel you need to spend £600+ on a Sage Barista Express to start.

2. Fresh speciality coffee beans

Above all, this is where most home coffee falls down. Specifically, supermarket beans are typically 3-9 months old by the time you buy them — flat, bitter, and disappointing. Furthermore, our beans are roasted in England and dispatched within 24 hours. As a result, see our UK online buying guide for what to look for.

3. A way to texture milk (for milk drinks)

Specifically, either an espresso machine steam wand, a £10 handheld frother, or a small French press. Furthermore, all three techniques produce proper microfoam with practice. As a result, no need for expensive milk-steaming equipment.

Guides to each drink:

• Flat white: How to make a flat white at home UK
• Iced coffee (all types): How to make iced coffee at home UK
• V60: Best coffee for V60
• Moka pot (Americano-style): Best coffee for moka pot UK

The Right Beans for Each Drink

Specifically, the beans matter as much as the technique. Furthermore, here’s the honest match-up:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best coffee drinks in the UK?

The most popular UK coffee drinks are the flat white, cappuccino, latte, and espresso. Specifically, modern additions include cold brew, iced flat white, and the trending Spanish latte. Furthermore, serious coffee lovers gravitate toward V60 pour-over, cortado, and affogato. As a result, “best” depends on how much milk, foam, and coffee intensity you want.

What’s the most popular coffee drink in the UK?

The flat white has become the UK’s most popular speciality coffee drink over the past decade. Specifically, it took over from lattes and cappuccinos as UK speciality coffee culture matured. Furthermore, flat whites now dominate menus at Pret, Costa, Caffè Nero, and independent cafés alike.

What’s the difference between a latte, cappuccino, and flat white?

All three contain the same double espresso shot. Specifically, the difference is in the milk. A latte uses the most milk (200ml+) with thin foam. A cappuccino uses equal espresso, milk, and thick foam. A flat white uses less milk (~120ml) with very thin microfoam. As a result, see our full comparison guide.

Can I make speciality coffee drinks at home?

Yes — most of these drinks are achievable at home with basic kit. Specifically, you need an espresso source (moka pot works fine for under £30), fresh speciality beans, and a way to texture milk. Furthermore, a full home setup costs under £50 and matches most café drinks.

What’s a Spanish latte?

A Spanish latte is espresso, condensed milk, and cold milk over ice. Specifically, it’s become one of the fastest-growing UK coffee trends in 2026. Furthermore, it’s sweet, indulgent, and available at Costa Coffee and Caffè Nero. As a result, see our iced coffee guide for the home recipe.

Which UK coffee drink has the most caffeine?

The Americano, long black, or a double espresso all contain roughly 120-160mg of caffeine. Specifically, milk-based drinks (flat white, cappuccino, latte) contain the same because they all use a double espresso. Furthermore, cold brew often contains MORE caffeine than hot coffee because of the longer extraction. As a result, see our UK caffeine guide for the detail.

What’s the healthiest UK coffee drink?

Black coffee — espresso, Americano, or filter/V60 — contains almost no calories. Specifically, milk-based drinks add 80-200 calories depending on milk type and volume. Furthermore, adding sugar or syrups adds significantly more. As a result, the healthiest choice is usually black coffee, followed by a flat white with whole or oat milk.

Where can I buy speciality coffee beans for making UK coffee drinks at home?

The Coffee Twins — we roast all our coffee in England, dispatched within 24 hours. Specifically, our 8-coffee range covers every drink type. £9.50-£10.50 / 250g, free UK shipping over £30. Furthermore, use NEW10 for 10% off your first order.

Summary

The best coffee drinks UK customers enjoy in 2026 span three categories: the classics (flat white, cappuccino, latte, espresso, Americano, long black), the modern favourites (cold brew, iced flat white, iced latte, Spanish latte, piccolo), and the specialist drinks (V60, cortado, macchiato, affogato).

Specifically, what you order depends on how much milk, foam, and coffee intensity you want. Furthermore, most of these can be made at home with basic equipment and fresh speciality beans.

Above all, the coffee beans matter more than the drink type. As a result, our Bobo and Audley are built for milk-based drinks. Furthermore, Jojo is perfect for V60 and filter brewing. £9.50-£10.50 / 250g, free UK shipping over £30. Use NEW10 for 10% off your first order.

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