Just like anyone looking to develop an expert knowledge of wine needs to learn a little bit about the different types and how they’re made, anyone who wants more than just a Starbucks-level understanding of all the different coffee drinks and processes out there needs to look beyond “tall,” “grande,” and “venti” to discover the way that coffee drinks really work. There’s a world of difference between a latte and a cappuccino, and this helpful guide is going to make sure you understand what that difference is.

First, though, it’s important for understanding styles of coffee to recognize some key names for when you’re ordering a coffee the next time you’re in Italy, or at a great restaurant in your own town. You’ve probably said at least one of these names before, but maybe you don’t know what really goes into the drink. Well, now you’re going to:

Caffe Latte Also referred to as Cafe au Lait, depending on where you’re ordering your drink, this is one of the most popular styles of coffee worldwide, and is really just a fancy way of saying espresso with milk. A single shot of espresso is made with steamed milk, and then served with an extra inch of frothed milk (foam) on top.

Mocha Anytime you see the word mocha on a drink, it means that there’s some sort of chocolate flavor, usually from syrup, that’s been added. For instance, a caffe mocha is a cup where there’s a layer of chocolate at the bottom that’s then topped with steamed milk, espresso, and usually chocolate shavings or sprinkles.

Americano An Americano is just a shot of espresso, usually a single shot, with about a cup of hot water added to diffuse the taste. This is a very popular way to serve a high-octane drink, and one of the more popular styles of coffee in the States (hence the name).

It’s not just all about the names, though. The process is just as important as the type of drink you’re ordering. To understand a little better, a couple of the most popular techniques used in homes are:

The French Press This is the device you’re most likely to break if you’re having breakfast at a posh girlfriend’s house the morning after. A wire part and plunger combine in a glass cylinder, where water is poured in, brought to a full boil, and then the coarsely-ground beans are pressed down to make a filtered cup of coffee that tastes a whole lot better than a drip. Be careful not to force the device, especially if it’s your first time making coffee in one, or else you’re going to have a bad cup of coffee (and probably an angry girlfriend, too).

The Drip If you’ve got a coffee maker at home that plugs in and doesn’t sit on the stove, this is what you’re most likely working with. Pour some water into a machine, add your coffee to the other part, and the coffee maker actually heats the water and eventually the dripping boiled water over the grounds makes your cup of coffee. Definitely one of the easiest ways, if not the tastiest ways, to have some coffee.

And of course, the at-home espresso maker produces styles of coffee drinks more similar to those in Italy than, say, your Mr. Coffee ever will.

So now that you’re equipped with the names of a couple of drinks, as well as some at-home processes to getting a solid cup of coffee, there’s no reason to freeze up the next time you’re out at a fancy restaurant and everyone else is ordering coffee-related drinks that you don’t quite understand. Once you get the basic vocabulary down, learning the styles of coffee and how to order them and make them at home is a simple undertaking. Bottoms up!

Damian Papworth just purchased a new 2 cup coffee maker, he reviewed it on the One Cup Coffee Makers website.

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