Are you a beginner in the world of coffee? You might get overwhelmed over all the bean types, roast levels, brewing methods, and types of coffee and be unable to decide what to choose; then don’t fret! I’ve got you!
Short Answer: The best coffee for beginners are mocha, latte, cappuccino, and flat white. These flavored coffee help you adapt to the taste by masking the bitterness of coffee with sugar, cream, and other flavors.
If you can drink black coffee or espresso, start your day with sweet milk coffee made from Arabica beans.
Keep reading as I share a beginner’s guide to starting coffee and some of the best coffee types in the article.
A Beginners Guide To Start Drinking Coffee
To brew coffee perfectly, you need high-quality beans and the correct type of roast.
Different Type of Beans
There are a total of two types of beans: Arabica and Robusta. I wrote an article comparing these two beans and you can check it out for an in-depth comparison, but to keep it short, keep reading.
Arabica beans are soft and it is the most popular coffee bean due to their high-quality taste. They harvest and cultivate Arabica beans in the highlands of Ethiopia. They have notes of chocolate, fruits, and nuts and are self-pollinating, resulting in a more consistent flavor.
On the other hand, Robusta beans are strong in taste but aren’t as popular as Arabica. They are a more functional bean that makes you feel more awake. It has a lower level of sugar compared to Arabica beans. Plus, it has a high level of caffeine and antioxidants, double that of Arabica.
There is another type that only about 3% of the world’s coffee production is Liberica coffee beans. Their origin goes back to western and central Africa. They have a floral, fruity aroma but produce coffee with a smoke-like flavor.
Different Type of Roast Level
Coffee beans are green in color when farmers harvest them. During the process of roasting, they change their color and become aromatic.
There are three types of roast: light, medium, and dark.
Light roasts are acidic and fruity with a mild taste. They are roasted for a shorter period and are higher in caffeine concentration.
Medium roast is a balance of taste and acidity, without any graininess. They get roasted at higher temperatures of 210°-220° and have low levels of caffeine concentration.
Dark roast has a foggy and harsh taste. They get roasted for the longest time. Due to roasting for longer, the thickness of beans grows, flavor diminishes, and a lot of caffeine gets removed from the beans.
Have a look at this video to see the clear difference between these types of roasts:
It would be best to choose the roast type according to your taste and brewing coffee. It would be best to buy dark roast as they are not bitter than light and medium as a beginner. If you’d like to roast your own coffee, check out my other article where I talk about the process of roasting your own coffee!
Best Coffee For Beginners
Without further ado, let’s dive into the different types of coffee for beginners to revel.
| Mocha | Latte | Cappuccinos | Flat White | |
| Origin | Yemen | American | Italy or Austria | Australia |
| Ratio | 1- 2 oz Espresso, 8 oz steamed milk, 1 tsp drinking chocolate | 1oz Espresso, 8-16oz Steamed Milk, 1-2oz Microfoam | 2oz Espresso, 2oz Steamed Milk, 2oz Microfoam | 1/3 espresso and 2/3 milk, 2oz Microfoam |
| Strength | Strong | Light | Medium to Strong | Strong |
| Taste | Milk, Velvety chocolatey | Creamy, Milky, Smooth, Approachable | Fluffy, Espresso, Creamy, Balanced | Milk, Velvety foam, Rich |
Mocha
Mocha is an espresso and hot milk drink with added chocolate.
You can also find mocha coffee beans from coffee Arabica plants. The origin of mocha is from Yemen, and they are available in white, dark, and milk chocolate varieties. It’s a safe start for beginners to get into the world of coffee.
Latte
A latte is another excellent drink for beginners, which is known for its pretty art on top. It is served in 8-ounce glasses with express shots, steamed milk, and small foam at the top.
A latte tastes milkier with 2x as much milk as other espresso-based drinks.
You can also find a variety of flavors in latte coffee, such as:
- Mocha Latte
- Vanilla Latte
- Caramel Latte
- Hazelnut Latte
- Cinnamon Latte
- Chai Latte
- White Chocolate Latte
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
You have a wide variety to choose from based on your personal flavor preference. If you want to try out a mellow drink, then opt for a latte.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is excellent to try if you are not a daily coffee drinker. It comprises 33% espresso, 33% steamed milk, and 33% microfoam, in a 5-6 ounce size. Some countries like Australia also like to dust some chocolate powder on top.
The best way to make cappuccinos is with a piece of delicious chocolate cake to compliment the heaven of chocolate flavors.
It is served in a smaller volume compared to lattes, and what makes it unique is the thicker layer of foam. Opt for a cappuccino if you want to try out a strong drink that is not so bitter.
Flat White
A flat white is similar to a latte, except it has no foam at the top. The steamed milk used in a flat white is referred to as ‘microfoam’.
Flat white is much more robust than a latte because of the higher proportion of coffee to milk
FAQS
What coffee is best for beginners?
Espresso-based coffee with milk, including cafe Americano, latte, mocha, and cappuccino, is the best for beginners.
This is because these drinks are usually very easy to make and mask the naturally bitter taste of coffee with the sweetness of the milk.
What is the easiest coffee to drink?
Hands down, mocha is the easiest coffee to drink if you are not a regular coffee drinker. Cappuccinos and lattes come in a close second, but nothing beats the chocolatey coffee goodness of mocha.
This espresso-based drink is sweet enough to help you get used to the taste of coffee. You can still taste espresso, but the bitterness is subsided by the milk and chocolatey flavor.
How much caffeine should a beginner have?
A beginner should have two to four ounces of coffee a day with about 50g of caffeine until they find the perfect serving size.
Beginners need to start with low caffeine intake to prevent side effects from caffeine. Start with something small and work your way up to the high caffeinated drinks! Allow your body to get used to the taste of coffee and the feeling of caffeine in your system.
As long as you don’t overdose and adhere to the FDA’s set limit of 400 mg of caffeine a day, you should be alright. It’s important to remember that when you overdo coffee drinking, you can develop caffeine addiction and potentially face many side effects.
Caffeine addiction, like with many other addictions, can be difficult to get over, and as they say, “Prevention is better than cure,” so it’s best to prevent yourself from developing an addiction that to face the necessary steps to cure yourself of it.
Start with a small amount, and then let your taste buds adjust to the natural and bitter flavor of coffee.
How do you make good coffee for beginners?
To make good coffee for beginners, add vanilla extract or milk to the coffee. Not everyone can handle the coffee’s bitter taste. To subside the bitterness, you can add vanilla extract or vanilla beans to get an extra hit of flavors in your cup.
Use vanilla beans to the coffee ground, or add a few drops of vanilla extract to your coffee pot to get the taste infused in it. Pro tip: Let the vanilla bean sit longer in coffee grounds for better flavors.
If you don’t like coffee in general, you have plenty of other options that can be great alternatives for regular coffee.
The best coffee for non-coffee drinkers is mocha, frappe, frappuccino, pumpkin spice latte, chai latte, flavored coffee (any kind), specialty coffee, and tea.
Bottom Line
All in all, drinking coffee black is the best way to savor the best of its flavor, but beginners can not put up with the bitter and slightly burnt taste.
Thus, these coffees are best and are perfect for you if you are entirely new to coffee:
- Mocha
- Latte
- Cappuccino
- Flat Whites
Once you get the hand of coffee, then you can try other strong and better coffee types such as espresso and black coffee.