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Drinks
Coffee Cheat Sheet
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Drinks · Coffee Cheat Sheet
Roasts, brewing ratios, espresso-drink names, and the real numbers behind grind size and caffeine — enough to order confidently or brew a genuinely better cup at home.
Roast Levels
LightBright, acidic, fruity — origin flavor most preservedMediumBalanced acidity and body — most drip-coffee blendsMedium-DarkRounder, less acidic, hints of caramelizationDarkBold, bittersweet, smoky — origin flavor mostly roasted awayBrewing Methods
Drip / FilterAutomatic machine, gravity-fed through a paper filterPour-OverManual, slower, more control over extraction (V60, Chemex)French PressFull immersion, metal filter — fuller body, more sedimentEspressoPressurized hot water forced through fine groundsAeroPressImmersion plus manual pressure — fast, clean cupMoka PotStovetop, steam pressure — stronger than drip, not true espressoCold BrewSteeped in cold water 12–24 hours — low acidity, high strengthEspresso-Based Drinks
Ristretto / LungoShorter/more concentrated vs. longer/more diluted shotAmericanoEspresso + hot waterMacchiatoEspresso "stained" with a small dollop of foamCortadoEspresso cut with roughly equal steamed milk, little foamFlat WhiteEspresso + steamed milk, thin velvety microfoamLatteEspresso + more steamed milk + a thin foam layerCappuccinoEspresso + steamed milk + thick foam, roughly equal thirdsMochaA latte with chocolate addedCoffee-to-Water Ratios
Drip / Pour-Over~1:15–1:18 (SCA "golden cup" range)French Press~1:15Espresso~1:2 by weight (18g in → ~36g out, 25–30 seconds)Cold Brew Concentrate~1:4–1:5, diluted before drinkingArabica vs. Robusta
Arabica~1.2% caffeine; sweeter, fruitier, more acidic; ~60–80% of world productionRobusta~2.2% caffeine (roughly double); bolder, earthier, more bitter; more cremaGrind Size Guide
Extra CoarseCold brewCoarseFrench press, percolatorMedium-CoarseChemex, clever dripperMediumStandard drip machinesMedium-FinePour-over cones (V60), AeroPressFineEspressoExtra FineTurkish coffeeCaffeine, Roughly Per Serving
Espresso (1 shot)~63–75mgDrip (8oz)~95mgCold Brew (12oz)~150–215mg — stronger than most people expectDecaf (8oz)~2–7mg — not actually zeroFDA daily guidance~400mg for most healthy adultsStorage & Freshness
Whole beanStays fresh far longer than pre-ground — grind just before brewingStorageAirtight, opaque container, room temperature — not the fridge/freezerBest window2–4 weeks past the roast date for peak flavorBloomFresh grounds release CO2 and visibly puff up when first wettedDark roast does NOT have more caffeine — the "more caffeine" feeling is a myth
Caffeine content per bean barely changes with roast level. The confusion comes from measuring by volume instead of weight: dark-roasted beans lose more mass and expand, so they're less dense — a scoop of dark roast actually contains slightly less caffeine than the same scoop of light roast, not more. Measured by weight (the way a scale-based brew ratio works), light and dark roasts contain almost identical amounts of caffeine.