A cafe coffee menu can look confusing: latte, cappuccino, flat white, mocha, cafe au lait. Most of these are the same two things, espresso and milk, in different proportions. This page explains every common cafe coffee, then gives a hot coffee menu, a cold coffee menu list and filter coffee options you can put on a coffee menu card.
Ratios below are typical cafe guides. Cup sizes and recipes vary from cafe to cafe, so treat them as starting points.
Espresso-based coffee menu explained
| Item | Type | Price (Rs) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Veg | About 25 to 35 ml of concentrated coffee, the base of most drinks | |
| Doppio | Veg | Double espresso | |
| Ristretto | Veg | Shorter, sweeter, more intense shot | |
| Lungo | Veg | Longer pull, more bitter | |
| Americano | Veg | Espresso topped with hot water | |
| Long black | Veg | Hot water first, then espresso, keeps the crema | |
| Macchiato | Veg | Espresso "marked" with a spoon of milk foam | |
| Cortado | Veg | Espresso with roughly equal warm milk | |
| Cappuccino | Veg | Espresso, steamed milk and a thick layer of foam | |
| Flat white | Veg | Double shot with thin, velvety milk; stronger than a latte | |
| Cafe latte | Veg | Espresso with lots of steamed milk and a thin foam layer | |
| Cafe mocha | Veg | Latte with chocolate sauce, sometimes whipped cream | |
| Caramel macchiato | Veg | Vanilla milk, espresso poured on top, caramel drizzle | |
| Irish coffee (non-alcoholic cafe version) | Veg | Irish cream syrup and cream | |
| Con panna | Veg | Espresso with whipped cream |
Cafe latte vs cappuccino vs flat white vs mocha
| Drink | Espresso | Milk | Foam | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cappuccino | 1 to 2 shots | Less | Thick | Strong coffee, airy |
| Cafe latte | 1 to 2 shots | Most | Thin | Mild, milky |
| Flat white | 2 shots | Medium | Very thin | Coffee-forward, smooth |
| Cafe mocha | 1 to 2 shots | Medium to high | Thin or whipped cream | Chocolatey, sweet |
| Cortado | 1 to 2 shots | Equal to coffee | Little | Balanced, short |
Cafe latte is the most ordered milk coffee in many cafes because it is gentle and easy to flavour. Cafe mocha suits customers who want something sweet. The flat white is for those who want milk coffee that still tastes strongly of coffee.
Cafe au lait and other brewed coffees
Cafe au lait is French for "coffee with milk": brewed coffee (not espresso) mixed with hot milk, often half and half. It is a good choice for cafes without an espresso machine, since French press or drip coffee works.
| Item | Type | Price (Rs) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe au lait | Veg | Brewed coffee with hot milk | |
| French press | Veg | Full-bodied, a little sediment | |
| Pour over (V60, Chemex) | Veg | Clean, highlights single-origin beans | |
| AeroPress | Veg | Fast, versatile, low bitterness | |
| Moka pot coffee | Veg | Strong, espresso-like, stovetop | |
| Cold brew | Veg | Coarse grounds steeped in cold water 12 to 18 hours |
Filter coffee menu
South Indian filter coffee is made from a coffee and chicory blend brewed slowly in a two-part metal filter. The thick decoction is mixed with boiled milk and sugar and frothed by pouring between the tumbler and dabarah.
| Item | Type | Price (Rs) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filter coffee (davara tumbler) | Veg | Classic, medium sweet | |
| Strong filter coffee | Veg | Less milk, more decoction | |
| Sugarless filter coffee | Veg | ||
| Jaggery filter coffee | Veg | Popular healthier swap | |
| Iced filter coffee | Veg | Decoction over ice with cold milk | |
| Filter coffee with chicory-free beans | Veg | For specialty cafes |
A dosa coffee menu, the kind seen at South Indian tiffin centres and darshinis, pairs filter coffee with idli, vada and dosa. For breakfast items to pair, see the Indian breakfast menu.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a cafe latte and a cappuccino?
Both use espresso and steamed milk. A cappuccino has less milk and a thick foam layer, so it tastes stronger; a latte has more milk and a thin foam layer, so it is milder.
What is a cafe mocha?
A cafe mocha is espresso with steamed milk and chocolate sauce, sometimes topped with whipped cream. It is like a chocolate-flavoured latte.
What is cafe au lait?
Cafe au lait is brewed coffee mixed with hot milk, usually in roughly equal parts. Unlike a latte, it does not use espresso.
What should be on a basic coffee menu?
Espresso, americano, cappuccino, latte, mocha, a flavoured latte, hot chocolate, cold coffee, iced latte and cold brew cover most customers. Add filter coffee for South Indian tastes.
What is the most popular coffee in Indian cafes?
Cold coffee and cappuccino are among the most commonly ordered drinks on Indian cafe menus, with lattes and flavoured lattes also popular.
Last checked: 14 October 2026