Sweetest Types Of Coffees – The Ultimate Guide
If you’re looking for a way to satisfy your sweet tooth and get your daily hit of caffeine at the same time, sweet coffee is the perfect way to do it.
Of course, you can always pick up an Americano or drip coffee and add cream and sugar, but specialty coffees are just more fun!
There are lots of ways to sweeten your coffee, but most shops will use flavored syrups, whipped cream, hot chocolate, candy pieces, or other treats to create a coffee experience that is closer to dessert than a simple cup of coffee.
So, what are the sweetest types of coffee? Depending on the coffee shop mochas, café bombóns, frappés (or frappuccinos), sweetened cappuccinos, Vietnamese iced coffee, Irish coffee, affogatos, and sweetened lattes are some of the sweetest types of coffee available.
Read on to discover more about the sweetest types of coffee and how you can make them at home!
1. Mocha
I’m sure this coffee needs no introduction, but I’m going to do it anyway. A mocha is made from a combination of chocolate (syrup, hot chocolate, or cocoa powder), espresso, and steamed milk.
They are named from mocha coffee beans (Arabica beans) originally harvested from Mocha in Yemen.
These beans are mildly sweet and have chocolatey undertones, which makes them perfect to combine with chocolate for a sweet specialty drink.
To bring out the chocolate flavors in a mocha, it is made from espresso, hot chocolate, steamed milk, and foam. The typical recipe you’ll find is
- 2 shots of espresso
- 2 ounces of hot chocolate
- 1 ounce of steamed milk
- a thin layer of milk foam
It’s a perfect choice for folks who love the richness of chocolate and coffee together, plus a hint of steamed milk and foam.
Mochas will be sweeter if the coffee shop uses chocolate syrup or hot chocolate instead of cocoa powder, so make sure you ask!
I find some more traditional coffee shops will use cocoa powder, while chains like Starbucks will use a syrup or hot chocolate. If the place you’ve gone to uses cocoa powder, ask for some syrup or sweetener to be added.
Here’s a great video featuring a few different recipes for mochas you have to try!
2. Café Bombón
If you want to go really decadent, a Café Bombón is the way to go. This Spanish-style coffee originated in Valencia and is made of a combination of espresso and sweetened condensed milk.
The term bombón actually means confection or sweet in Spanish, so you know what you’re getting!
To make a Café Bombón you need a ratio of 1 part espresso to 1 part sweetened condensed milk. Typically, it is served in a clear coffee mug with the distinct layers visible. You can then stir everything together to enjoy!
To make it at home you’ll need your own espresso maker (you can pick up an affordable one right here) and some condensed milk.
Combine 1 shot of espresso with an equal amount of condensed milk in clear glassware, being careful to keep the layers separate. Stir gently each time you take a sip.
If you want to get even more decadent, you could top your Café Bombón with chocolate syrup and/or cocoa powder.
3. Frappés or Frappucinos
If you are looking for the sweetest of the sweet, frappés/frappucinos are definitely the way to go.
This iced coffee drink is originally from Greece, but has transformed since arriving in North America into something that more closely resembles a dessert than a coffee, which isn’t a bad thing!
This drink is typically made of a combination of espresso mixed with some kind of flavored syrup (the options are pretty extensive), cold milk, crushed ice, and whipped cream.
It’s not uncommon to find frappés topped with chocolate syrup, pieces of cookies or candy bars, or other goodies.
Some popular flavors from Starbucks include:
- Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino
- Java Chip Frappuccino
- Mocha Frappuccino
- Caramel Frappuccino
- Chai Creme Frappuccino
- White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
- Strawberry Funnel Cake
- Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
- Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
- Matcha Creme Frappuccino
- Strawberries N’ Creme Frappuccino
4. Sweetened Cappuccino
Another incredibly popular coffee at shops around the country is the cappuccino. Depending on where you buy your coffee it can be super sweet or taste of rich espresso.
A cappuccino is typically made in a 1:1 ratio of espresso to milk topped with a thick layer of airy milk foam.
This closer ratio makes a cappuccino have a much stronger espresso flavor. In cappuccinos, the layers are all kept separate. This separation contributes to a cappuccino having a strong and distinct espresso taste.
However, some shops will add chocolate syrup to the espresso mix or top it with cocoa powder or even add some simple syrups to the base to make a deliciously sweet drink.
Make sure you ask how your shop makes their cappuccino so you can customize it and add the sweetness you’re looking for.
5. Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Vietnamese iced coffees are becoming more popular and easy to find in North America because they are so utterly delicious and decadent. These sweet coffees are similar to a Café Bombón but made slightly differently.
While both Vietnamese iced coffee and Café Bombón use sweetened condensed milk (grab a can right here!) as a base, the coffee itself is brewed differently.
Café Bombón’s use espresso, while Vietnamese iced coffees brew coarsely ground coffee beans through a special Vietnamese brewer known as a phin cà phê (pick one up here!) for around 10 minutes.
The coffee is then mixed with a good amount (the ratio is up to you!) of sweetened condensed milk and poured over ice for a sweet and delicious drink. It’s thick, rich, and sweet as can be.
6. Irish Coffee
Even people who don’t drink coffee have likely heard of Irish coffee.
This cocktail is one of the most popular around, probably because it’s socially acceptable to drink one at breakfast! Typically, this coffee is made with a shot or two of espresso, though you can use a strong filtered coffee as well.
After the espresso, the next ingredients are Irish whiskey, sugar, and lots of cream. This combination creates a sweet, delicious coffee with a little kick that’s perfect for lazy weekend mornings or holidays.
You can also make an Irish coffee using Bailey’s Irish Cream instead of the whiskey and cream.
It makes the whole process a little quicker and you don’t have to have multiple items on hand. And feel free to add that chocolate drizzle for extra decadence!
7. Affogato
While this coffee may be more common on dessert menus, it is an incredible experience that is not to be missed.
Affogato is made by combining a shot of espresso with delicious ice cream. Affogato is an Italian term that means “drowned” and the full name of this drink is actually affogato al caffè.
That name translates to “drowned in coffee,” which is exactly what happens to your ice cream when you make this drink come dessert. You take a scoop or two of high-quality ice cream and pour in a shot of rich espresso.
The flavor of ice cream can vary, but I would avoid anything fruity, since that profile won’t complement the coffee flavor. Some of the most common ice cream or gelato flavors to use in an affogato are:
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Pistachio
- Stracciatella
- Hazelnut or Nutella
- Toffee
- Caramel Swirl
You can also use a high-quality gelato instead of ice cream, which is likely closer to what you would get if you ordered this drink in Italy. Try topping your affogato with chocolate curls and even a shot of nut liqueur!
8. Sweetened Lattes
A latte is a popular beverage made with an espresso base, steamed milk, and foam to create a subtle espresso flavored drink that is creamy and rich.
They are incredibly popular in North America thanks to the comforting taste and creamy texture.
While there is no hard and fast rule about the ratios of espresso to milk in a latte, typically in a store-bought latte you are going to have about 1 ounce of espresso per 8 ounces of steamed milk.
The milk and espresso are mixed together and then topped with a thin layer of airy foamed milk.
The amount of milk in a latte will vary if you make it at home. If you want to make a creamy latte, you can combine at least 1 part espresso with 3 parts steamed milk.
You’ll also want to get a milk frother so that you can top it with the airy foam since this adds a delicious texture to the drink.
It’s not uncommon to get a latte at a coffee shop that has been sweetened with syrup, which gives them a place on our list of the sweetest coffees.
It does depend on the coffee shop you visit, so make sure that you ask about how they sweeten their lattes- you may have to ask for some syrup!
You can also ask for some chocolate syrup drizzled over top to take your creamy delicious latte to the next level of sweet deliciousness. Below I’ll include a couple of popular sweetened lattes to try if you’ve got a sweet tooth.
9. Hazelnut Mocha Latte
There’s something about hazelnuts that provides a natural sweetness to coffee. I’m not sure if it’s the associations with Nutella or those Ferraro Rocher chocolates, but when you add hazelnut to coffee it just screams sweet treat!
A hazelnut mocha latte can be made with either hazelnut flavored coffee, syrup, or creamer depending on your preference and what you have. You can add different flavors such as vanilla and chocolate syrup.
If you want to make a simple hazelnut latte, you can brew up some hazelnut coffee, froth in some steamed milk and vanilla, and top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
You could also purchase a hazelnut flavored creamed to use with your regular coffee, warm it up, and whip it into your coffee before topping it with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
You don’t have to add the chocolate syrup either if you prefer just the flavor of hazelnuts. Adding the syrup makes it taste more like Nutella and definitely adds an extra hit of sweetness!
10. Caramel Brulée Latte
The word brulée means burnt or toasted in French.
This winter coffee has a delicious toasted caramel syrup that’s combined with vanilla, steamed milk, and espresso or drip coffee to create a decadent, sweet, and caffeine-packed treat to satisfy your sweetest tooth.
Some coffee shops will top it with whipped cream and little caramel pieces for a truly decadent dessert latte experience.
11. White Chocolate Mocha Latte
If you’re a fan of mochas, I highly suggest trying out this variation that uses white chocolate instead of dark chocolate.
I find they’re sweeter and have a unique taste. Using white chocolate syrup or even white chocolate chips is a delicious way to create a rich and creamy sweetened coffee.
You can get these types of lattes at many coffee shops, but they’re also easy to whip up at home.
All you need to do is pick up some white chocolate syrup or chocolate chips. Having a milk frother or immersion blender is another great way to get that coffee shop frothiness that is so typical of a good latte.
You can use your favorite coffee brand or a shot of espresso and then combine it with some white chocolate syrup, a bit of vanilla, and some steamed milk.
Top it with whipped cream and white chocolate sprinkles to enjoy the most decadent white chocolate mocha latte possible.
12. Toffee Nut Latte
This coffee latte is probably one of my favorites. It tastes buttery and has a toasty roasted nut flavor that is sweet and guaranteed to warm up your belly from the inside out.
Many coffee shops make it by blending espresso with toffee nut syrup and steamed milk.
You can top it with whipped cream and little pieces of toffee. Adding these extras is a great way to bring more sweetness to your drinks.
To make your toffee nut latte at home, you’ll need to buy a toffee nut syrup, which you can pick up on Amazon.
You can check the current price right here so you can be fully stocked up with toffee nut lattes right in the comfort of your own home.
If you don’t have an espresso maker, try using a strong filtered coffee instead.
Final Thoughts
There are lots of delicious ways to enjoy a sweet and decadent coffee. My top sweetest types of coffee are:
- Mochas
- Café Bombón
- Frappés or Frappucinos
- Sweetened Cappuccinos
- Vietnamese Iced Coffee
- Irish Coffee
- Affogato
- Sweetened Lattes such as Hazelnut Mocha Latte, Caramel Brulée Latte, White Chocolate Mocha Latte, and Toffee Nut Latte.
Whatever your preference, there’s guaranteed to be a coffee that satisfies your sweet tooth and provides a nice hit of caffeine to help power you through your day.
Do you have a favorite sweet coffee treat? Let us know in the comments!