Your Guide to Types of Coffee

From espresso machines to moka pots, there are countless ways to turn coffee beans into the perfect cup. Whatever your preferred method, a few key principles apply when it comes to brewing coffee at home.

1. Choose the right beans: Think about both flavour and brewing method. Coffee from different regions has different flavour profiles. Arabica coffees from Brazil tend to have chocolate and nut notes (great for a French Press), while beans from other Latin regions tend to have a sweeter, more citrus profile, and coffees from East Africa are typically brighter, with fruity notes and a more tea-like body that's ideal for pour-over.

2. Grind size: Your brewing method determines how fine or coarse your coffee should be. Espresso needs a fine grind, while a French press works best with a coarser one. If you’re buying ground coffee, check the pack for the recommended method

Coffee Pods

Coffee pods, or capsules, are single servings of ground coffee sealed in airtight containers. Pre-measured for consistency, they’re designed to deliver reliable results when used with the right machine.

Instant Coffee

Instant coffee is made by roasting, brewing, and then drying coffee beans, creating granules that dissolve in hot water. It’s quick, convenient and has a long shelf life.

Decaf Coffee

Decaf, or decaffeinated, coffee is made using beans with around 97% of the caffeine removed. This is done before roasting, so you can enjoy the same great flavour without the stimulating effects.

Coffee can be served black, with milk or with fun added extras like syrups, cream tops and even sodas. Experiment at home or give these a go in the M&S Café:

Black coffee drinks

• Espresso

• Americano

• Long Black

• Iced Black

• Cold Brew

• Filter or Pour Over

• Drip coffee

• French press

Coffee with milk drinks

• Latte / Iced Latte

• Cappuccino

• Flat White

• Macchiato

• Cortardo

• Mocha

Refreshing, affordable and easy to personalise, iced coffee is simple to recreate at home. There are two easy approaches.

1. Chill your espresso: Brew espresso as usual, then leave it to cool in the fridge (or pop it in the freezer if you’re short on time). Make it slightly stronger than normal, as the ice will dilute the flavour.

2. Start with cold brew: Alternatively, use ready-made cold brew from the Foodhall. Cold brew is infused with cold water over 12–24 hours, creating a smooth, mellow coffee that’s ready to pour. Keep it chilled until serving.

Fill a glass with ice and pour over your chilled espresso or cold brew. Add milk for an iced latte, or cold water for a classic iced americano. For extra flavour, try floral honey as in our refreshing iced coffee recipe, or swap in chocolate milk for an easy iced mocha.

If you’d rather leave it to us, pick up your favourite iced coffee from the M&S Café, or explore the range of ready-made iced coffees available in the Foodhall.