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Because coffee has a certain bitterness in its most natural form, it could be said that coffee?s an acquired taste. However, with a bit of milk or sugar added, coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. The reasoning behind flavored coffees is the same: Take a product with natural caffeine and health benefits and add some sweetness or flavor to create a different dimension. It?s no surprise that the amount of coffee flavors continues to increase on a regular basis.

In the past, the number one flavor added to coffee was chocolate, or mocha. With origins in European espresso-based cafes — most of which serve hot chocolate — it was not much of a leap for coffee drinkers looking for a slight change to add some chocolate to an espresso drink, creating the ?caf? mocha? now served in coffee houses big and small all across the world. After that, the practice of adding syrup ?shots? to coffee became popular, mimicking the flavor of liqueurs (amaretto, hazelnut etc.) as well as supplying distinct flavors (orange, mint).

Of course, if you are looking for coffee flavors without adding anything after brewing, you can find flavored coffee packaged and ready to go. Hazelnut, mocha and other flavors can be added to the coffee in bean or ground form. Clearly, it?s impossible to grow coffee with a flavor present in the bean, so any type of coffee with flavors has to be altered after the harvest. Despite the use of an artificial flavoring process, the flavors themselves need not be artificial.

Among the most popular flavors being found today, almond, pistachio, orange and white chocolate have joined hazelnut and mocha at the top of the list. Whatever flavor or type of sweetener you love, you?ll probably be able to find it at a caf?. Even the syrups being used can be produced organically.

Coffee flavors like chocolate do have an authentic element to them, as chocolate has been produced in powder and syrup form for some time. Production methods need not always spoil the natural intentions.

Some of the more exotic flavors being marketed in coffee drinks are pumpkin spice and cinnamon varieties.

While it may be a new and pleasant experience for some people, coffee drinkers should remember the difference in calories from a basic cup of regular coffee when compared to a drink in which syrup is added along with whipped cream and other sugary embellishments. You will see sugar and fat contents rise considerably, so take note of your expectations from coffee drinks.

For daily coffee drinkers who see an espresso or black coffee as a staple of life, it is unlikely that a variety of flavors and embellishments on the classic form will be appealing. For others with a notable sweet tooth, the different flavors will add a new wrinkle to the idea of coffee.

Damian Papworth, a coffee lover, has recently been investigating 4 cup coffee makers. He posted his analysis on the One Cup Coffee Makers site.

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