A mug of java is essential to many early risers. And for some of us, there's power in a cup of steamy—or icy—goodness: In just one sip, the morning can go from so-so to superb.

With the popularity of gourmet coffee drinks soaring, gone are the days of black coffee. There's now personality in the cup. The next time you visit your local coffee shop, listen in to what customers are ordering. You'll hear all sorts of coffee lingo: "Skinny" means fat-free milk, "double" means two shots of espresso, "split shot" means one shot caffeinated espresso and one shot decaffeinated espresso, and "wet" means more milk, less foam in your cappuccino.

However, you need not always turn to the barista for your daily cup of joe. Check out the following recipes—you may find an at-home favorite.