There are many different types of espresso-based drinks, which can be confusing at times. There are many popular drinks made from espresso and milk, such as latte, cappuccino, flat white, and mocha.
As you stand in line at the coffee shop, you begin to realize that you have no idea what you want to order.
We’re going to show you the differences between the most commonly ordered espresso-based beverages so you know what you’re ordering.
A friend of mine was scared to order coffee when she first started drinking it.
She was unsure of the difference between macchiato, latte, cappuccino, and mocha, and felt awkward inquiring with the barista. She started buying a different espresso drink every day until she ran out of options on the menu.
A great way to understand what a drink tastes like is to order a different drink every day. However, maybe the drinks in the menu are not the right portion size for you, or maybe they are not strong enough. This article is a little starting point for you.
The Difference between Latte, Cappuccino vs Flat white
The main difference between latte, cappuccino and flat white is the ratio of espresso to milk, and the kind of textured milk used.
There’s a joke among baristas that you can make an entire coffee shop menu by just using milk and espresso. There are two main ingredients in a latte – espresso and steamed milk. The ratio of these two ingredients, as well as the texture of the milk, create different types of latte with different tastes and textures.
Types of Textured Milk
There are four main types of textured milk: frothed milk, steamed milk, micro-foamed milk, and scalded milk.
- Frothed milk is foamy, and contains mostly air.
- Steamed milk is heated with the steaming wand, but the purpose is just to get warm milk, and not to texturize it.
- Micro-foam milk is steamed but with the purpose to incorporate air in it in a way that keeps it fluid enough.
- Scalded milk is just heated milk.
There is sometimes confusion even among baristas about the difference between micro-foam and steamed milk.
Why Are Espresso Drinks Popular
Espresso and milk-based drinks are effective for people with a sensitive stomach because the milk balances out the coffee. Coffee drinks like lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos are a great way to break your everyday coffee routine, or to be served at parties.
Some coffee drinkers find the intense flavor of espresso to be too much, and add a little milk to make it more palatable.
Latte
Latte is milk with coffee added to it. It originated in Italy and is called café latte there.
The reason latte is so popular is because the coffee content is very diluted. This allows for various flavorings to be added, making latte a dessert. The micro-foam milk allows baristas to create beautiful drawings.
A latte is a coffee drink that contains espresso and steamed milk. The milk-to-espresso ratio can range from 1:3 to 1:9.
This drink contains very little coffee compared to the amount of milk. This drink may look harmless, but it contains enough caffeine to give you a serious energy boost.
Latte Recipe
The standard latte is prepared in an 8 oz. cup, and it contains the following ingredients:
- 1 or two shots of espresso (1 shot = 1 oz)
- Around 5 to 6 oz. steamed milk, (around 5-6 oz.)
- Top up the cup with a thin layer of micro-foam milk.
- Add flavorings as desired.
Lattes are served in ceramic wide mugs, that can hold more liquid than traditional coffee cups. This allows the barista to pour beautiful latte art without worrying about spills. Latte macchiato is sometimes served in tall glasses because there is no latte art.
Latte macchiatos have a thicker layer of froth than cappuccinos and the same milk to espresso ratio as all lattes.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is a drink made with 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 wet foamed milk. It is of Italian origin. A latte contains more milk than a cappuccino.
A latte has more milk compared to a cappuccino which is a stronger coffee. Cappuccinos typically have a coffee to milk ratio of 1 to 1.5. This is because foamed milk is at least double the volume of steamed milk.
Cappuccino has a rich, bold espresso taste that is toned down by the steamed milk.
A cappuccino is a stronger drink than a latte. The espresso flavors are more pronounced because the ratio of milk to espresso is 1 to 1. (The milk froth is negligible as quantity.)
Cappuccino Recipe
A standard cappuccino should contain:
- 1 shot of espresso, (cannot be instant or drip coffee).
Cappuccino is not drenched in milk so that the espresso is the featured taste. - 1 oz steamed milk
- 1 oz micro-foamed milk
A cappuccino is made by mixing equal volumes of espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk.
Dry cappuccino is made with more of the dry foam, and less of the steamed milk. An interesting variation is the bone dry cappuccino. A wet cappuccino contains steamed milk instead of foamed milk.
Flat White
A flat white coffee is made by steaming milk and combining it with espresso. The coffee is made with slightly more milk than a cappuccino.
People in Australia and New Zealand claim to have invented the beverage, but it is not clear who is correct.
Specialty coffee shops in North America have adopted the drink and it is now ubiquitous on their menus.
The milk consistency of a flat white is similar to that of a latte, but many people think it is closer to a cappuccino in terms of milk to espresso ratio and volume.
People also compared the flat white to a wet cappuccino. Although they may appear similar, flat whites and wet cappuccinos are actually different drinks. Flat whites are made with micro-foamed milk, which gives them a velvety texture, while wet cappuccinos are made with steamed milk, which is less textured.
Flat White Recipe
The flat white recipe is a beverage in between a latte and a cappuccino, and to prepare it you need:
- 1/3 espresso typically one shot of a normale espresso, or two shots of ristretto
- 2/3 micro-foam steamed milk
The texture of the milk is key here, the milk is steamed in such way that there is no dry foam
Because the milk in a flat white is micro-foamed, latte art is possible. Most likely, people think flat whites are similar to lattes because of this.
Milk Makes All The Difference
The main difference between a latte and cappuccino is the amount of milk used. A flat white also uses less milk than a latte. Although both types of coffee are made using hot water, when a barista prepares coffee, there are other subtle differences.
To make a cappuccino, you use a spoon to hold back the dense foam in the milk jug while you pour a specific amount of steamed milk into the drink. After this step, the foam is dispensed on top of the drink.
There should be three visible layers in your drink: espresso, steamed milk, and froth. You should be able to taste the light froth and dense, flavorful coffee when you drink this beverage.
To make a latte, you need to use a spoon to hold back the foam while you pour steamed milk into the cup almost to the top. A small amount of froth is added to the top for decoration.
A Latte is a physically heavier beverage than Cappuccino. The two cups should feel different when you pick them up, with the heavier one being the stoneware. The beverage should have a rich blend of flavors from the coffee and milk.
A Flat White coffee is made by pouring milk into a cup without using a spoon, creating a velvety, micro-foamed texture. Espresso and milk should be in equal amounts. The goal is to create a dish that is flavorful, dense, and textured.
Even though all three beverages have espresso as their base ingredient, it is easy to see that there is a big difference between them.
