What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?
A latte has more steamed milk and only a thin layer of foam, making it milder and creamier. A cappuccino has less milk and a thick layer of foam, so it tastes stronger and feels lighter.
Both drinks start with espresso and steamed milk. In a cappuccino, the milk is foamed more, creating roughly equal parts espresso, milk and foam. It is usually served in a smaller cup, around 150 to 180 milliliters, and its coffee flavor is more pronounced.
A latte is larger and mostly milk, with a smooth texture and just a thin layer of microfoam on top. Because of the extra milk, it tastes milder and sweeter. Lattes are often chosen by people who prefer a gentler coffee flavor or want to add syrups.
How to tell them apart
If you lift the cup, a cappuccino often feels lighter for its size because of the foam. A latte feels heavier. Other similar drinks include the macchiato, an espresso with a small amount of foam, and the cortado, espresso cut with an equal amount of warm milk.
Did You Know?
Both drinks can be made with oat, almond or soy milk, though some plant milks foam differently from cow's milk.