Cappuccino vs. Latte: 4 Essential Differences

Caffè latte, or latte for short, is an Italian espresso drink made with steamed milk—“latte” is Italian for milk. A caffè latte is one-third espresso (typically one or two shots) and two-thirds steamed milk, topped with a layer of milk foam.

Variations of the caffè latte include the mocha latte (a latte with chocolate syrup) and the iced latte (iced coffee with milk). The name “latte” also applies to non-coffee drinks that feature steamed milk, such as the chai latte (spiced black tea with milk foam) and matcha latte (powdered green tea with milk foam). You can make lattes with alternative types of milk, such as almond milk or oat milk.

Although its name is Italian, the caffè latte may be an American invention. Lino Meiorin, an Italian-trained barista in Berkeley, California, claimed to have invented the latte in the 1950s in response to customers who found his Italian cappuccinos too strong. However, it is unlikely that Meiorin was the first to add a generous amount of milk to espresso or call such a drink a caffè latte.

The first use of the term “caffè latte” may have been in 1867 in William Dean Howells’s essay Italian Journeys. The coffee with milk that Howells enjoyed on a steamship from Trieste to Venice was nothing like the lattes found today at specialty coffee shops since it was before the invention of the modern espresso machine. What Howells drank was likely similar to café au lait: equal parts brewed coffee and hot milk. Many Italians enjoy café au lait for breakfast, using coffee brewed in a moka pot and plenty of steamed milk without added foam.

A cappuccino is a milk and coffee drink made using an espresso machine. A traditional cappuccino contains 25 milliliters of espresso coffee and 100 milliliters of steam-foamed milk. Some cappuccino recipes call for equal parts espresso, hot milk, and foam. Cappuccinos have more milk than some other espresso drinks, such as a macchiato, cortado, or flat white, but less milk than a caffè latte.

Origins of the Cappuccino
The name “cappuccino” may have been inspired by the Capuchin friars, an order of Franciscan monks founded in sixteenth-century Italy. The Capuchins wore brown robes with long habits called cappucios—the ensemble resembled espresso mixed with milk. The Austrians were the first to use the word “cappuccino” (“kapuziner” in German) to describe a coffee beverage. Kapuziner is an Austrian drink of coffee with whipped cream that made its way from Vienna coffee houses back to Italian coffee shops, where it was transformed with espresso and frothed milk upon the invention of the espresso machine.

The name “cappuccino” may have been inspired by the Capuchin friars, an order of Franciscan monks founded in sixteenth-century Italy. The Capuchins wore brown robes with long habits called cappucios—the ensemble resembled espresso mixed with milk. The Austrians were the first to use the word “cappuccino” (“kapuziner” in German) to describe a coffee beverage. Kapuziner is an Austrian drink of coffee with whipped cream that made its way from Vienna coffee houses back to Italian coffee shops, where it was transformed with espresso and frothed milk upon the invention of the espresso machine.

Cappuccinos and lattes are coffee beverages that contain espresso and milk, each with a light layer of foam. These drinks contain the same ingredients and amount of caffeine, but there are key differences between them:

• Milk content: The main difference between a latte and a cappuccino is the milk to coffee ratio. Simply put, a cappuccino contains less milk than a latte. Both drinks start with a single or double shot of espresso, to which steamed milk is added. A cappuccino typically contains around 25 milliliters of espresso and 100 milliliters of steam-foamed milk to fit perfectly in a 160-milliliter (5.4-ounce) cup.
• Serving size: Cappuccinos are topped with a layer of milk foam to fit perfectly in a 5.4-oz cup. Lattes are served in a much larger cup—at least 8 ounces, meaning they contain at least twice the amount of milk.
• Coffee flavor: A latte is generally creamier than a cappuccino. It has a milder coffee taste because the espresso is mixed with the milk before the milk foam is added. The milk is not mixed with the espresso in a cappuccino—the espresso, milk, and foam are poured on top of each other in defined layers.
• Latte art: The main visual appeal of a cappuccino is in the distinct layers of espresso, hot milk, and froth. A latte usually contains latte art at the top of the cup, created using milk foam.

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