Getting up in the morning isn’t easy for everyone. Most people get up in the morning and grab a cup of coffee at one of their local coffee shops. Some might brew it themselves, and others might go to Starbucks, McDonald’s, or Tim Hortons. However, coffee gets old after a while, and you might want something exciting. A cappuccino or latte are options that can spruce up your morning. So what is the difference between a cappuccino and a latte?
Everyone has a general idea of what coffee is, but other caffeinated drinks are foreign to many people. Do you know what a latte is? How about a cappuccino? Chances are you have a general idea that they are popular coffee drinks, but you couldn’t tell us exactly what they are. Fortunately, we are here to explain the differences and everything you need to know in the cappuccino vs latte debate.
What Is a Cappuccino?
The cappuccino remains one of the most popular espresso drinks. It is in the coffee family, but it is not traditional coffee. Instead, it is an espresso shot with steamed milk and milk foam (or milk froth) on top. It is also common to serve these drinks with powdered chocolate on top.
This drink’s name comes from Capuchin monks of the Roman Catholic order. When milky coffee first started to appear on menus in Vienna in the 18th century, the milk foam on top resembled the robes worn by these monks. In Italy, a cappuccino is exclusively a morning drink. However, the rest of the world does not observe this custom. I’ve been known to even order one for dessert in the evening.
Cappuccino History
Although the Cappuccino first got its name in Vienna in the 18th century, it did not become one of the everyday coffee drinks until the late 19th century. Cappuccinos started to get popular in the 1930s when cafes began adding them to menus.
Furthermore, an interesting tidbit about the cappuccino is that it did not initially include chocolate powder and other toppings. Instead, these things were added because the average quality of espresso was so poor that it needed to be masked by different flavors.
Cappuccinos became even more popular after the second world war. Technology improved so that its production became streamlined, and the flavor improved. As a result, extra sweeteners were no longer a requirement.
Cappuccino’s started to move west over the next 50 years. They became popular in Britain in the 1950s and the United States in the 1980s. Today, you can get a fresh cappuccino in almost every corner of the world.
How to Make a Cappuccino
To make a cappuccino, you only need a few ingredients. The certified Italian cappuccino ingredient list is as follows:
- 25 ml of espresso
- 100 ml of cold milk, steamed to a volume of 125 ml
- A white porcelain cup with a volume of 150 to 160 ml
- Topped with a visible cap of milk foam
To make the cappuccino, you need to take a shot of espresso and pour it into a mug. Then, steam the milk (be sure to not overheat the steamed milk or the taste will be quite bad, a milk thermometer will help a ton here) and slowly pour it over the coffee. You can then top it with chocolate, cinnamon, or whipping cream. And of course, some baristas spoon some foam onto the top. It is a simple drink to make, and all you need are the ingredients above and a coffee maker.
What Is a Latte?
The latte or cafe latte is a very global drink found all over the world. In this way, it is very similar to the cappuccino. However, unlike a cappuccino, there is no correct way to make a latte. You can make a latte several ways, and in that way, it differs from a cappuccino.
If you go to a coffee shop in Italy and ask for a latte, most of the time you will receive a single espresso shot topped with steamed milk. As long as the drink includes milk, it is a latte. Technically, it does not even need coffee to be a latte. If you were to order a latte in some places in Italy, you would get a tall glass of milk.
Latte History
Unlike the cappuccino, there is no single recipe for a latte. As a result, it is difficult for historians to pinpoint when the latte was invented. Milk coffee started to arrive in Europe when the cappuccino was developed.
As a result, historians need to look at when English-speaking countries started to use the word latte. Most sources point to the mid-20th century as the time when the latte coffee drink became popular in England and the United States.
How to Make a Latte
As we mentioned above, there are several ways to make a latte. However, we will look at the two most popular versions, Italian and American.
The Italian version requires you to brew your coffee like you normally would. You should then heat some milk and combine the two. You then have the option to add sugar if you like. No special equipment is needed, and you are good to go.
The American version uses espresso instead of regular coffee. Americans also sometimes add a shot of flavored syrup. The syrup can be in several flavors like maple, vanilla, peppermint, cinnamon, caramel, and hazelnut. You can then steam the milk and pour it into the mug with the espresso.
The Difference Between Cappuccino and Latte
Cappuccinos and Lattes both include espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. As a result, most people cannot see the differences between the two. They have the same ingredients, which makes them very similar. That said, there are some distinct differences.
A traditional cappuccino has equal amounts of espresso, foamed milk, and steamed milk. Conversely, a latte has more steamed milk and a light foam layer.
Furthermore, a cappuccino has distinct layers with espresso, steamed milk, and foam. Conversely, the latte blends the espresso and milk.
The differences in brewing these drinks results in the latte having a creamier taste. You can boil down the differences to the cappuccino having less milk and a tall head of foam, whereas a latte has more milk and a short head of foam.
Which Has a Stronger Flavor?
As we mentioned above, the latte has a creamier flavor. As a result, cappuccinos have a more robust flavor. Having a stronger flavor means it tastes more like coffee and is more bitter.
With that in mind, which one you will prefer depends on your taste. If you have been drinking coffee for years, you might like a cappuccino. It allows you to enjoy the flavor of the espresso and milk separately with little intermingling.
However, if you have never been a big coffee drinker, you might enjoy a latte. It still has a taste similar to coffee, but it is less bitter. As a result, it is a good option for people that need caffeine but do not like coffee.
Final Thoughts
Cappuccinos and lattes are two staples of the coffee industry, and they are not going away any time soon. They are two very similar drinks on paper, but their differences make them taste distinctly different. However, they are both great drinks, and which one you have comes down to your tastes.
Now that you know the difference between a cappuccino and a late, do know the difference between coffee and espresso?