What is the Difference Between a Latte and a Cappuccino?

What is the Difference Between a Latte and a Cappuccino?

At Copper Moon, we LOVE coffee! We also love how many different ways we can consume coffee. At our greater Lafayette Café locations, we offer numerous hot or cold beverage options. These range from freshly brewed coffee from around the world, to delicious espresso-based treats. The most popular drinks at Copper Moon Coffee are typically espresso-based, often falling in the categories of Lattes or Cappuccinos. Both of those drinks are composed of the same three ingredients: a shot of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk.

So, if they are composed of the same components, what is the difference between them? And where do Macchiatos (and Americanos) fit into the mix? Although these types of drinks are made up of the same ingredients, the proportions of these components are the differentiating factor.

Latte

A Latte is all about the steamed milk. There is so much milk in a Latte that it can easily drown out the espresso taste, making it a very popular option for occasional coffee drinkers. Lattes are about two-thirds steamed milk, with the other third split between espresso and foam to make for a very light and creamy “dessert” coffee. Some types of latte drinks may not even have espresso in them at all, such as a Chai Latte. A few of the most popular flavor options at our café locations include Lavender Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and Mocha. Follow @coppermooncoffee on Instagram to stay up-to-date on our delightful seasonal options.

Cappuccino

A Cappuccino, on the other hand, has equal parts of espresso, milk, and foam. Most Baristas (including all of our professionally-trained Baristas at Copper Moon Coffee) handcraft Cappuccinos that are an exact balance of light and frothy milk with delicious espresso. It is vital to pull a perfect shot of espresso for a Cappuccino because a poor shot won’t give enough coffee flavor. There are also variations to the Cappuccino known as “Wet” or “Dry” Cappuccinos. A Wet Cappuccino has a little extra hot milk, and a Dry Cappuccino has less milk but more milk froth.

Macchiato

Outside of the Lattes and Cappuccinos that we offer at Copper Moon Coffee, other coffeehouses offer another strong drink called a Macchiato. These drinks are centered much more around the espresso, as they are technically an espresso with just a tiny dash of milk. Macchiatos are typically made from two shots of espresso, giving the beverage a much richer and bolder taste.

Americano

Americanos are often included in the same group with the previous three beverage types, though they are almost entirely different in composition. Unlike the other three, Americanos do not contain any milk. They are composed simply of two shots of espresso and warm water.

The origin of espresso and espresso-based beverages can be traced back to Italy in the late 1800s. In fact, “Latte” is simply an abbreviated form of the Italian words: Caffè e Latte (Caffelatte or Caffellatte), meaning “Coffee and Milk.” The popularity of espresso in the United States started increasing when espresso machines began shipping to America in the mid-1950s.

While Italy is known for the creation of espresso, Indiana offers handcrafted modern updates to these beverages as well as many creative seasonal selections at Copper Moon Coffee. Due to our talented team of trained Baristas, our Cafés have become leading local destinations in the greater Lafayette area to enjoy a delicious Latte or Cappuccino. Don’t live in Lafayette, Indiana? Not to worry, you can make great espresso at home with our 1503 Espresso Blend.