What is the Difference Between a Latte and a Cappuccino?

At Copper Moon, we LOVE coffee! We also love that our customers have the ability to make incredible espresso-based beverages from home with our beans, 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.

Cappuccino

A Cappuccino, on the other hand, has equal parts of espresso, milk, and foam. 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 there are other espresso-based beverages you can make. Macchiatos 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.