Have you ever stood at the counter of your favorite coffee shop and wondered what the differences are between the myriad espresso drinks on the menu? Aside from milk options and flavorings there is of course the choice between lattes and cappuccinos two seemingly similar coffee drinks. While the two use the same ingredients (espresso and heated frothed milk) there are key differences most notably in the distribution of the milk foam and the amount of foam. Cappuccinos are known for their frothy nature with even layers of espresso steamed milk and foam as compared to lattes that have less foam and more steamed milk incorporated into them.
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Latte VS Cappuccino what's the difference? • Barista Training
Lattes have a higher ratio of milk to espresso (about two-thirds milk to one-third espresso to be exact) resulting in a noticeably milkier creamier texture and flavor. To make a latte milk is steamed and frothed then gently poured at an angle (to preserve the milk’s foam) into a cup on top of the espresso. At the very end of the pour a thin layer of frothy milk (also called microfoam) is spooned or swirled on top to create latte art. On the other hand when you order a cappuccino your barista will froth the milk a little longer to achieve fluffiness and larger bubbles. They will then pour a one-to-one ratio of steamed milk and foam over the espresso in even thick layers. The resulting cappuccino will be relatively smaller than a more espresso-focused latte and noticeably frothier with each sip.
While it seems like there’s a coffee shop on every corner these days it’s important to know the origins of your favorite espresso drinks. You might guess that both the latte and the cappuccino originated in cafes in Italy and you’d be right—sort of. Espresso is clearly a part of Italian culture and cuisine having become increasingly popular in the 1900s with the invention of the espresso machine. As it turns out however the first cappuccino-like drink was discovered in Vienna Austria where espresso was enjoyed topped with whipped cream.
Today cappuccinos are enjoyed throughout Italy for breakfast. It is said that lattes were only created for tourists who visited Italy and could not tolerate the bitterness of strong espresso drinks like cappuccinos. A larger amount of steamed milk was added to appeal to the American palate but it is still quite rare to find lattes in cafes in Italy. Domestically aside from the espresso drinks you would find in Italian cafes espresso drinks like the latte became increasingly popular (not to mention larger and sweeter) in American coffee houses in the 80s and 90s (we're looking at you Starbucks).
