Recipes
Latte vs Cappuccino: What's the Difference?
A cappuccino is smaller, stronger and topped with thick foam; a latte is larger and milkier with only a thin layer. Here is how they compare.
A latte and a cappuccino start the same way, with espresso and steamed milk. The difference is the milk: a cappuccino is a small drink with a thick cap of foam, while a latte is a larger, milkier drink with only a thin layer of foam on top.
That one change affects everything else: the size of the cup, how strong the coffee tastes, and how the drink feels to sip.
The short answer
| Feature | Cappuccino | Latte |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Usually 1–2 shots | Usually 1–2 shots |
| Milk | Less milk | Much more milk |
| Foam | Thick, airy layer | Thin, silky layer |
| Typical size | About 150–180 ml (5–6 oz) | About 240 ml (8 oz) or larger |
| Taste | Coffee-forward and light | Mild, creamy and smooth |
These are typical café proportions, not fixed rules. Sizes in particular vary a lot from one café to the next.
How much milk is in each?
A common rule of thumb describes a cappuccino as roughly equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foam. A latte is usually closer to one part espresso to three parts steamed milk, finished with a little foam.
Italy has a more precise definition. The Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano (INEI) specifies its certified cappuccino as 25 ml of espresso with 125 ml of milk, heated from fridge-cold to about 55 °C and served in a 150–160 ml cup.
There is no equally official standard for a latte. Most cafés serve it in a glass or cup of around 240 ml or more, which leaves room for much more milk.
Why the foam matters
Both drinks use milk that has been steamed with a little air. The difference is how much air goes in.
For a cappuccino, the barista adds more air so the milk forms a thick, velvety layer of foam that sits on top of the drink. For a latte, they add less air, so the foam is a thin layer and most of the milk stays liquid and silky.
This is why a cappuccino feels lighter and airier, while a latte feels smoother and heavier.
Which one is stronger?
If both are made with the same number of espresso shots, they contain the same amount of coffee, and so the same caffeine. The cappuccino tastes stronger because there is less milk around the espresso. The latte dilutes the same coffee in a bigger drink.
If you like to taste the coffee, start with a cappuccino. If you prefer something creamy and gentle, or you plan to add a flavored syrup, a latte is the better match.
Where the names come from
“Cappuccino” comes from the Capuchin friars, an order founded in 16th-century Italy and named after the hood (cappuccio) of their habit. The drink’s brown color, espresso mixed with frothed milk, was likened to the color of their robes. English borrowed the word in the late 1800s.
“Latte” is short for the Italian caffè latte, “coffee with milk”. In Italian, latte simply means milk. Order “a latte” in Italy and you may well be handed a glass of milk.
How to make each at home
You need espresso (or strong coffee from a moka pot) and a way to steam or froth milk.
- Make the coffee. Brew one or two shots of espresso into a warm cup: a smaller cup for a cappuccino, a larger cup or glass for a latte. Our coffee ratio calculator helps if you are scaling other brewing methods.
- Steam the milk. Start with cold milk, about half-filling a small jug. With a steam wand just below the surface, let air in for a few seconds: about 2–4 seconds for a latte, 4–6 seconds for a cappuccino. Then lower the wand to spin the milk until the jug is hot to hold, around 55–65 °C (130–150 °F). Hotter milk starts to taste flat and cooked.
- Pour. For a latte, pour the silky milk into the espresso and finish with a thin layer of foam. For a cappuccino, pour less milk and let a thick layer of foam build on top.
No steam wand? Warm the milk on the stove, then pump it in a French press or shake it in a sealed jar until it foams. It will not be as fine as café foam, but the difference between the two drinks still comes through.
Related drinks
A flat white and a cortado are close relatives: both are usually smaller than a latte and have less foam than a cappuccino. Our coffee terms glossary covers these and other café names, and our guide to ten ways to make good coffee at home explains the brewing methods behind them.