Espresso, Cappuccino vs Latte: Difference and Comparison

Coffee is one of the most desired beverages that is beneficial to increase the energy levels and centralize the focus of a person. Coffee has been a part of human civilization for centuries.

Espresso, Cappuccino, and Latte are three different variations of coffee. All of them are linked together being one another’s base ingredient.

Key Takeaways

1. Espresso is a concentrated coffee beverage made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans, while cappuccino and latte are espresso-based drinks with added milk.
2. A cappuccino consists of equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam, creating a balanced and textured beverage; a latte has more steamed milk and less foam, resulting in a creamier, milder flavor.
3. Espressos are served in small, concentrated amounts, while cappuccinos and lattes come in larger servings due to their milk content.

Espresso, Cappuccino vs Latte

Espresso cappuccino is a coffee beverage made by combining espresso shots with steamed and frothed milk. It has a rich and creamy flavor. Latte is a popular espresso-based drink made by mixing steamed milk with a shot of espresso. It is topped with a small layer of frothed milk.

Cappuccino and Espresso are two types of beverage where Espresso is made of finely ground beans of coffee by flowing a heavy stream of hot water through them and then these prepared shots of Espresso are used to make Cappuccino by adding milk and a thick layer of foam on the top.

Latte is a very beloved beverage that originated from Italy and is now served and sold worldwide. Latte also uses milk and shots of Espresso to be prepared.

Latte tastes so good that it is an inevitable part of breakfast in certain countries. Still, health experts suggest not to consume heavy amounts of Latte.

Comparison Table

Parameters Of Comparison	Espresso	Cappuccino	Latte
Origin	The year, according to the books, in which Espresso was introduced was 1901.	The year, according to the books, in which Cappuccino was introduced was 1930.	The year, according to the books, in which Latte was introduced was 1950.
Pronunciation	To learn and use the right pronunciation of Espresso, one can speak it like eh spreh soh.	To learn and use the right pronunciation of Cappuccino, one can speak it like ka puh chee noh.	To learn and use the right pronunciation of Latte, one can speak it like la tay.
Milk	When it comes to milk, Espresso does not require any amount of it. It is Straight coffee.	Cappuccino requires a minimum amount of milk which can go up to 85 ml/cup.	Latte needs a large amount of milk about 400 ml/cup to be prepared and some shots of Espresso.
Thickness	Espresso coffee is the thickest of all, the thickness of Espresso is the same as honey.	Cappuccino uses a high amount of Espresso and it is thinner than Espresso because milk is added to it.	Latte uses a very small amount of Espresso and a lot of milk and that makes it the least ticker coffee.
Colour	Talking about the color, Espresso is completely black coffee.	Looking at a cup of Cappuccino, one can tell that it is a mixture of orange and red colors.	Latte comes from a brown color family and when the foam is added, it appears a little creamy colored.

What is Espresso?

When a person takes a sip from the cup he surely does not have any idea how it was made and what is the specialty of this certain type of coffee.

People go for Espresso to increase their concentration to avoid that period of snoozing during work hours. Espresso is a great hot drink served in small quantities.

It is very effective to gather all the energy and make a person feel more lively again. Espresso is prepared by a machine Known as Espresso machines that were introduced at the dawn of the 20th century.

In this machine, ground coffee beans are placed in small bars and the pressure of hot water is forced onto them creating a foam named Crema.

Crema is also used for multiple purposes. Espresso contains the highest amount of caffeine.

The size of ground beans, the temperature of the water, and extraction time, all these factors affect the taste of Espresso. Espresso has a caramel flavor with a light sweet tone.

Since Espresso has a high amount of caffeine, it mostly tastes more bitter than other types of coffee. Espresso is used to prepare Cappuccino and Latte as well as other types of coffee to be enjoyed by people.

What is Cappuccino?

Cappuccino is a very demanding sweet beverage based on coffee, milk, and foam. Cappuccino uses a large amount of Espresso shots and milk as its main ingredient and it is topped with a lot of creamy foam.

The word Cappuccino is derived from the Latin word Caputium which was later transformed into Kapuziner. The Italian meaning of Cappuccino is known to be ‘hood’.

Cappuccino is loved differently by different people, for example, some people prefer hot Cappuccino while some like to have chilled Cappuccino to be part of their daily routine. Cappuccino is known to be originated from Austria and developed in Italy.

Cappuccino has so many different types and comes in many colors such as beige, dark brown, white black, etc.

In some variations of Cappuccino, chocolate and non-dairy milk are used to add multiple flavors, and sometimes it is also flavored with cinnamon powder. Cappuccino got fame for itself in every corner of the world.

In the starting, Cappuccino was a traditional drink enjoyed by the people of South America, Australia, North America, and some southern countries of Europe.

But soon many coffee houses were established in North America and then Cappuccino began its journey to be spread in the whole world.

What is Latte?

Latte or Caffe Latte is also a sweet, amusing drink that was originated in Italy. Though coffee was being used in multiple cuisines for a very long time, it was transformed into sweet delicious beverages not long ago.

When the Espresso machine was invented and introduced, many experiments began with coffee to create various types of drinks.

Soon coffee took over the beverage industry and became one the largest consumed drink. Coffee has several benefits but it shouldn’t be taken without limits.

It is observed that people who are addicted to Latte are certainly prone to get acne and serious stomach diseases. Latte should be taken in restricted quantity.

Yet, a traditional form of Latte is a salient part that complements the breakfast of European countries on daily basis. Also, Europe is the largest consumer of coffee.

Latte can contain single or double shots of Espresso and some people also like to add chocolate, vanilla, and hazelnut flavor to it.

The process of making a Latte begins by adding required shots of Espresso and pouring hot steamed milk into it which is rich in cream.

The general ratio of Espresso and milk used in Latte is 1-to-2. Latte can be prepared at home as well.

Main Differences Between Espresso, Cappuccino and Latte

Capacity

1. Espresso is one the strongest beverage made from coffee and base ingredient to other types of coffee.
2. Cappuccino is less strong than Espresso but very strong drink compared to Latte
3. Latte is one of the lightest drinks that is based on coffee.

Type of milk

1. In the strongest coffee shots of Espresso, no amount of milk is added.
2. Cappuccino use a heavy amount of Espresso shots and less milk also uses fresh milk
3. Latte is a sweet, enjoyable drink that comes with a fair amount of Milk and fewer shots of Espresso. Also, it uses steamed milk.

Advantage and disadvantage

1. Espresso is very good for the digestive system, energy-boosting, focused mind, etc.
2. Cappuccino can help a person avoid heart ailments, stroke, type 2 diabetes, etc.
3. Latte is a light and tasty beverage but it can cause nausea and acne if taken in excessive amounts.

Types

1. Espresso is the base and main ingredient for other coffee beverages so it is linked to every type of coffee.
2. The significant types of Cappuccino are dry, iced, wet, traditional, and flavored Cappuccino.
3. The notable types of Latte are flat white, Americano, macchiato, Caffè macchiato, etc.

Foam

1. Espresso creates Foam itself when it is being pressurized with water known as Crema.
2. The cups of Cappuccino are offered mostly with a fair amount of microfoam topped up.
3. Latte comes with a very thin layer of foam made of microfoam.

References

1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=AJdlfSFCmVIC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=Espresso&ots=mm4p2cFWlS&sig=ECGnWkzWIyOb0flDSaQe5zLPCYc
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=GlxvDgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=Cappuccino&ots=OeUKXsPtaR&sig=GaSyWiXQEjELfyIu2FdyZmkrrXc
3. https://micronesica.org/sites/default/files/2_smlaguana_pp80-120.pdf

Last Updated : 15 July, 2023