Latte vs Cappuccino: Difference and Comparison

Other than water or a basic drip of coffee, lattes and cappuccino are the most popular beverages in most countries around the world. Both of them are espresso drinks and are immensely loved by people. Both of them are like daily routine drinks for most people.

Both drinks have quite similar ingredients. Although, it depends on the espresso’s craftsmanship and that is what makes the two distinctive from each other. Both the drinks might look or sometimes even sound the same, but they do have many things uncommon.

Key Takeaways

1. Lattes consist of espresso, steamed milk, and a small layer of milk foam, whereas cappuccinos contain equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam.
2. Cappuccinos have a stronger coffee flavor than lattes due to their higher espresso-to-milk ratio.
3. Lattes provide a smoother, creamier texture than cappuccinos because of their larger proportion of steamed milk.

Latte vs Cappuccino

The difference between a latte and a cappuccino is that a normal cappuccino drink contains all the ingredients, i.e. steamed milk, foamed milk, and espresso, distributed evenly while a latte has a much more quantity of steamed milk than a cappuccino with a layer of foam. All the ingredients in a cappuccino are layered equally, but in a latte, they are all stirred well.

Latte always has the same base, that is, it can be either a single dose or double dose of espresso. Then that espresso is stirred with some ounces of steamed milk.

This is done to get a rich and very creamy beverage that has a very subtle taste of an espresso. Usually, 1:2 is the typical ratio of espresso to steamed milk in a latte.

Cappuccino was made at its perfect stage and became popular during both world wars. It starts with layers of espresso at the bottom. Mostly in the united states, it is always two shots of espresso.

Then a layer of steamed milk is added to it, followed by a thick layer of foam. That layer of foam at the top makes the beverage rich and gives it a luxurious taste.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Latte	Cappuccino
Milk quantity	Latte contains more steamed milk. After evolving for over 20 years, a latte is majorly served with a sweet taste in it by adding flavors like vanilla or hazelnut.	Cappuccino has less quantity of steamed or textured milk. This is what gives cappuccino a very luxurious texture and adds taste to it.
Serving	Served in cups that have a better heat retention ability.	Served in a glass with a saucer.
Country of origin	latte originated from America	The origin-country of cappuccino in Italy.
Origin of name	Latte is referred to as coffee and milk in Italy.	Cappuccino comes from capuchin friars.
Layers	Latte does not have any layers as all the ingredients are stirred well.	Cappuccino is made by adding different layers distinctively.

What is Latte?

Latte always has the same base that can be either a single dose or double dose of espresso. Then that espresso is stirred with some ounces of steamed milk. This is done to get a rich and very creamy beverage that has a very subtle taste of an espresso.

Usually, 1:2 is the typical ratio of espresso to steamed milk in a latte. Latte has a much more quantity of steamed milk than a cappuccino, along with a layer of foam.

Latte might have a basic formation, but the exact form of preparation may vary widely. It basically depends on the country and their culture. The popularity of a latte has exploded wildly during the last 20 years.

Since then, the latte has been altered endlessly, and now the most basic form of it is presented in a very sweet version of it by adding some flavours to it like vanilla or even hazelnut.

What is Cappuccino?

Cappuccino was made at its perfect stage and became popular during both world wars. It starts with layers of espresso at the bottom. Mostly in the united states, it is always two shots of espresso.

Then a layer of steamed milk is added to it, followed by a thick layer of foam. That layer of foam at the top makes the beverage rich and gives it a luxurious taste.

All the ingredients in a cappuccino are layered equally. It can be clearly said that a cappuccino is much stronger than a latte, and this is because it contains very less amount of milk in it, and the amount of foam is way much more than a latte.

It is widely said that when a perfect cappuccino is made, a barista is up to snuff. A correctly and perfectly made cappuccino has a liquid-to-foam ratio of 1:1.

Main Differences Between Latte and Cappuccino

1. The main difference between Latte and Cappuccino is that all the ingredients in a cappuccino are layered equally, but in a latte, they are all stirred well.
2. Latte contains more steamed milk, while Cappuccino has less quantity of steamed or textured milk.
3. Latte is served in cups that have a better heat retention ability, while cappuccino is served in a glass with a saucer.
4. Latte originated in America, while Cappuccino originated in Italy.  
5. Latte is referred to as coffee and milk in Italy, while Cappuccino comes from Capuchin friars.
6. Latte does not have layers as all the ingredients are stirred well, but Cappuccino is made by adding different layers.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1382668909000350
2. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rebeca-Jasso-Aguilar/publication/222347193_Sources_Methods_and_Triangulation_in_Needs_Analysis_A_Critical_Perspective_in_a_Case_Study_of_Waikiki_Hotel_Maids/links/59ebc7234585151983cb768a/Sources-Methods-and-Triangulation-in-Needs-Analysis-A-Critical-Perspective-in-a-Case-Study-of-Waikiki-Hotel-Maids.pdf#page=313

Last Updated : 23 July, 2023