Cappuccinos vs Lattes

Cappuccinos and lattes are perhaps the most popular beverages in the country other than a traditional cup of drip coffee.

These two espresso drinks contain many of the same ingredients, but the craftsmanship of your favorite barista leads to two drinks that have distinct tastes, textures, and finishes.

At Catfight, that difference can be a source of contention.

The quick answer is that a cappuccino has an even layer of espresso, steamed milk and foamed milk which are distinctly layered. While a latte the espresso, steamed milk and foam are often blended together.

A cappuccino boasts a much stronger espresso flavor than a latte due to having less milk and more foam.

You can tell the barista is doing you right when the ratio to all three parts is even. A give away that the barista isn’t doing it right is when they draw 2 espresso shots (in the U.S. it’s usually 2) then just pour steamed milk in to fill up the cup. If your cup is mostly milk-it’s a latte.

If you are longing for an even stronger espresso taste and want to test the ability of the barista, try a macchiato. No, this is the sugary Starbucks drink-the Caramel Macchiato. A true Macchiato is 2 shots of espresso with a place of milk and foam.

Try all 3 and you may discover you are more a Macchiato drinker than a cappuccino drinker. Or you may find what you really like is a latte. There is nothing wrong with any of these tried and true drinks. Your coffee pallet is yours and yours alone. But it sure if a fun experiment!