Cappuccino, Latte, Flat White, whatever your preference your, talking about coffee and milk. Yes, yes there is soy and almond, syrups and don’t even get me started on marshmallows but that’s a whole different topic lets get the basics down first. The basics are espresso poured coffee and milk, most coffee shops today lean towards a standard double shot of espresso for milk-based drinks from here on in the story is mostly about the milk. 

Cappuccino.

Cappuccino has a special place in coffee culture as the most famous milk and coffee drink. Everyone has an ever so slightly different take on what they consider the perfect cappuccino, generally, we can only agree when it is horribly wrong. It might surprise those who slurp their cappuccino from an extra-large takeaway cup or what can only be described as a soup bowl that the traditional cappuccino is a relatively small drink of only 5-6 ounces (150-160ml). Traditionalists espouse that this should be made up of 3-4 ounces of expresso and 3-4 ounces of steamed milk with up to a third of this in a rich microfoam. The flower or heart is purely optional. 

 

Latte.

As the name suggests this is the milkiest of all the espresso and milk drinks and as it is generally made with the standard double espresso shot for milk-based drinks tend to be larger than a cappuccino. The milk preparation also differs with hotter less foamy milk. Generally, a latte is at least 8 ounces and may be considerably larger. Variations with unsteamed milk and ice make a nice summer alternative. 

Often disparaged as coffee for people who don’t like coffee we have to agree, a deliciously smooth latte is a delight. 

 

Flat White.

The Australian contender for the trendy coffee crown. What’s a Flat white? A question which has famously flummoxed many so please forgive if we oversimplify. Its a cappuccino without the foam or with minimum foam.

Macchiato. The little one on the list. Macchiato tends to be small at 2-3 ounces (60-88 ml) and the with just a little foam spooned on the top. 

 

Expectations, some of the global multiples have really managed to confuse the whole thing with their individual and varied interpretations of the terms. If you only know your milk coffee drinks form one of these places we recommend you try your next cappuccino, latte, flat white or Macchiato from a smaller outlet you will be pleasantly surprised.