Latte vs Cappuccino: The Real Difference

A latte is espresso plus steamed milk in an 8 to 12 oz cup with a thin layer of foam on top. A cappuccino is espresso plus equal parts steamed milk and foam in a 5 to 6 oz cup. The cappuccino is smaller, drier, and more intensely coffee-flavored.

Both use the same espresso shot. The milk ratio is what separates them.

Cappuccino: 5 to 6 oz. Latte: 8 to 12 oz. That gap is the whole story.

In a cappuccino, roughly one third is espresso, one third is steamed milk, and one third is foam. In a latte, the same espresso shot is diluted in double or triple the amount of milk. The foam layer on a latte is thin, usually just 1 cm deep.

In Italian coffee culture, a cappuccino is a morning drink. Ordering one after lunch in Rome is technically a social breach. No one enforces it outside Italy, but it is a good piece of trivia.

"A cappuccino has more foam than a latte. A latte has more milk than a cappuccino. That is the whole debate."

Which one has more caffeine?

They usually have the same caffeine because both start with one espresso shot at about 63mg. A large latte at 12 oz might use two shots, pushing it to around 125mg. Learn more in how much caffeine is in espresso.

Which one should you order?

If you want to taste the espresso clearly, order a cappuccino. If you want something creamy and mild to sip for twenty minutes, order a latte. If you like the cappuccino size but less foam, try a flat white. Even smaller: cortado.

Try a classic cappuccino at Ritual Coffee Roasters or Blue Bottle in San Francisco.

Related: What is a latte?, What is a flat white?, 12 best espresso drinks.