What's the Difference Between a Latte & a Cappuccino?

But first, let's talk terms.

·         A latte is a coffee drink that is normally made with espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam.

·         A cappuccino is very similar, but it has a greater percentage of foamed milk to steamed milk.

·         A macchiato has no steamed milk added to the espresso, but a little cap of milk foam.

·         Cafe au lait has only warm steamed milk added to coffee (sometimes espresso) and no foam.

All of these coffee shop drinks are actually on a continuum. A very "wet" cappuccino with a lot of steamed milk is sliding into latte territory, and what one coffee bar calls a cappuccino might actually be a macchiato elsewhere.

The point is, the ratio of espresso, warm milk, and milk foam can all be adjusted to your precise liking when you make a drink at home, and you can call it whatever you like in the privacy of your own kitchen.