HOW TO
You’ve seen them all on the Starbucks® menu in our coffeehouses – the cappuccino, the latte, and the flat white. But do you know what makes them different? For example, did you know a cappuccino and a latte need only 1 shot of espresso, while a flat white needs 2 espresso shots? The amount of milk & milk foam is also different for each beverage. Let’s get into it.
All three coffees start off the same way – with a base of espresso. You can use your favourite Starbucks® Roast & Ground, Starbucks® Whole Bean, Starbucks® by Nespresso® or Starbucks® by NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® to brew your ideal espresso.
You’ll always pour the milk into the espresso, to ensure that the layers of coffee and milk form properly, and keep a balanced flavour in every sip.
Cappuccino: 1 shot of espresso
Latte: 1 shot of espresso
Flat white: 2 shots of espresso
Cappuccino: Froth 165 ml of warmed milk for 30 seconds
Latte: Froth 175 ml of warmed milk for 20 seconds
Flat white: Froth 175 ml of warmed milk for 15 seconds
A cappuccino, a latte, and a flat white all have different milk volumes, to make sure each coffee delivers the right flavour and texture. Each beverage calls for a different frothing time, as well.
For the cappuccino and latte, make sure you’re frothing to create enough foam – the thick layer that tops each coffee. Learn more about how to froth milk at home here.
Adding the milk to combine with the espresso and create the desired layers takes a bit of practice.
Cappuccino: Pour the milk in fast
Latte: A gentle pour works best
Flat white: Aim for the centre to get the iconic froth dot
Let’s look at each beverage in detail, and see what sets a cappuccino, a latte, and a flat white apart.
With the most foam, a cappuccino is ideal for someone who enjoys a velvety texture in their drink. A cappuccino is made of 2 parts: the espresso blended with the frothed milk, and thick milk foam.
You’re aiming to get half milky espresso and half foam collar in your cappuccino. You can always spoon on more milk foam if you need to add more for that smooth velvety texture in every sip.
A latte uses a single espresso as a base, with more frothed milk than a cappuccino – but less foam, because the milk is frothed for only 20 seconds.
With a gentle pour, you should be able to watch the iconic layers of a latte forming in your mug – milky espresso with a narrow layer of foam on top.
With a gentle pour, you should be able to watch the iconic layers of a latte forming in your mug – milky espresso with a narrow layer of foam on top.
With a gentle pour, you should be able to watch the iconic layers of a latte forming in your mug – milky espresso with a narrow layer of foam on top.
At a glance, they look very similar – but looking deeper, the only real similarity between a cappuccino, a latte, and a flat white is what you use to make them.
Now that you know the difference, it’s time to try all three. Learn how to make all these delicious coffees and much more.
Comparing coffee - cappuccino vs. latte vs. flat white
