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Question: What is the difference between a latte, cappucine and a macchiato?!?

(Posted by: Koko on 2010-02-08 12:51:26)

I love all 3 but i'm not really sure what the real difference is, they all taste pretty much the same!

Posted by: Katherine on 2010-02-08, 14:16:16

I can help you with Starbucks versions of the drinks. At Starbucks, a latte is espresso with steamed milk and about a 1/ 4 inch of foam on top. Cappuccinos are espresso with steamed milk; however, the milk and foam ratio is different from a latte. For cappuccinos, the cup is half steamed milk and half foam. As for a Starbucks macchiato, there are two types. The espresso macchiato is simply espresso shots with a dollop of foam. The caramel macchiatos are assembled in this order: syrup, steamed milk, a layer of foam, the cross hatch of caramel sauce, then the espresso shots poured on top.

Posted by: Alfred on 2010-02-08, 13:01:20

A latte is espresso and steamed milk with a dollup of foam on top. a cappichino is espresso and equil parts steamed milk and foam. a macciato is espresso with a dollup of foam.

Posted by: kagmi on 2010-02-08, 13:01:37

When properly made, they're three very different drinks. A latte is espresso added to steamed milk. A cappucino is also espresso and steamed milk, but the milk is supposed to be steamed in such a way that the drink is 1/ 3 milk foam, which makes the coffee taste stronger and is great for people who like the foamy texture. A macchiato is just a dollop of milk foam added to a cup of espresso, and because of that it is much stronger than the other two drinks. However, most American coffee chains don't bother to differentiate between the three that much. They figure that espresso+ milk is espresso+ milk, and that American consumers wouldn't like a real cappuccino with all the milk foam or a real macchiato with the extremely strong espresso taste. So they use the names for something that's kinda-sorta like an cappuccino or a macchiato, but they often don't teach their baristas to make them properly. I personally am partial to lattes so I'm fine with this arrangement, but my friend who likes cappacinos sometimes get annoyed hen they give her "cappaccinos " without much foam!

Posted by: Matthew on 2010-02-08, 16:31:45

Simple Terms; Latte, Shot(s) of coffee and Steamed Milk with 1/ 4 foam on top Cappuccino, Shot(s) and Steamed Milk+ Foam with 50/ 50 ratio Macchiato, Hot Steamed Milk and Espresso Shots added after, this preserves the Shot and makes the drink less bitter. Its noticed more because it has a signature mark on top where the shots have been put in after the milk was poured. hope this helps Matt