From frappuccinos and macchiatos to cappuccinos and café lattes, the wide and varied menu at your corner coffee shop can be a bit intimidating unless you consider yourself to be a coffee connoisseur. For the frequent coffee drinker, the decision of cappuccino vs. latte is one experienced on a daily basis-and one that can prove to be a challenge if you're unsure of the difference between these two popular beverages. Although they may seem similar in style, texture and taste to the novice coffee drinker, cappuccinos and lattes are considerably different in many ways to those who know them best.
Defined as an Italian coffee drink comprised of espresso, hot milk and steamed froth, cappuccino is characterized by its velvety texture and strong espresso flavor-although the defining factor is the foam, which should be nearly one inch thick. A cappuccino is made with much less milk than a latte, containing equal portions of espresso and milk. A latte-which also consists of an espresso and milk concoction-is a much milder beverage that generally contains two parts milk to one part espresso and is topped with only a short head of foam.
The main difference in cappuccino vs. latte is in the amount and consistency of the frothy foam that tops each beverage. While a latte does feature a short head of foam that is created by the steamed milk, it is not nearly as thick or voluminous as that of a cappuccino. To create a cappuccino, a steam wand is used to froth the hot milk into a microfoam of bubbles that nearly doubles its original volume before it is poured over the espresso and served in a porcelain cup for better retention of its temperature. When making a latte, the milk is heated to a temperature of approximately 150 degrees-but never frothed-and combined with the espresso in a serving cup. The minor amount of foam created in the process is then added to the top.
Before they are served, cappuccinos and lattes are occasionally topped with garnishes ranging from shaved chocolate and powdered cinnamon to brown sugar and nutmeg, which are designed to increase their unique flavors and enhance their visual appeal.
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