What is the difference between the most popular types of coffee: latte, cappuccino, espresso and Americano? Which one is tastier, stronger and contains less caffeine?
The taste and aroma of hot coffee is the best way to start your day. This is exactly what coffee fans think, of which this drink is becoming more and more popular. But not all of them know the difference between espresso and Americano or latte and cappuccino.
In order to choose a drink without hesitation every time, you need to know what and how different types of coffee are prepared.
What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino, espresso and Americano: difference, difference
What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino, espresso and Americano: difference, difference
Latte is a coffee drink that is traditionally served for breakfast. It contains espresso (3 parts) and milk (1 part). The peculiarity of this coffee cocktail can be considered the method of preparation. The drink is poured as follows: pour one part of coffee and three parts of foamed milk heated to a temperature of 70˚C into a glass or large cup. But they do this as carefully as possible to prevent mixing of liquids. Milk is the bottom layer, followed by coffee, and milk froth on top.
Various syrups can diversify the taste of a latte, the addition of which is also permissible when preparing this drink. Art decorations on the foam are considered the height of skill in serving a drink.
The standard serving of latte in Europe is 200 ml, in America – 500 ml.
Latte
Latte macchiato is a type of latte that means “milk with a stain.” At first, latte macchiato was exclusively a children's drink, but over time it fell in love with adults and gained popularity in Europe. The drink is prepared by adding espresso to milk, the airy foam is decorated with grated chocolate, and served in a tall transparent Irish glass.
Latte – three-layer cocktail
“Latte” is the word for milk in Italian. This cocktail looks airy and attractive thanks to its cap and layered structure.
A latte consists of three layers: a classic base, milk and whipped foam. Prepare it carefully so that the dark layer does not mix with the light one. A dense foam cap should remain on the surface. You can use syrups and sweet liqueurs to diversify the taste experience.
In coffee shops, the cocktail is served in tall glasses or wide bowls. The last option baristas use when drawing on foam.
Latte differs from espresso:
- presence in milk - 75% of the total volume;
- delicate milky taste - coffee notes are barely noticeable;
- calorie content: from 47 to 177 kcal depending on the serving size, with sugar the figure varies from 67 to 197 kcal;
- large volume: from 120 to 450 milliliters.
Video: How to make the right latte
Cappuccino is prepared from espresso and foamed milk, taken in a 1:2 ratio without adding sugar or other sweeteners. The difference between latte and cappuccino is also that latte requires hot milk, while cappuccino requires chilled milk (4˚C).
Both drinks must be prepared so that there are no air bubbles in the foam. But if the foam of a latte is light and airy, then the foam of a cappuccino is dense.
Latte and cappuccino differ in taste and aroma. Latte is delicate and light, while the taste and aroma of cappuccino is quite pronounced.
The “layering” of drinks is ensured by different densities of liquids: the densest milk is always at the bottom, and the lightest and least dense foam is always at the top. It is important that the liquids are not mixed during the cooking process.
Latte and cappuccino foam will only turn out airy if it is prepared using a special machine.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is a popular coffee dessert
Cappuccino consists of two components: a classic base and milk foam in a ratio of 1:5. Options 1:3 and 1:4 are available. The foam gave the name to the drink - its color resembled the shade of the cassock of the Capuchin monks.
To get dessert, the barista prepares one serving of espresso coffee. At the same time, beat cold, but more often hot milk into foam. A foamy cap of dense consistency is carefully poured into the coffee base.
Interesting! Recipes for making Irish coffee at home, composition and proper serving
Find out how to make the drink yourself in the article “Cappuccino coffee: what it is and how to make it at home.”
Espresso and cappuccino have different tastes. In cappuccino it is less pronounced due to the milk foam. The coffee aroma is barely perceptible, as the foam holds it back.
This is a high-calorie drink. A standard serving of 150 milliliters without sugar contains 45 kcal, with sugar – 85 kcal. If cream was used instead of milk, the calorie content will jump to 155-195 kcal.
Another difference between cappuccino: its traditional serving is 3-5 times larger than the volume of espresso.
Video: How to make espresso correctly
To prepare 1 cup of strong aromatic espresso you need 7 g of coffee and 30 ml of water. To prepare espresso doppio, the amount of coffee is doubled, but the amount of water remains the same. Esperso lungo has a mild taste and weak aroma, since only 4 g of coffee per 30 ml of water is used to prepare it.
Espresso
The hallmark of good coffee is the foam on the surface. If there are holes in the foam, it means that the cooking technology has been violated.
Americano is essentially espresso diluted 1:1 with water. The taste of Americano is not as bright and pronounced as espresso, but its lack of bitterness and minimum caffeine have made this drink popular among adherents of a healthy lifestyle.
There are two ways to prepare Americano:
- In Italian. Coffee is brewed in a coffee maker for no more than 25 seconds. After this, add hot, but not boiling water (1:1) to the drink. If you brew coffee longer, the Americano will become overly bitter and strong. The foam is not preserved.
- In Swedish. Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. In 20-25 seconds, brew the espresso and add it to a cup of pre-prepared water. Americano prepared this way has a milder taste. The coffee foam on the finished drink is preserved.
Americano
Four Main Differences
1. Espresso is a strong concentrated coffee with the least amount of water, Americano is the least saturated, it contains half as much water.
2. A cup of espresso always contains foam, but not always a cup of Americano.
3. The basis of an Americano is a shot of espresso diluted with hot water.
4. Espresso has a pronounced taste and smell, while Americano has an even weaker taste.
Cappuccino, Americano, espresso, ristretto... How are the drinks different?
Not every coffee lover knows what the differences are between espresso and Americano, espresso and cappuccino, espresso and latte, espresso and ristretto. What can we say about people who don’t eat coffee at all? Let’s still try to dot the i’s and dot the i’s and forever clarify the differences between all these drinks.
First, you should know that all the names listed above (espresso, Americano, latte, cappuccino) are not different types of coffee. Moreover, preferably they are all prepared from the same variety - Arabica. All the differences between them lie in the production methods, in the additives to coffee and in the amount of these additives - water, milk and milk foam.
In what glasses are latte, cappuccino, espresso and Americano served?
Coffee is served in cups or Irish glasses:
- latte – 60 ml, latte macchiato – 250-300 ml or in an Irish glass 240-360 ml
- cappuccino – in a cup that flares upward 180 ml
- espresso – in a cup with thick walls 60 ml
- double espresso – 100 ml
- espresso-lungo – 90-100ml
- espresso corretto – 250-500ml
- espresso-romano – 60 ml
- espresso macchito – 60 ml
- Americano - 150 ml.
In what glasses are latte, cappuccino, espresso and Americano served?
Differences between Americano and cappuccino
Americano is a traditional espresso with a double shot of water. Cappuccino is a more versatile drink. It is made using milk and whipped cream. Because of this, an indescribably tender milky flavor color arises.
Americano differs from cappuccino in the following aspects:
- caffeine content. By adding milk to cappuccino, the concentration of the alkaloid decreases. The Americano is a little stronger. It retains the appropriate coffee flavor, has a pronounced invigorating effect,
- presence of additional components. In the first case, only coffee and water are consumed, and in the 2nd case, milk with milk foam,
- volume of cups. A serving of Americano is 150 ml, and a cappuccino is 250-300.
This is the difference between the two drinks. In fact, it is impossible to confuse them.
What is tastier than a latte or cappuccino, espresso and Americano?
To choose the most delicious drink, you need to remember your own taste preferences:
- Anyone who loves a sweet coffee cocktail with milk and airy foam will love the delicate latte. Sweet syrups are often used to prepare it.
- Dense milk foam and the absence of sugar in cappuccino give the drink sophistication and a special rich aroma, which can also be appreciated by coffee lovers.
- A lover of strong black aromatic coffee needs to choose between espresso and espresso-doppio.
- For those who like weak coffee without milk, you can try Americano or espresso lungo.
How to make cappuccino
To prepare cappuccino coffee, you need to follow these steps:
- Brew a standard shot of espresso.
- The milk is cooled to four degrees and poured into the cappuccino maker.
- The milk product is whipped until a thick foam is obtained. When the heating reaches seventy degrees, the process is completed.
- The cup is warmed up and the prepared coffee is poured into it.
- Pour in milk and spread foam on top. Using a spoon, spread it evenly over the surface.
In the absence of a coffee machine and cappuccino maker, the old method of preparing this drink is used. The following actions are performed:
- Strong coffee is prepared in a French press or Turk. Add a couple of teaspoons of ground grains to 100 milliliters of water.
- 50 milliliters of milk are mixed with the same amount of cream.
- The milk mixture is heated for thirty seconds in the microwave, then whipped with a blender for three minutes. When the foam begins to become covered with small bubbles and becomes thick, the beating process is stopped.
- The brewed coffee is filtered and poured into a heated cup.
- Then pour in milk and cover the drink with foam.
Sugar is served separately. It is believed that when it is added, the taste changes for the worse.
Cappuccino has a number of differences from Americano. There is practically no similarity between these drinks. However, both of them have a special taste and aroma. The choice of one or another of them directly depends on personal taste preferences. It is simply impossible to say unequivocally which drink is better.
What is stronger than a latte or cappuccino, espresso and Americano?
The strongest coffee is espresso . The only thing stronger than espresso is espresso-dopio , which is prepared using twice as much coffee.
Americano is a diluted espresso, so it certainly cannot be called strong.
It is believed that Americano was invented by the Italians. During the war, they prepared coffee for the American military, which they were accustomed to at home. At a time when Americans rejoiced at the taste and aroma of the drink, Italians laughed at them, because they believed that in America people could not know what real coffee tastes like.
Lattes and cappuccinos are made by adding milk to espresso using a special technology. These two drinks taste very different. A cappuccino is stronger than a latte, so it has a stronger bitterness and aroma.
What is stronger than a latte or cappuccino, espresso and Americano?
Americano – for those who don’t like small portions
An Americano is one or two shots of espresso, which baristas dilute with hot water in a standard ratio of 1:3. The maximum amount of liquid is 470 milliliters.
Interesting! What is cappuccino, its composition and recipes for making coffee at home
If Americano is prepared without violations of technology, it will have a less pronounced aroma and aftertaste than espresso.
Espresso coffee seems stronger than American coffee due to the higher concentration of aromatic and flavoring substances. But the proportion of caffeine is the same - 40-60 mg. Therefore, the invigorating effect is the same.
Americano may not have a head of foam. They drink it both hot and cold - the taste does not change.
There are also differences in serving. To serve Americano, baristas use cups of 200-250 milliliters, sometimes up to 450. For a classic drink, demitasse is suitable - cups with a capacity of 30 to 90 milliliters.
The calorie content of an Americano without sugar is 2 kcal. For espresso, the figure reaches 9 kcal.
The topic is discussed in more detail in the article “How Americano coffee differs from espresso.”
Which has more milk: cappuccino or latte?
Cappuccino contains equal parts milk, foam and espresso. A latte contains 2 parts milk, 1 part foam and 1 part espresso. This means there is more milk in the latte . Accordingly, this drink contains less caffeine, since it contains less coffee and more milk than cappuccino.
One of the versions of the origin of cappuccino tells the story of the Capuchin monks, who fell in love with the “devil’s drink” (that’s what religious people called coffee) so much that they could not refuse it. To “cleanse” coffee of negativity, the monks decided to add milk and hand-whipped foam to the drink. In honor of the creators, the drink was named “cappuccino” (similar to “capuchin”).
Where is there more foam in cappuccino or latte, espresso and Americano?
There is a lot of foam in cappuccino . It is thick and dense so much that it can support the weight of 5-6 g.
The foam in the latte is light and airy and there is also quite a lot of it in the cup. It is fluffy and tender, completely different from the foam in a cappuccino. Latte foam is so light that you can make figures, three-dimensional patterns and inscriptions from it. This decor will last for at least 10 minutes, if, of course, the latte is prepared correctly.
Americano, prepared according to the classic recipe, does not have foam. To maintain a dense foam on the surface of the Americano, you should prepare it in Swedish: add espresso to the water.
Foam in latte
Those who still haven’t been able to make a choice should try all types of coffee. Once you recognize the taste and aroma of “your” coffee drink, you will fall in love with it forever.
Cappuccino
Another espresso-based coffee drink is cappuccino . The recipe is simple - 1/4 espresso + 2/4 milk foam + 1/4 milk. Cappuccino of Italian origin. It is customary to serve the drink in a cup with a volume of 250-300 ml .
Cappuccino
According to legend, cappuccino was named after the Capuchin monks. They say that the monks loved coffee very much, but the beans were expensive. And to save money, they began to dilute coffee with milk. This is how a new recipe for making coffee was created, which was named after the order.
To keep the coffee warm longer, it is served in a porcelain cup. The cup is heated before cooking.
