Flat White vs Latte vs Cappuccino: What’s The Real Difference?
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I can tell you with good authority that latte, cappuccino, and flat white are the most ordered hot espresso-based drinks in cafés around the world. Since they have the same ingredients but in different ratios, it’s quite easy to get confused between them.
These three drinks are now modern classics, and I don’t want you to feel confused about how they’re different (and despite looking similar, they are very different).
Flat White vs Latte vs Cappuccino
A latte is made with 1/6 espresso, 4/6 steamed milk, and 1/6 foamed milk. A cappuccino has equal parts of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. Flat white, on the other hand, is made with 2/3 espresso and only 1/3 micro-foam milk. A flat white is much stronger than a latte or a cappuccino.
Key Takeaways:
- A flat white is an espresso-based drink that contains little amount of micro-foam milk.
- Latte is coffee with milk (caffé = coffee, latte = milk), and the drink is quite milky and mild in coffee flavor.
- Cappuccino is made with 1 part espresso, 1 part steamed milk and 1 part foamed milk.
- The flat white has a much bolder, stronger taste of espresso than a latte or a cappuccino.
- A flat white has the least amount of milk in it so it is the strongest when compared to a latte or a cappuccino.
- Latte has the most amount of milk among the three so latte also has the most calories.
In this article, I’ll give you the rundown on these cold coffee drinks to help you choose the one that suits your taste buds. I will compare these beverages in terms of their preparation method, taste, strength, caffeine & calorie content, and more.
Flat white, Latte & Cappuccino: What’s the Difference?
On the face of it, there’s not much to separate a flat white, a latte, and a cappuccino
All three of these drinks consist of either a single or double measure of strong espresso, topped with a good helping of steamed milk and a layer of foamed milk – so where’s the distinction?
- Ingredients: 2/3 espresso, 1/3 micro-foam milk.
- Taste: Bold, robust, creamy.
- Strength: Strong.
- Caffeine: Depends on the number of shots of espresso. (1 shot of espresso = 68mg caffeine)
- Ingredients: 1/6 espresso, 4/6 steamed milk, 1/6 foamed milk.
- Taste: Mild, milky, creamy.
- Strength: Light.
- Caffeine: Depends on the number of shots of espresso. (1 shot of espresso = 68mg caffeine)
- Ingredients: 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, 1/3 foamed milk.
- Taste: Foamy, stronger coffee flavor.
- Strength: Medium-Strong.
- Caffeine: Depends on the number of shots of espresso. (1 shot of espresso = 68mg caffeine)
What is a Flat White?
A flat white is an espresso-based drink that contains little amount of micro-foam milk. The flat white has less milk, less foam (hence flat white), and therefore proportionately more coffee than a latte.
The desired texture is velvety smooth from the micro-foamed milk on top, and it has a natural sweetness.
The serving size of flat white is typically smaller than that of latte. Flat whites are generally around 160ml and they can be served with one or two shots of espressos.
The flat white has a much higher proportion of espresso to milk making it a bit stronger in coffee flavor compared to latte and cappuccino.
As its name states the amount of foam should be flat – so as little as possible (~1cm).
What is a Latte?
Latte or Caffe Latte, as the name states, is coffee with milk (caffé = coffee, latte = milk), and the drink is quite milky and mild in coffee flavor.
Latte is another espresso-based coffee drink that consists of 1-2 shots of espressos and lightly steamed milk with a very thin layer of foam on top.
Because lattes literally have twice as much milk as most other espresso drinks, they’re often described as “milky with a touch of sweetness”.
The coffee flavor is still there, but it’s heavily masked by the sweet milk, making the latte a top pick for newer coffee lovers.
Traditionally, latte had only one espresso and ~250ml glass but as during past years drink sizes have become a bit bigger it’s common to find your latte served in a 350ml cup and with two espressos.
What is a Cappuccino?
Cappuccino is made with 1 part espresso, 1 part steamed milk and 1 part foamed milk. What makes cappuccino different from the latte and flat white is the amount of foam – it should double the amount – 2-4cm layer on top of the drink.
Cappuccinos are almost always served in a 150-200ml mug and with one espresso.
So a cappuccino has much less proportion of milk in it as compared to a latte, this is why cappuccino tastes stronger than a latte but still milder than a flat white.
Milk – The Deciding Factor!
A Latte is served with quite a lot of steamed milk with an added layer of foamed milk sitting on top, whereas a cappuccino has equal amounts of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk.
The flat white, in contrast, is topped by a very thin, ‘flat’ (hence the name) layer of steamed milk over espresso, and nothing else.
Flat whites are made with smooth, velvety steamed milk but cappuccinos are topped off with steamed milk and fluffy, airy foam.
Flat whites and lattes both have almost the same type of textured milk (texture of thin paint). The milk is velvety and smooth (not fluffy or pillowy) and has microfoam (tiny bubbles).
The difference is that a latte has more milk. A standard latte is made with 8-10 ounces of lightly textured milk, although it can be made bigger by adding more milk.
Flat whites are made with 4 ounces of steamed milk which results in a stronger coffee taste than a latte.
A cappuccino is made with 5 ounces of milk, and this amount doesn’t often vary unless coffee shops offer cappuccinos in different sizes.
Flat White vs Latte vs Cappuccino: Taste
When it comes to taste, the flat white has a much bolder, stronger taste of espresso than a latte or a cappuccino.
Flat white has a rich and strong coffee taste and a creamy velvety texture because of the micro-foam milk on top.
To make a flat white, milk is poured in such a way that the foam is folded through the whole drink and there is no discernable layer separation between liquid coffee and foam. This also helps preserve the crema in the end.
Cappuccino has a smooth strong taste of coffee and a very foamy texture. Cappuccino has more milk than a flat white but less than what’s in a latte so cappuccino tastes stronger than a latte but milder than a flat white.
Latte, on the other hand, has a sweet milk taste with a very mild coffee flavor. It has a creamy texture all thanks to the ounces of steamed milk added to it.
The steamed milk also adds a hint of a caramelized sugar sweetness, and the 1cm of microfoam on the surface of the drink is smooth and creamy.
Latte has the mildest taste of coffee among all the three dinks.
Caffeine Content in Flat White, Latte & Cappuccino
The caffeine content in a flat white, latte or a cappuccino completely depends on the number of shots of espresso used to make that drink.
One shot of espresso contains 68mg of caffeine.
A flat white and a latte in most countries are made with 2 shots of espresso. So each serving of a flat white or latte will typically have 136mg of caffeine in them.
A cappuccino, on the other hand, is generally made with one shot of espresso, so it’s safe to assume that cappuccinos served in most countries will have 68mg of caffeine in them
But still, you must keep in mind that the exact amount of caffeine in either of these beverages depends on whether it’s a single-shot, double-shot, or triple-shot espresso drink, and what kind of beans you’re using to make the espresso.
Flat White vs Latte vs Cappuccino: Which is Stronger?
A flat white has the least amount of milk in it so it is the strongest when compared to a latte or a cappuccino.
A flat white is just espresso and a little bit of steamed micro-foamed milk on top and that’s it. Not being diluted by the sweetness of the milk gives it a strong bold taste of coffee.
Latte, in contrast to a flat white, has a lot more steamed milk. Latte actually has more milk than most espresso beverages which gives it a much milder, mellow coffee taste. Latte is the lightest coffee drink among all the three.
Cappuccino, as I said before, is made with equal parts of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. So the strength of a cappuccino falls in between the strong bold flat white and a much milder and sweeter latte.
Cappuccino although has a strong coffee taste, it is still milder than that of a flat white, but stronger than that of a latte.
Flat white, Latte, or Cappuccino, Which Has More Calories?
Latte has the most amount of milk among the three so without a doubt the latte also has the most calories.
A flat white and a cappuccino may have almost the same amount of calories because they have less added steamed milk as compared to a latte.
A flat white with whole milk contains between 110-180 calories, depending on your choice of size.
Swapping to skim milk will reduce the calories to 70 calories and almost no fat.
When it comes to a latte and a cappuccino, a cappuccino will likely have fewer calories because it has less milk. A typical 12-ounce cappuccino is made with whole milk and has 130 calories, while a 12-ounce latte has about 210 calories because it has more milk added to it.
Which one is healthier?
Well, this one is tricky. Milk is not unhealthy in any way but still, if you are going to consider the calories and fat content of a beverage to judge its ‘healthiness’, then you can say that latte is a bit unhealthy compared to a cappuccino or a flat white.
Since latte has the most amount of milk in it and because of that it is highest in calories, so a cappuccino or a flat white may be slightly healthier options.
How To Make Flat White At Home
Pull 2 espresso shots into a 6-ounce cup.
Grind coffee and use an espresso machine to extract 2 shots of espresso.
Steam milk.
Froth 4 ounces of milk with a very little aeration.
Pour steamed milk into espresso.
Flat whites are generally served with whole milk, but you can use plant-based milk. Try almond or oat milk for a dairy alternative.
If you’re making a flat white at home, preheat your cup. Your drink will stay warmer longer.
Here is a video guide to help you make delicious flat white at home.
How To Make Latte
Pull 1-2 shots of espresso.
Grind coffee and use an espresso machine to extract 1-2 shots of espresso, depending on how strong you want the latte.
Steam milk.
The amount of milk used depends on how large of a serving you want your latte.
Pour steamed milk into espresso.
Lattes are often described as “milky” because out of all coffee drinks, they have the most milk. If you’re new to coffee, a latte might be a good drink for you.
Check out this video recipe and follow along to make your latte at home.
How To Make Cappuccino At Home
Pull 1-2 shots of espresso.
Grind coffee beans and use an espresso machine to pull 1-2 shots of espresso into a small mug or cup.
Steam milk.
Froth 5 ounces of milk, creating some fluffy foam.
Pour milk into espresso.
Cappuccinos have frothier milk than flat whites. Both should have smooth microfoam, but the foam on a cappuccino should be thick.
The first sip should be all foam. The first sip of a flat white, on the other hand, is a mix of foam and milk. Cappuccinos and flat whites contain about the same amount of milk.
Follow this simple recipe as described in this video to make a perfect cup of cappuccino at home.
Conclusion
So there you have it. As with a lot of things in life, when it comes to coffee, the devil is in the detail. Latte, flat white, and cappuccino may look similar, but they vary a lot when it comes to the ratio of milk to coffee, their taste and texture, and serving sizes.
If you want to learn more about the differences between some other major espresso-based drinks then go ahead and read any or all of the following articles. You won’t regret it.
Amit Gupta
Hi, my name is Amit Gupta, and I am the owner and contributor at Cafeish. My obsession with coffee started when I received my first French press as a gift almost ten years ago. Since then, my love of coffee – and the number of coffee gadgets I own – has grown considerably.
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