Got milk? Chances are that if you are drinking a specialty flavored coffee, then you do.
Each with some form of milk in them, cappuccino, café latte, and café au lait, or coffee with milk are among the most popular coffee drinks in the world.
There is nothing quite like sipping one of these milky, creamy, and delicious specialty coffees.
You might be wondering: well, they all have milk in them so what is the difference between cappuccino, latte, and coffee with milk? Read on to learn more.
By Andrew.
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Cappuccino
History
The cappuccino coffee drink was first introduced to the world in Italy. It was named after the Capuchin friars of the region.
This is because the color of the coffee mixed with frothed milk matched the color of the robes that the friars wore.
The Italian word for this robe that included a hood that hung down their back is “cappuccio.”
This became the word to describe the society of friars: Capuchin. And later the name stuck for what would become one of the most popular coffee drinks in the world.
Cappuccino is the only Italian term used to identify a coffee drink that does not have the description of the coffee drink in the name, such as espresso (which means pressed out) and macchiato (which means coffee with a hint of milk).
What’s in it?
A cappuccino is very simple drink to make, but there is nothing simple about the taste. At the bottom of the coffee cup, there are one or two shots of espresso. The next layer includes steamed milk added on top of the espresso.
The top layer of the drink is milk foam to add a taste and texture that is indescribable. The ratio of liquid to foam is 1:1.
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Latte
History
It might have been in Italy in 1867 where the term became popularized.
A man named William Dean Howell used the term in his essay Italian Journeys, where he recounts drinking a coffee drink with milk on his steamship journey to Venice.
What he enjoyed was probably not very similar to the café lattes we know of that are sold in coffee shops today. This is because espresso machines were not invented yet.
It was probably more like a café au lait which I will describe later.
The drink we know today as café latte was most likely invented in the United States in the 1950s by a barista trained in the Italian ways of making coffee. His name was Lino Meiorin.
His invention was a response to customers who thought cappuccinos were too strong.
What’s in it?
A café latte is made with one-third, or one or two shots, of espresso and two-thirds steamed milk.
It also has a layer of frothed milk on the top.
Over the years, baristas have altered the drink to make it even more flavorful, including adding chocolate syrup to make a mocha latte, and even an iced latte, which is just iced coffee with milk.
Café au lait (or coffee with milk)
History
Café au lait has origins dating back centuries. Lait means milk in French, and you guessed it, the drink was invented in France.
The drink is mentioned in letters of a French aristocrat named Marie de Rabutin-Chantal in the 17th century.
What’s in it?
Café au lait is made by pouring one part brewed coffee (not espresso) into a large mug or bowl, then adding one part steamed milk. The drink has no frothed milk on the top. Either a drip or French press is used to make the coffee, and regular milk won’t do. It must be steamed milk for it to be a traditional café au lait.
Conclusion
And there you have it: the different between cappuccino, latte, and café au lait, or coffee with milk.
The next time you try them, notice the subtle differences in flavor and texture, including viscosity and body.
Will you enjoy the rich, well-balanced, slightly sweet cappuccino, the milky and luxurious latte with more subtle flavors, or the creamy café au lait?
I encourage you to try them all and find your favorite.
Photo by bobotaks.
