What Is The Difference Between A Latte Cappuccino And Macchiato?

“What is the difference between a latte cappuccino and macchiato?” is a question that spins around the mind of many coffee lovers as they start to discover the coffee world and the multitude of different coffee beverages.

With respect to those that are in a rush, here is the basic and quick answer:

The difference between these three espresso based coffee beverages is the amount of milk and foam and the different ratios that each drink is made with.

If you want the longer and more detailed answer, keep reading!

What Is The Difference Between A Latte Cappuccino And Macchiato?

These three coffee beverages are all made with the same three basic ingredients which are:

• Espresso.
• Steamed milk.
• Milk foam.

It is how these three individual components are used that makes the coffee drinks different.

Let’s talk about each one individually and get a greater grasp of how different each one is.

Read: What is the difference between a latte and cappuccino?

How A Latte Is Made

A latte is a very popular espresso-based coffee beverage that, like a macchiato has its origins in Italy. It is made with a well-brewed shot of espresso, steamed milk and a fine 2-centimeter layer of milk foam.

It is the drink that is famed for its intricate, beautiful and often exquisite latte art.

A latte has a creamy, rich silky texture with a light lingering coffee flavor that breaks through the creaminess of the milk.

Variations Of A Latte

A latte is available in a multitude of flavors where the coffee drink is flavored with a pump or two of flavored simple syrup. A variety of alternative plant, nut based and even grain based milks can be used to make a latte, including:

• Almond milk.
• Cashew milk.
• Coconut milk.
• Oat milk.
• Rice milk.
• Soy milk.

During summer and in hot climates, an iced latte is a very enjoyable variation which is made with ice and cold milk instead of steamed milk.

Very notable variations include a chai latte and matcha latte and that fall classic, the pumpkin spice latte.

How A Cappuccino Is Made

A cappuccino, despite what many coffee fans, coffee lovers and coffee enthusiasts believe, has its origins in Austria, and not Italy.

It is a coffee beverage that is made with strong, bold espresso and steamed milk using a pillow of milk foam with a sprinkle of chocolate powder on top.

A gourmet coffee shop will add chocolate shavings instead of chocolate powder.

The three components are used in a 1:1:1 ratio, in equal amounts.

A cappuccino has a stronger, more prominent espresso flavor with a light, airy texture.

Read: Latte Vs Cappuccino

Variations Of A Cappuccino

A cappuccino can be flavored in all the same flavors that a latte can with the use of flavored simple syrups but is less commonly seen and ordered as a flavored drink.

A cappuccino to be made using a variety of alternative milks.

The common and popular variations of a cappuccino are as follows:

• Dry Cappuccino: A cappuccino made with espresso and less steamed milk and more frothed milk foam than a traditional cappuccino.
• Bone Dry Cappuccino: A cappuccino made with espresso, no steamed milk and more frothed milk foam.
• Wet Cappuccino: A cappuccino made with espresso, more steamed milk and less milk foam than a traditional classic cappuccino.
• Super Wet Cappuccino: A cappuccino made with espresso shot, more steamed milk and no milk foam.

The iced variation, an iced cappuccino is made with cold milk instead of hot milk with whipped cream replacing the milk foam and is also available in the wet and dry variations.

How A Macchiato Is Made

A macchiato is a classic and very popular variation of an espresso and often called an espresso macchiato.

It is made with an espresso shot and a splash of steamed milk. Typically, only a teaspoon of steamed milk is used.

A dollop of milk foam may be added. This depends on the coffee shop and barista.

The splash of milk takes away the rough edges of a strong, intense and bold espresso shot.

Variations Of A Macchiato

There are variations of a macchiato which are more like a latte and a flavored latte than an espresso macchiato.

• Latte Macchiato: An espresso-based coffee drink made with hot milk, steamed milk and a large quantity of milk foam with a shot of espresso poured through the milk foam and the steamed milk. It’s an upside down drink. The espresso to milk ratio is 1:3.
• Caramel Macchiato: A flavored version of a latte macchiato with the espresso poured over a pump of vanilla simple syrup and caramel sauce poured over and decorating the top of the drink in a cross-hatch design.

The caramel latte is a Starbucks original and was created to mark their 25th anniversary in 1996.

Read: What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?

Starbucks Macchiato

A Starbucks macchiato, their espresso macchiato is made differently from a traditional macchiato. You may notice the brown spot in the center; this is due to it being, using the coffee naming convention, an upside down espresso macchiato.

The splash of steamed milk and foam is added to the bottom of the coffee drink with the espresso shot poured over the top.

Which Is Stronger: Latte or Cappuccino Or Macchiato

In terms of flavor and traditional coffee taste, by far the strongest of these three espresso-based based beverages is a macchiato.

The second strongest is a cappuccino due to having a more espresso-forward flavor than a latte due to reduced quantity of milk when compared to a latte.

The less milk that is used, the stronger and more dominant the presence of the espresso is.

Likewise,

the more milk that is used, the milkier and creamier the coffee is and the less noticeable the espresso flavor is.

The caffeine content of each drink is the same.

Latte Caffeine Content

A latte can come in different sizes and thus have varying amounts of caffeine depending on the size of the drink that you ordered.

Here is how much caffeine you can expect for all the sizes that drink is available in:

• Short 8 Oz (240 ml): 75 mg.
• Tall 12 Oz (360 ml): 75 mg.
• Grande 16 Oz (480 ml): 150 mg.
• Venti 20 Oz (600 ml): 150 mg.

Due to a Short and Tall as well as a Grande and a Venti having the same amount of caffeine we can easily deduce that the same amount of coffee, the same number of espresso shots are used. This means the larger drinks respectively are made with more milk and milk foam.

This is why when I visit Starbucks I always order a Short or a Grande.

Cappuccino Caffeine Content

The total caffeine content of a cappuccino for all the drink sizes for a cappuccino is as follows:

• Short 8 Oz (240 ml): 75 mg.
• Tall 12 Oz (360 ml): 75 mg.
• Grande 16 Oz (480 ml): 150 mg.
• Venti 20 Oz (600 ml): 150 mg.

Again we see that the larger coffee drinks, the Tall and Venti, don’t have more coffee but are made up of more milk and froth.

Macchiato Caffeine Content

An espresso macchiato is only available in two drink sizes, solo or doppio, a single or double shot.

• Single espresso macchiato: 75 mg.
• Double espresso macchiato: 150 mg.

Difference Between Cappuccino And Latte And Macchiato – The Calorie Count

It is good to keep a watchful eye on your calorie intake and while coffee on its own, straight black coffee that has no milk or sugar has almost no calories, it is what you add to your drinks that adds to the calories.

Naturally,

there is a direct link between the amount of milk used to make these drinks and the calories that the drink has.

Cappuccino Calories

The amount of calories that are in a cappuccino for all the drink sizes that this coffee drink comes in:

• Short 8 Oz (240 ml): 70 calories.
• Tall 12 Oz (360 ml): 100 calories.
• Grande 16 Oz (480 ml): 140 calories.
• Venti 20 Oz (600 ml): 200 calories.

A little tell-tale sign that the difference between a Short 8 Oz (240 ml) and a Tall 12 Oz (360 ml) as well as a Grande 16 Oz (480 ml) and a Venti 20 Oz (600 ml) is a greater amount of milk and foam being used is the extra calories.

Latte Calories

The amount of calories that you can expect in a latte, depending on the size that you have ordered, is as follows:

• Short 8 Oz (240 ml): 100 calories.
• Tall 12 Oz (360 ml): 150 calories.
• Grande 16 Oz (480 ml): 190 calories.
• Venti 20 Oz (600 ml): 250 calories.

Adding flavored syrups adds approximately 10 calories per pump to your latte.

Macchiato Calories

An espresso macchiato is only available in two drink sizes and has the lowest calorie count by far as very little milk is used.

• Solo Espresso Macchiato: 10 calories.
• Doppio Espresso Macchiato: 15 calories.

Frequently Asked Questions About What Is The Difference Between A Latte Cappuccino And Macchiato

What The Heck Is A Macchiato?

There are two distinct macchiato beverages; a traditional macchiato which is also known as an Italian macchiato, a classic macchiato and an espresso macchiato. The other very different macchiato is a latte macchiato.

The two beverages are constructed in the following way:

• Traditional Macchiato: A shot of espresso with a teaspoon of steamed milk. It may have a dollop of milk foam.
• Latte Macchiato: An espresso-based coffee beverage made with espresso and steamed milk in a ratio of 1:3.

The coffee giant Starbucks made their espresso macchiato in a unique way: they pour the teaspoon of steamed milk first and then pull the espresso shot on top of the steamed milk.

Strictly speaking, what Starbucks sells as an espresso macchiato is actually an upside down espresso macchiato.

Which is Sweeter Cappuccino Or Latte Or Macchiato?

The sweetest of the three beverages, cappuccino, latte and a macchiato is a latte due to the higher ratio of espresso to milk used.

• Macchiato: All espresso with a teaspoon splash of milk.
• Cappuccino: Espresso to milk ratio of 1:1
• Latte: Espresso to milk ratio of 1:2.

The higher the ratio of milk to espresso, the more milk that is used in a coffee drink the sweeter it is due to the natural sweetness from the milk.

It also means a reduced intensity of the coffee flavor.

Is A Latte Stronger Than A Macchiato?

No, a macchiato has a much stronger and more dominant coffee flavor than a macchiato when compared to a latte.

The fact that a macchiato has only a tiny amount of milk used to take the edges off of the strong coffee beverage makes it the strongest coffee beverage with milk.

In terms of caffeine, both a latte and a macchiato have the same caffeine content and thus neither is stronger than the other.

What Is Difference Between Latte And Latte Macchiato?

A latte and a latte macchiato are two different coffee drinks. The difference between them is subtle and often overlooked.

Here is how both coffee drinks are constructed:

• Latte: An espresso-based coffee beverage made with a shot of espresso and steamed milk using an espresso to milk ratio of 1:2 and has a small fine layer of milk foam.
• Latte Macchiato: An espresso based coffee drink made with an espresso shot and steamed milk using an espresso to milk ratio of 1:3 with an equal amount of milk foam as there is espresso. It’s an upside down beverage where the steamed milk is poured first, then the milk foam with the espresso poured through the foamed milk.

The only similarity between these two drinks is that they are both made with espresso and steamed milk.

Is A Cappuccino Stronger Than A Latte?

Yes, a cappuccino is stronger and more intense than a latte as the coffee flavor dominates the drink due to the coffee to milk ratio of 1:1 compared to the 1:2 coffee to steamed milk ratio of a latte. 

What Is The Point Of A Macchiato?

The point of a macchiato is to enjoy a strong, bold and intense espresso with the rough edges subdued by the dash of milk.

What Tastes Better Cappuccino Or Macchiato?

Which of these two drinks has the better taste for you will depend on your own preference and personal coffee taste.

If you enjoy a strong bold and intense coffee with a very dominating espresso flavor, you will enjoy a macchiato more.

If you love a strong coffee with milk and a light airy mouthfeel due to the milk foam, a cappuccino will be a better choice for you.

Does A Macchiato Have Less Milk Than A Latte?

Yes, a macchiato has considerably less milk than a latte. Typically, an espresso macchiato has 5 ml of steamed milk while a latte has 60 ml (2 oz) per 30 ml (1 Oz) shot of espresso.

Final Thoughts – What Is The Difference Between A Latte Cappuccino And Macchiato?

What is the difference between a latte cappuccino and macchiato is no longer a mystery to you. You can order the drink that is best suited for you.

Or better still, try all three over the next few days from your local coffee shop and get a full on real time understanding of the differences between each of these three coffee drinks.

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location