The only difference is a sprinkle of sugary chocolate dust?
So, its Friday, yippee! You decide to head in to town to pick up the random items not possible to get in the weekly shopping. While in town you decide to treat yourself to a large shot of hot caffeine, but which one?
- Cappuccino is in theory ⅓ of espresso coffee, ⅓ milk and ⅓ froth, usually with some chocolate sprinkles or powder on top.
- Lattes arrived later to our shores, at least I think they did and are milkier!
Back when I was working for peanuts, in hotels and restaurants, it was Cappuccino’s all the way. Nobody outside Italy, knew what a Latte was! This normally involved splashing, steaming, screaming, hot milk about in a big, old milk caked jug and hoping that you would muster something resembling foam. You then would spoon onto a cup of steaming black stuff made several hours earlier.
What is a Latte?
So, a Latte, often served in a tall glass, precariously on a saucer that doesn’t fit the base with a long spoon. What’s that all about? Also with a single or double espresso shot. Depending on what you have ordered or the premises you have visited. The milk should be silky smooth with a little foam on the top, which if lucky, your Barista (get me) may have created something artistic on top for you to gaze at.
The Cappuccino
So, to conclude! Cappuccino should taste a little stronger as there is less milk and more air, and probably less calories if you forgo the chocolate on top. Latte is a milky coffee, it will be a longer drink as there is more milk and less aeration. You will possibly get a mixture of the two as the cafe are making lattes and cappuccinos at the same time. The only discernible difference will be that whoosh of hot chocolate on the top and the type of cup or glass that they have served it in.
After queueing for more than 5 mins, drooling over the lemon drizzle cake and chocolate tiffin tray bake. At the same time you are justifying why you should or shouldn’t treat yourself. Then reluctantly realising there is a very real chance that you are going to get a parking ticket. So you opt for a takeaway. A takeaway then will leave you completely clueless what you have been served until it’s finished. This is the time when you take the lid off to get the best bits of the ‘Capsulate’ chocolate foam entrails. Don’t forget this requires you sticking in your middle finger around the edges of the cup to rescue the good bits. In the process you get it all over your hand and down your chin in the process, or is that only me?
Roll on wine o’clock when there are no such complicated decisions to be made.