Latte, Cappuccino, or Mocha: Confused About Coffee Varieties? One Infographic to Clarify All

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Anyone who has purchased coffee from coffee shops or convenience stores has likely seen these varieties of coffee: Latte, Cappuccino, Mocha, Americano, and Espresso. However, many have never truly understood the ratio of coffee to milk in each, or simply don't know the differences between them.

FrontStreet Coffee believes that many readers of this article share the same curiosity, so let's continue exploring together.

Who Invented Black Coffee + Milk?

After their defeat, the Ottoman Turkish Empire left behind a batch of coffee beans in Vienna, allowing coffee to gradually gain popularity in this European city. However, the taste of black coffee was too bitter for many people to adapt to. To make coffee more appealing to the general public, Franz George Kolschitsky experimented with adding milk to coffee in 1683, creating a smoother texture with less irritation to the stomach. Unexpectedly, this combination became an instant hit, and the habit of adding milk to coffee has continued to this day.

Latte: Milk is the Star

1/6 Espresso

4/6 Steamed Milk

1/6 Milk Foam

Since milk accounts for 2/3 of the total volume, the texture is exceptionally smooth. Some coffee shops garnish with cinnamon, vanilla, or hazelnut to create richer flavor layers.

In Italian, "latte" means milk, so coffee latte literally means coffee + milk.

Cappuccino: Coffee is the Star

1/3 Espresso

1/3 Steamed Milk

1/3 Milk Foam

Although the ratio of milk + foam appears similar to Latte, foam has lower density than steamed milk, meaning it occupies more volume. Therefore, Cappuccino actually contains less milk than a Latte.

Cinnamon powder, cocoa powder, lemon-orange peel, etc., can also be added to enhance the flavor of cappuccino.

Mocha: Chocolate-Flavored Coffee

2/5 Espresso

2/5 Hot Chocolate

1/5 Steamed Milk

Originally, "Mocha" referred to a type of coffee bean with chocolate aroma, primarily produced in the coastal town of Mocha in Yemen, hence the name "Mocha beans."

Mocha coffee contains more espresso than cappuccino, resulting in a richer and more intense flavor. Some people add alcoholic beverages like Baileys Irish Cream, Sambuca, or coffee liqueur to mocha coffee, creating a distinctive flavor profile.

Americano

How to brew Americano using pour-over method?

Recommended coffee-to-water ratio is 1:10 to 1:16.

1:10 means 10 grams of coffee grounds with 100ml of hot water.

Espresso

Three common Espresso concentration ratios:

1. 9g coffee grounds to brew 30ml coffee

2. 18g coffee grounds to brew 60ml coffee

3. 14-16g to brew 30ml coffee

Espresso is extracted by forcing 93°C hot water through coffee grounds at 8-9 atmospheres of pressure, quickly extracting the essence of coffee while reducing the contact time between hot water and coffee grounds. This process minimizes caffeine remaining in the coffee liquid while preserving the crema (coffee oils foam).

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