Espresso Drinks

Cappuccino and latte are the two most ordered espresso drinks in the world — yet most people can’t explain the difference between them. They both use espresso and steamed milk. They both come in similar cup sizes. So what’s actually different? The short answer: ratio. A cappuccino is roughly equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam. A latte is mostly milk with a thin layer of foam — which makes it creamier, milder, and significantly larger. ...

Macchiato and latte are both espresso-and-milk drinks, but they couldn’t be more different in ratio, texture, and flavor. The macchiato is small, bold, and barely touched by milk. The latte is large, creamy, and milk-forward. Here’s everything you need to know — including how to make both at home. Quick Comparison Espresso Macchiato Latte Macchiato Latte Size 1–1.5 oz 6–8 oz 8–12 oz Espresso 1 shot 1 shot 1–2 shots Milk 1–2 tsp foam 4–6 oz steamed + foam 6–10 oz steamed milk Milk ratio ~10–15% ~75–80% ~75–80% Texture Thick espresso + dot of foam Layered: milk → espresso Silky, fully integrated Flavor Intense, bold espresso Creamy, espresso base Mild, milk-forward Origin Italy Italy Italy (caffe latte) What Is a Macchiato? Macchiato means “stained” or “marked” in Italian. The espresso macchiato is a straight shot of espresso “stained” with just a small amount of steamed milk or foam — enough to soften the edge of the espresso without diluting it. (For the full definitional history of the macchiato — etymology, the three drinks that share the name, and how Starbucks reinvented the word in 1996 — see our what is a macchiato guide.) ...

You’ve probably seen “breve” as an option at the milk customization section of your coffee order — or noticed it on specialty café menus next to lattes and cappuccinos. It sounds unfamiliar, but the concept is simple: swap the milk for half-and-half and you get a dramatically richer, creamier espresso drink. This guide covers everything you need to know about breve coffee and how to make one at home. What Is Breve Coffee? Breve coffee (pronounced BREV-ay) is an espresso-based drink made with steamed half-and-half instead of steamed whole milk. The word “breve” is Italian for “short” or “brief,” though in American coffee culture it simply means the half-and-half version of a drink. ...

If you’ve visited a specialty coffee bar in San Francisco, Portland, or New York in the past decade, you’ve likely seen a small glass of strong, layered coffee with a thin cap of steamed milk. That’s a gibraltar — one of the most beloved insider drinks in third-wave coffee culture, and one that’s been quietly spreading from barista culture to café menus worldwide. Here’s everything you need to know about what it is, where it came from, and how to make one at home. ...

A cortado is one of the most satisfying drinks in espresso — small, balanced, and honest about what it is: espresso and milk in equal measure. It’s not a latte. It’s not a cappuccino. It’s its own thing, with a philosophy behind it. Here’s everything you need to know about cortado coffee, how it compares to other drinks, and how to make it at home. (For the Cuban version of this drink — the cortadito, which is a smaller, sweeter variation that uses sugar-whipped Cuban-style espresso with espumita foam instead of plain Spanish espresso — see our What Is a Cuban Coffee? guide. The cortadito is part of the four-drink Cuban coffee family along with cafecito, colada, and Cuban café con leche, and the guide covers exactly how the Cuban cortadito differs from the Spanish cortado in size, sweetness, and ingredient sourcing.) ...

If you’ve seen “lungo” on a coffee menu or as a button on your espresso machine and weren’t sure what it means, you’re not alone. Lungo is one of the classic espresso drinks — right alongside ristretto and normale — but it’s the least commonly ordered of the three. This guide covers everything: what lungo is, how it differs from espresso, how to make it, and when you’d actually want to drink one. ...

A cinnamon latte is simple to make at home and far more customizable than any coffee shop version. Unlike pumpkin spice or lavender lattes that depend on specialty syrups, cinnamon is one of the most versatile spices you have in your kitchen — and turning it into a latte syrup takes about 15 minutes. This guide covers the classic cinnamon latte recipe, how to make cinnamon syrup from scratch, and four major variations: honey cinnamon, cinnamon dolce (the Starbucks-style version), maple cinnamon, and iced. ...

An iced americano is one of the simplest, most satisfying iced coffee drinks you can make at home. Two espresso shots, a splash of cold water, and a glass full of ice — that’s it. The result is a clean, bold coffee experience that holds up to the cold far better than drip coffee poured over ice. This guide covers the classic recipe, the best water-to-espresso ratio, flavored variations, and how to make a great iced americano even without a traditional espresso machine. ...

The espresso martini is one of the most requested cocktails of the last decade — and it’s entirely makeable at home if you have an espresso machine. What separates a great espresso martini from a mediocre one comes down to three things: fresh espresso, the right ratio, and technique. Get those right and you’ll have a drink with a thick, caramel-colored foam head and a flavor that’s genuinely better than most bars serve. ...

A caramel macchiato is one of the most ordered drinks at any café — sweet, milky, with espresso on top and a caramel drizzle that makes it look as good as it tastes. The good news: it’s also one of the easiest specialty drinks to make at home, and the homemade version costs a fraction of what you pay at Starbucks. This guide covers the classic hot caramel macchiato, the iced version, and a few variations worth trying. ...