A cappuccino is a popular and tasty coffee. It has a traditional rule of 1 layer of Espresso (1 or 2 shots, in America it’s usually 2), 1 layer of steamed milk, and 1 layer of frothed milk.
The cappuccino is one of the most popular coffees worldwide and was perfected during both World Wars. The cappuccino is about two things: Having plenty of coffee flavor and having a thick layer of foam. Foam ideally has bubbles so small that you can’t see them.
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What is a cappuccino?
The cappuccino is a popular and tasty coffee. It consists of as we call it the “rule of thirds”, 1 layer of Espresso, 1 layer of steamed milk, and 1 layer of frother milk. This is what the cappuccino is known for. A well-made cappuccino has fantastic flavor and texture. It has a bold and sweet taste from the lactose sugar in milk. It may also have other additives like flavored syrups and sugar but this is not traditional.
The history of the cappuccino
There is confusion about where the name cappuccino comes from. It’s connected to the capuchin monks and order of Franciscan monks founded in 1525 by “Matteo de Bascio“.
He felt his fellow Franciscans weren’t taking the advice of some Francis of Assisi quite seriously enough. His superiors tried to suppress him and so he and his followers went into hiding and were given shelter by the commander’s lazy monks.
In appreciation, they adopted their host’s practice of wearing a hood as part of their habit. And the Italian word for “Hood” is “Cappuccio“, which is what would give rise to the popular name for this new order.
Back to the drink, some claim that the foam of the drink acts as some kind of hood. Others claim that it is called cappuccino because when poured just right it can look like a monk-shaped head.
But neither of these are true. Capuchin monks don’t even perform the act of shaving their heads.
The truth takes us to a place outside of Italy. While we see the cappuccino as an Italian drink. The name comes from the iconic coffee houses of Vienna in the 19th century.
There you could find a drink called the “Kapuziner”. Named because the recipe mixed coffee with milk or cream until the color matched that of the capuchin monks’ robes. It was a way of using color to indicate how strong or milky you wanted your coffee.
The drink goes back further in time than any form of Espresso machine. Which would come to provide the steam necessary to create foamed milk.
Eventually, the drink would make its way to Italy, but it was with the invention of high-pressure Espresso machines that it began to transform into the drink that we know today along with Espresso spread around the world.
Often you hear it being described as the “rule of third”, where you use 1 shot of Espresso, 1 layer of steamed milk, and 1 layer on top with frothed milk. This seems easy but it’s not that accurate. Otherwise, a single cup of cappuccino would have 70 mg of caffeine.
For a long time and most of the world, the cappuccino is a single shot drink in a 5 or 6 oz cup, and the cup was then filled with foamy milk but there weren’t strict rules for how much foam it should be.
The rise of 1 coffee has seen the cappuccino become stronger, usually with 2 shots of Espresso, sadly which has often been accompanied by a reduction in the amount of foam. Especially as latte art has become more popular. Flatout is more difficult with foamier milk. And so the drink is more than an idea rather than a strict recipe.
There is 1 more contentious aspect to the cappuccino. The addition of chocolate. There are some claims that this is actually a very old practice. Shavings of chocolate were there to cover the hole left by pouring coffee into boiled foamed milk.
The difference between a cappuccino vs latte
Cappuccino
You’ve heard this before, but the cappuccino is a 5 to 6 oz cup. It’s general to have 1 to 2 shots of Espresso, a layer of steamed milk, and a layer of frothed milk on top. It has a bold and sweet flavor, the sweetness comes from the lactose sugar in milk.
A cappuccino has an even distribution of Espresso, steamed milk, and foam.
Latte
A latte starts with the same base, Espresso. A single or double shot is added first and then combined with a few ounces of steamed milk. This creates a very creamy beverage that has a slight Espresso taste. The typical ratio for Espresso & steamed milk is 1:2. As of last, the drink is topped with a layer of foam. Lattes are usually served in a big glass.
A latte consists of Espresso, more steamed milk, and a light layer of foam.
A cappuccino is clearly layered, while in a latte the espresso and steamed milk are mixed together.
The bottom line
The cappuccino is one of the greatest and most popular coffees worldwide. It consists of 1 layer of Espresso (in America usually 2 shots), 1 layer of steamed milk, and 1 layer of frothed milk. It’s served in a 5 to 6 oz cup and is a creamy beverage. It tastes bold and has some sweetness from the sugar in the milk.
The name comes from coffee houses in Vienna in the 19th century. There you could find a drink called “Kapuziner”. Because the recipe mixed coffee with milk or cream until the color matched that of the capuchin monks’ robes.
The difference between a cappuccino and a latte is mostly the ratios attached to them. A cappuccino has an even distribution of Espresso, steamed milk, and foam. They are also layered in that order and served in a 5-6 oz cup. While a latte has a typical Espresso & steamed milk ratio of 1:2. This is mixed together and is topped with a layer of foam, it’s also served in a big glass.
