Cappuccino: 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk, 1/3 foam (150–180 ml). Latte macchiato: lots of milk with foam, espresso poured on top, three layers. Flat white: double espresso with fine microfoam, less milk — espresso-forward and velvety.

What is the difference between cappuccino, latte macchiato, and flat white?

Cappuccino: 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk, 1/3 foam (150–180 ml). Latte macchiato: lots of milk with foam, espresso poured on top, three layers. Flat white: double espresso with fine microfoam, less milk — espresso-forward and velvety.

Why that is

All three are espresso-milk drinks, but they differ significantly in milk volume, foam type, espresso intensity, and cup size. The differences are not arbitrary — they stem from the traditions of different coffee cultures.

Cappuccino (Italy):

• Classic ratio: 1/3 espresso, 1/3 hot milk, 1/3 milk foam.
• Cup: 150–180 ml, ceramic.
• Espresso and milk are well balanced — you can taste both.
• In the specialty scene, fine microfoam is used instead of stiff foam, often with latte art.
• A breakfast drink in Italy — they don’t drink cappuccinos after lunch.

Latte macchiato (Italy/Germany):

• Lots of hot milk (200–300 ml) with milk foam, into which an espresso is poured slowly.
• Served in a glass so the three layers are visible: milk at the bottom, espresso in the middle, foam on top.
• Very milk-heavy — the espresso almost gets lost.
• One of the most popular coffee drinks in Germany, rather rarely ordered in Italy.

Flat white (Australia/New Zealand):

• Double espresso (ristretto) with a thin layer of the finest microfoam.
• Cup: 150–180 ml (similar to a cappuccino, but with more espresso and less foam).
• Espresso-forward — the milk complements the coffee but doesn’t overpower it.
• Velvety mouthfeel due to the microfoam.
• In the specialty scene, it’s the standard for anyone who likes espresso with milk but wants the coffee to take center stage.

Summary:

	Cappuccino	Latte macchiato	Flat white
Espresso	Single	Single	Double
Milk	Medium	A lot	A little
Foam	A lot	A lot	A little, fine
Size	150–180 ml	250–350 ml	150–180 ml
Character	Balanced	Milk-heavy	Espresso-forward

In practice at Green Wall Coffee

At Sophienstraße 27, we serve cappuccino and flat white as our milk drink standards. The flat white is our most ordered drink — Berlin coffee drinkers like it espresso-forward. We offer latte macchiatos upon request, but we like to recommend the flat white as an alternative that highlights the coffee better.

Related questions

• What is a cortado?
• What is an espresso macchiato? And a latte macchiato?
• What distinguishes a latte from a café au lait?

Stop by Sophienstraße 27 — Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.