Thursday’s Side Dish: Latte, Cappuccino, and Mocha

A choice of three coffee characters

There can be confusion regarding these gourmet coffee drinks. What makes them different? Here is a short primer regarding these java joint mainstays:

Caffè latte -The most basic of the espresso-based coffee drinks contains espresso and steamed milk. A good latte should also have a smooth texture. It’s not just warm milk. The steamed milk is infused with air, giving it a richer consistency. An unsweetened latte should have a strong coffee taste.

Cappucinno - A cappuccino consists of espresso and milk. The difference between a latte and cappucinno is in the preparation of the milk. There should be more air infused into the milk of a cappuccino compared to a latte. A good cappuccino is frothier and feels lighter than a latte of the same size.

Mocha – This is simply a latte with chocolate in the form of cocoa powder or chocolate syrup added to the formula. There are dark chocolate or milk chocolate varieties.