Base Ingredients

Espresso vs Latte vs Cappuccino

One of the most common coffee questions is simple: do lattes and cappuccinos actually contain espresso? The answer is yes — both are espresso drinks. The difference is not whether there is espresso, but how much milk is added to it.

A latte and a cappuccino both start with the exact same shot of espresso. Add a lot of steamed milk and you get a latte; add a little milk and a lot of foam and you get a cappuccino; add nothing at all and you simply have an espresso.

A shot of espresso beside a latte and a cappuccino

They all start with the same shot

Espresso is the foundation of both drinks. It is a small, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee under pressure. A latte is espresso + lots of milk. A cappuccino is espresso + a little milk + lots of foam. Remove the milk from either and you are left with espresso.

Feature	Espresso	Cappuccino	Latte
Espresso	1 shot	1 shot	1 shot
Steamed milk	None	~1/3 of cup	~2/3 of cup
Foam	None (crema)	Thick layer	Thin microfoam
Size	~1 oz	~6 oz	~10–12 oz
Caffeine	~64 mg	~68 mg	~68 mg
Taste	Intense, bold	Strong, balanced	Mild, milky

So which is strongest?

In flavor, espresso is by far the strongest because it has no milk at all, followed by the cappuccino, then the latte. In caffeine, however, they are nearly identical when each uses one shot — around 64–68 mg. A bigger drink does not mean more caffeine; more shots do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a latte have espresso in it?

Yes. A latte is espresso plus steamed milk and a little foam. It always contains espresso unless it is a non-coffee drink like a matcha or chai latte.

Does a cappuccino have espresso in it?

Yes. A cappuccino is espresso with steamed milk and a thick layer of foam. The espresso is the base of the drink.

Is espresso stronger than a cappuccino or latte?

In taste, yes — espresso has no milk to soften it. In caffeine, a single espresso (~64 mg) is very close to a single-shot cappuccino or latte (~68 mg).