Espresso Drinks: A Written and Visual Guide

Cappuccino, latte, flat white, macchiato — they all start with espresso, but they're built very differently. Here's what each one actually is.

Most espresso-based drinks are simple combinations of three things: espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. The differences come down to ratios and how the milk is textured. Once you know the components, the menu makes a lot more sense — and our chart below covers even more drinks than what's listed here, including ristretto, lungo, café breve, café con panna, and others you might spot at a specialty café.

Visual Guide to Espresso Drinks

Espresso (Shot)

A single shot of espresso. A standard double shot — the home and café baseline — uses 14 to 18g of ground coffee and yields approximately 28 to 36ml of espresso. Strong, concentrated, and served in a small cup. The base of everything else on this list.

Americano

Espresso plus hot water. Typically 1 or 2 shots of espresso topped with hot water to total 6 to 8 oz. Tastes more like brewed coffee than straight espresso. The order of operations matters — pouring water onto espresso (espresso first) is different from pouring espresso into water (the latter is more like a long black).

Macchiato

Traditional macchiato (caffè macchiato or espresso macchiato): one shot of espresso with a small dollop of foamed milk on top. About 2 oz total. Not to be confused with Starbucks-style caramel macchiato, which is a flavored latte and a different drink entirely.

Cortado

Equal parts espresso and steamed milk. Typically 1 shot of espresso with about 2 oz of lightly steamed milk. Minimal foam. Served in a small glass. The milk softens the espresso without dominating it — a great drink for tasting the coffee through milk.

Cappuccino

Equal thirds espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. Traditionally about 5 to 6 oz total. The thick layer of dense foam on top is the defining feature. Sip through the foam to get espresso and milk together.

Flat White

Australian/New Zealand origin. Similar to a latte but smaller and with microfoam (very fine, dense foam) integrated into the steamed milk. Typically 5 to 6 oz total with a higher coffee-to-milk ratio than a latte. Stronger coffee flavor than a latte without sacrificing the silky milk texture.

Latte

Espresso plus a larger volume of steamed milk, topped with a thin layer of microfoam. Typically 8 to 12 oz or larger. The milk dominates, which is why lattes are often flavored with syrups. The most popular espresso drink in the U.S.

Mocha

A latte with chocolate added. Usually espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate syrup, topped with whipped cream. Sweet, dessert-like, and the most chocolate-forward drink on the typical espresso menu.

Building Drinks at Home

Once you can pull a consistent shot and steam milk to the right texture, every drink on this list is within reach. The differences are mostly proportions and milk technique. By knowing how to create microfoam and steam your milk properly, every drink on this list and more are easy to make and replicate.