What's really inside your coffee
A cappuccino, a latte and a flat white can look similar in the cup, but they're built from very different ratios of espresso, steamed milk and foam. This tool pours each drink layer by layer in the proportions a barista actually uses, so you can see at a glance what separates one from another — and why a cappuccino tastes lighter and airier than a milky latte of the same size.
Espresso, milk and foam in proportion
Every drink starts from a shot of espresso (about 30 ml) and adds hot water, steamed milk, foam or chocolate in set amounts. A latte is mostly milk with a thin foam cap; a cappuccino balances milk and foam in roughly equal parts; a cortado is just espresso cut with a little milk. Slide the size control and every layer scales together, keeping the ratio true while the total volume grows or shrinks.
A guide, not a strict rule
These are standard reference proportions — a great way to learn what a drink should look like and to order with confidence. Real cafés tweak their recipes, cup sizes and milk textures, so treat the numbers as a well-informed baseline rather than an exact law. It's equally handy for the curious drinker and for anyone learning to pull and pour at home.
Reference proportions: real recipes vary by café and barista.
Frequently asked questions
Are these exact café measurements?
They're standard reference proportions. Individual cafés adjust ratios, cup sizes and foam texture, so use them as a reliable guide rather than a fixed rule.
What's the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?
A latte is mostly steamed milk with a thin foam layer, while a cappuccino uses roughly equal parts milk and foam, giving it a lighter, airier feel.
What is coffee made of?
A brewed cup is about 98% water. The rest is dissolved compounds — caffeine, oils, acids and melanoidins — that give flavour, aroma and its kick.
How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?
A typical 240 mL cup has roughly 95 mg of caffeine, though espresso, brew method and bean vary it a lot.
Does coffee have calories?
Black coffee has almost none (about 2–5 kcal a cup). The calories come from milk, cream and sugar you add.