Making sense of all of the different coffee drinks that you can get can be confusing at times.
This post will show you the differences between cappuccino and frappuccino, how they are made, how they taste, what impacts their taste and drinks that are similar to them.
So, what is the difference between cappuccino and frappuccino? Cappuccino is where steamed milk and milk foam are added to espresso it has a creamy and strong coffee-like taste. Frappuccino is an iced cappuccino blended with milkshake and other flavorings it is trademarked by Starbucks.
Depending on the way that they are made they can vary a lot in the way that they taste. There are also a number of different flavors that you can get frappuccino in and there are a number of drinks that are similar to both of them.
Differences between cappuccino and frappuccino
Below, I will show you the differences between cappuccino and frappuccino, how they taste, how to make them, how to make them taste different and drinks that are similar to them.
Cappuccino
Cappuccino is where steamed milk and milk foam is added to espresso. Cappuccino has a creamy taste that also has a strong coffee taste.
Espresso is the mixture that you get when you push hot and pressurized water through finely ground coffee. Espresso is very rich and it can be slightly bitter depending on how it was made.
How cappuccino is made
To make cappuccino you steam and froth the milk, make the espresso and then add the milk to the espresso.
There are three ways that people make espresso and they are to either use a traditional espresso machine, a pod espresso machine or to use a stovetop espresso maker.
Traditional espresso machine
To make cappuccino using a traditional espresso machine you use the milk frother to steam the milk, grind the coffee beans, push them down into a container, put the container into the espresso machine and then you turn it one.
You can watch the video below to see how to make espresso using a traditional espresso machine.
Traditional espresso machines can have a steep learning curve and they require the most amount of effort in terms of preparing the espresso and in cleaning and maintaining the machine.
However, they will give you the best-tasting espresso and they give you the most amount of control over the way that the espresso tastes.
The traditional espresso machine that I would recommend the most would be this one on Amazon. However, a cheaper alternative that will give you good quality espresso would be this one on Amazon.
Pod espresso machines
To make cappuccino using a pod espresso machine you use the milk frother that they come with to steam the milk, put a pod into the machine, press a button to make the espresso and then add the milk to the espresso.
Pod machines won’t give you the same amount of quality as with traditional espresso machines. However, they do still make good espresso, they have a wide range of flavors that you can choose from and they are quick and easy to use.
The pod machine that I would recommend the most would be this one on Amazon.
Stovetop espresso makers
Stovetop espresso makers create pressure in order to make the espresso by creating steam pressure. To make espresso using one you put water into the pot, put ground coffee in a container above the water and then you heat the pot up and espresso will come out of a filter.
You can watch the video below to see how to make espresso using a stovetop espresso maker.
Stovetop espresso makers do not come with milk frothers. This will make it more difficult to make cappuccino using one but you could still heat the milk up another way but it won’t be to the same standard as with an actual espresso machine.
However, stovetop espresso makers are a very cheap option and are a good option if you’re not sure that you would get full use out of an espresso machine.
The stovetop espresso maker that I would recommend would be this one.
What impacts the taste of cappuccino
If more milk or whole milk is used to make the cappuccino then it will cause the cappuccino to have a creamier taste and it will be less strong. Generally, cappuccino will be made using 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk and 1/3 milk foam.
The way that the espresso is made will also impact the taste of the cappuccino.
If Arabica beans are used then it will give the espresso a smoother taste. However, Arabica beans can sometimes cause espresso to taste sour. Whereas, if Robusta beans are used then it will give the espresso a richer taste that can taste more bitter.
If beans with a light roast are used to make the espresso then it will reduce the bitterness but it can make the espresso taste slightly sour. If beans with a dark roast are used then it will give the espresso a slightly more bitter taste.
The origin of the beans can also have an impact on the way that the espresso tastes. If the beans are from a single origin then it will normally give the espresso a sharper taste but it can also cause it to be more sour. Whereas, beans that are from multiple origins will normally give the espresso a more balanced taste.
Generally, a mix of Arabica and Robusta beans with a dark roast from multiple origins are what are used to make espresso.
Similar drinks to cappuccino
There are a number of drinks that are similar to cappuccino such as:
- Latte
Latte is where steamed milk and milk foam is added to espresso. The difference between latte and cappuccino is that a lot of steamed milk and only a small amount of milk foam is used to make latte. Whereas, an even amount of steamed milk and milk foam are used to make cappuccino.
- Breve
Breve is where half and half milk and cream are added to espresso. Breve has a creamier taste than cappuccino due to the higher fat content in the cream.
- Macchiato
Macchiato is where a small amount of milk foam is added to espresso. Macchiato is stronger than cappuccino since less milk is added to the espresso with macchiato.
Frappuccino
Frappuccino is traditionally where iced cappuccino is mixed with milkshake. Now, frappuccino has been trademarked by Starbucks and it will normally be a mixture of coffee with milkshake or iced milk and other flavorings.
There are a number of different ways that you can make frappuccino yourself if you want to.
You can watch the video below to see how to make Starbucks style frappuccino.
There are a number of different frappuccino flavors that you can get and popular flavors include mocha, vanilla and caramel.
Similar drinks to frappuccino
There are a number of other drinks that are similar to frappuccino that you might like which include:
- Frappe
Frappe is an iced drink that has been blended and is often served with whipped cream and other toppings it will normally also be made with coffee.
- Mocha
Mocha is where chocolate syrup and steamed milk or hot chocolate are added to espresso. Mocha has a coffee-like and chocolatey taste.
- Affogato
Affogato is where espresso is poured over ice cream. Traditionally, vanilla ice cream is used but you can use any ice cream that you like.
Questions people ask about frappuccino
Does frappuccino have caffeine? Frappuccino will usually be made using coffee so it will normally have caffeine. However, there are decaf options available.
Is frappuccino served cold? Yes, frappuccino is served cold.
