# Straight Dope 5/5/2023: What's the difference between a cafe latte, a cappuccino, and a flat white? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 5, 2023, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617 "2023-05-05T14:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/21 "2023-05-07T11:51:59Z")
Expresso is really strong stuff when it’s prepared right, and I think some people didn’t realize that at first. About 25 years ago, I was passing through a small town in the Deep South and saw a neon “Expresso” sign in the window of a cafeteria. I was coming from Europe and was delighted at the prospect of having real coffee for the first time in weeks. I mentioned this to the owner, who was preparing another customer’s order, and she said the machine had cost nearly 5,000 dollars. That’s when I realized that she was filling a large paper cup to the brim. Something like half a quart of uncut expresso in one of those big wax-coated paper cups that you’d get when you ordered a Coke at movie theaters. The customer went about paying, and that’s when I noticed that her hands were trembling. The owner asked, “_How’s Floyd doing?_” The customer replied, “_Oh, he’s okay. He ain’t sleeping well, though_.” ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/22 "2023-05-07T13:49:55Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > They counteracted it by hooking liquid caffeine up to the iv. Almost instantly I felt the sun shine, my spirits soar, the world fill with fluffy bunnies and sweet-smelling lilacs. > > That’s the only way I will have coffee in the future. Nothing less will cut it Add a dollop of nicotine and I think you may have something there. Well, not a dollop. Maybe just a smidgen. Or something between the two. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/23 "2023-05-07T15:13:33Z")
I suspect the correct answer to the OP is “about two dollars”. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/24 "2023-05-07T19:07:19Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > In Italy you can’t be ordering cappuccinos and similar after 10 a.m. That’s the beauty of McDonald’s in Italy - you can order a large cappuccino at any time of day from a self-serve kiosk and avoid the condescending stare from the cashier. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/25 "2023-05-07T20:40:16Z")
I would have guessed the beauty of a (possibly) mediocre coffee from an Italian fast food place was you could sit down without paying an extra euro or two. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/26 "2023-05-08T20:53:51Z")
Nitpick: it’s espresso, not expresso. I once had a couple of straight espresso shots at a cafe in Almeria, Spain. Bad idea. My stomach was so upset I tossed my cookies. I now prefer milk in my espresso beverages. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/27 "2023-05-09T02:04:04Z")
> [@Orville\_mogul](#): > > I’m glad that someone finally mentioned Italy. If you want a definitive answer, ask an Italian. This could be a whoosh but Lordy did it make me laugh. In my experience traveling for my job multiple times in Italy if you ask 3 for their opinion you will get 4 “definitive” answers. I admit this may just be limited to the Italian wine/spirits trade but I strongly suspect not. As to coffee, I would always recommend caffè corretto when ordering an espresso after 10 am - a shot of espresso with a shot of grappa though other liqueurs are options. And I will confirm what another poster said, if you order a cappuccino after about 10am, Italians will look at you like you are weird. It is considered a breakfast coffee and as I was told only a child would request it after that time. Better to order an espresso and request some milk or cream added. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/28 "2023-05-09T08:33:31Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Nitpick: it’s espresso, not expresso. Thanks, been making that mistake for years. Yeah, many people find it’s hard on their stomach. Milk helps but, when I have a coffee in the morning, I’ll still have a sour stomach by the evening. Took me a long time to realize that. ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/29 "2023-05-09T08:43:26Z")
not really a whoosh. In my experience, Italians are fundamentalists when it comes to food, which I generally admire, though it can be tiring at times. Just ask an Italian about how to make carbonara. And for god’s sake, never make amatriciana with mere pancetta! The 10:00 rule for capuccinos is a perfect example (though I have heard it as 11:00 as well). And espresso with grappa is indeed very correct! But when I really feel like drowning, I go for an affogato al caffe, which is espresso with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/30 "2023-05-09T17:36:02Z")
> [@Orville\_mogul](#): > > The 10:00 rule for capuccinos is a perfect example (though I have heard it as 11:00 as well). For a deep dive into why, the sage of coffee James Hoffman: > **[Why Italians Don't Drink a Cappuccino After 11am](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mIcIVCnTrY%2F)** > > Go to https://surfshark.deals/jameshoffmann - Enter promo code jameshoffmann for 85% off and 3 extra months free!There's nothing wrong with being a lactose ... tldr: it’s due to a level of lactose intolerance and drinking it later makes the symptoms worse. > [@alovem](#): > > Yeah, many people find it’s hard on their stomach. Milk helps but, when I have a coffee in the morning, I’ll still have a sour stomach by the evening. I figured out I had this problem if I drank coffee on an empty stomach. Now I always make sure I eat something first (doesn’t have to be much) and I almost never have that problem any more. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/31 "2023-05-09T18:52:36Z")
Rat milk is so cringe, cockroach milk is where its at. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/32 "2023-05-12T19:48:03Z")
> [@Orville\_mogul](#): > > But when I really feel like drowning, I go for an affogato al caffe, which is espresso with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Gelato, please. ---
**Author:** ![TestPattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@TestPattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TestPattern)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/33 "2023-05-13T01:00:53Z")
The flat white is the only one without double letters ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/35 "2023-05-16T23:36:34Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Once I got a coffee with a pat of butter on the side. I have had bulletproof coffee, which has butter and coconut oil blended in. It was very similar to a latte, and rather good. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/36 "2023-05-16T23:57:16Z")
Czech Republic=Precision Engineering? I have to admit to ignorance to most things Czech, but when I hear the phrase “precision engineering” I think Germany, or maybe Switzerland. Was Cece being sarcastic? ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/37 "2023-05-29T09:05:37Z")
Not at all. The Czech economy has long had a large, successful and respected engineering sector. One of the reasons Hitler was so keen to seize Czechoslovakia was its engineering and armaments capacity. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617/38 "2023-05-29T23:58:48Z")
Specifically the Skoda works; many Czech tanks were used in the Battle for France. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-5-5-2023-whats-the-difference-between-a-cafe-latte-a-cappuccino-and-a-flat-white/983617.md?page=1)