Flat white, cappuccino, latte: the guide to milk coffees at Carrera Café

April 26, 2026Carrera Café
Flat white, cappuccino, latte : les cafes au lait du Carrera Cafe
Coffee & Barista

Flat white, cappuccino, latte: the guide to milk coffees

Cappuccino, flat white, latte, cortado. Behind these names hide very different realities. Espresso-milk ratio, foam texture, volume in the cup. It all matters. Carrera Café explains it to you.

Each cup has its rules

A cappuccino is not a latte. A flat white is not a cortado. Here are the essential distinctions.

Classic
The cappuccino

The great Italian classic. One third espresso, one third hot milk, one third foam. Served in a 180 ml cup, topped with generous foam. The cappuccino is assertive, warm. It's drunk in the morning, rarely after 11 am in Italy. At Carrera, no rules. Just pleasure.

Volume
180 ml
Ratio
1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3
Foam
Generous
Mild
The latte

The soft format par excellence. A simple espresso in 250 ml of milk. The foam is light, the coffee discreet. It's the ideal format for those who like milk before coffee. And the perfect canvas for latte art. In iced version, it's the Carrera iced latte, the star of summer.

Volume
250 ml
Base
Simple espresso
Foam
Light
Intensity
Mild
Intense
The cortado

For those who want the punch of espresso with just enough milk to soften it. 60 ml of coffee for 30 ml of milk. Served in a small glass. No foam. Just the raw balance between acidity and sweetness. The format for busy people or purists.

Volume
90 ml
Ratio
2:1 coffee/milk
Foam
None
To choose at a glance

Intensity, volume, texture: the three criteria that make the difference.

Cortado
★★★★★
90 ml. The most intense. For lovers of raw balance.
Flat White
★★★★
150 ml. Intense and silky. The connoisseur's choice.
Cappuccino
★★★
180 ml. Balanced and frothy. The great classic.
Latte
★★
250 ml. Mild and milky. Ideal for latte art.
Iced latte
★★
300 ml. Fresh and mild. The star of sunny days.
Espresso
★★★★★
30 ml. Pure. Without milk. The base. Read the article.
♥︎ Barista's tip

If you hesitate between cappuccino and flat white, choose according to the time. Cappuccino in the morning: the generous foam keeps you warm, the flavors wake you up. Flat white during the day: more compact, more powerful, without weighing you down. Both are available with any plant-based milk.

Half the result

A good café au lait starts with good milk. Each variety brings a different texture and taste.

Whole milk, skim milk, plant-based

Whole milk gives the densest and creamiest foam. Skim milk froths up but remains lighter. Soy milk froths well but can curdle on acidic espressos. Almond milk is mild but less frothy. The barista will guide you based on your order.

◆ The Carrera technique

At Carrera Café, each milk is steamed to the exact temperature: 60 to 65 degrees. No less to keep the texture. No more to avoid burning the proteins. The steam wand is positioned at the precise angle to create the vortex. It’s this vortex that gives the silky texture. The precision of a pit stop at the Grand Prix.

Without hesitation

Not sure what to choose yet? Here are some simple tips to find your size.

For strong coffee lovers

Cortado or flat white. Both highlight the coffee. Cortado if you like a concentrated size. Flat white if you want silky foam and a bit more volume. The roast and chocolate notes will be front and center.

For those who love sweetness

Latte or cappuccino. Cappuccino if you like abundant foam and the classic size. Latte if you want a larger, milder size, with the option of a touch of vanilla or syrup. In summer, go for the iced latte.

For the undecided

Flat white. Always. It’s the size that satisfies the most people. Enough coffee for intensity lovers. Enough milk for those sensitive to bitterness. The right size. The right texture. The consensus size at Carrera Café.

The best way to choose? Come to Carrera Café and try it. The barista is here to guide you.


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