The 30-second answer
- 🥛 It's all about the ratio of coffee, hot milk and milk foam.
- ☕ Cappuccino: one third coffee, one third milk, one third foam. Latte: much more milk, little foam.
- 🏠 No espresso machine? A moka pot and a French press are all you need for great milk foam.
- 🌡️ The secret: heat the milk to around 60-65 °C, never letting it boil.
Updated 27 September 2026 · Reading time: 8 min
At the café, we order a "crème", a cappuccino or a latte without always knowing what sets them apart. Good news: all three are easy to make at home, with a good strong coffee and well-frothed milk. Here are the ratios and techniques to get them right.
The differences in one table
| Drink | Coffee | Hot milk | Milk foam | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 1 espresso (30-40 ml) | — | — | Small cup |
| Macchiato | 1 espresso | — | One spoonful | Small cup |
| Cappuccino | 1 espresso | ≈ 1/3 | ≈ 1/3, thick | 150-180 ml |
| Café crème | 1 lungo (long espresso) | Yes | Light | Medium cup |
| Latte | 1 espresso | Plenty (≈ 200 ml) | Thin layer | Tall glass or bowl |
| Café au lait | Filter or moka pot coffee | Half and half | — | Bowl |
The base: a strong, aromatic coffee
All these drinks start from a concentrated coffee. With an espresso machine, that's a classic espresso. Without one, a moka pot makes coffee strong enough to stand in for espresso: allow about 40 ml of moka pot coffee per drink. All our tips for getting it right: Moka pot: how to make great coffee.
How to froth milk without a machine
- Heat the milk over a low heat to about 60-65 °C: it should feel very hot to the touch, but not simmer. Any hotter and it loses its sweetness and froths less well.
-
Froth it using one of these methods:
- French press: pour in the hot milk, then pump the plunger up and down quickly for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Handheld electric frother: 20 seconds is enough.
- Sealed jar: fill it halfway with hot milk and shake vigorously.
- Let it rest for 30 seconds and tap the container on the counter to knock out the big bubbles.
Tip: whole milk gives the creamiest foam. "Barista" plant-based milks also froth very well.
Step-by-step recipes
Cappuccino
Pour an espresso (or 40 ml of moka pot coffee) into a 150 to 180 ml cup. Add the hot milk while holding back the foam with a spoon, then spoon the foam on top. Dust with cocoa if you like.
Latte
In a tall glass, pour the espresso, then about 200 ml of hot milk. Finish with a thin layer of foam. It's the mildest drink: perfect for chocolatey coffees.
Café crème
Make a slightly longer espresso (or a moka pot coffee), then add lightly frothed hot milk, in roughly equal parts. Stronger than a latte, creamier than a café au lait.
Macchiato
An espresso "stained" with a spoonful of milk foam. Ideal for softening a bold coffee without drowning it.
Which coffee to pair with milk?
Milk softens coffee and tones down acidity. Rounded, chocolatey or caramel coffees pair best: Brazil Santos, Mexico Altura ORGANIC, Cuba Serrano or Papua New Guinea. Very fruity, bright coffees such as Kenya are best enjoyed black.
THE SMOOTHEST WITH MILK
Brazil Santos Coffee
Our mildest coffee: light, low in acidity, with no pronounced bitterness. Its smoothness pairs perfectly with milk, in a latte or a café crème. Also ideal if you're new to arabica.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?
A cappuccino contains as much foam as milk, for an airy texture and a more pronounced coffee taste. A latte contains much more milk and very little foam: it's milder.
Can you make a cappuccino without an espresso machine?
Yes: a strong moka pot coffee and milk foam made with a French press or a frother give a very good result.
Why won't my milk froth?
It's often too hot or too skimmed. Heat it to around 60-65 °C and use whole milk or a "barista" plant-based milk.
What coffee is best for a latte?
A rounded, chocolatey coffee: Brazil Santos, Mexico Altura ORGANIC or Cuba Serrano.
Our recommended coffees with milk
Related articles
- Macchiato, cortado, flat white, latte: the guide to milk coffees
- Moka pot: how to make great coffee
- Coffee machines in Morocco: how to choose one and the right coffee
- Arabica vs robusta: what's the difference?
In short: a strong coffee, milk heated without boiling and good foam: that's the whole secret. A cappuccino is all about the foam, a latte about the milk, and a café crème sits in between. Choose a rounded, chocolatey coffee and you won't need to go to the café any more.
Our 100% arabica coffees are craft-roasted in France in small batches and delivered anywhere in Morocco in 2 to 5 days. Free delivery from 350 DH, cash on delivery.
