A Guide to Making Better Milk-Based Coffee Drinks

Journal Article by Homeground Coffee Roasters - Specialty Coffee Roasters in Singapore

Difference Between Latte, Flat White and Cappuccino

Traditionally, lattes, flat whites, and cappuccinos are the types of coffee commonly served in specialty coffee cafes. Some might wonder what the differences between them are. There are two things in common between them:

1. Preparation method - all made through espresso machine
2. What goes into a cup of latte, flat white or cappuccino - basically just milk. It can be any milk from fresh milk to oat or almond.
   
   
   
   
   

A table about the latte vs flat white vs cappuccino

The Evolution of Milk Coffee

Today, these distinctions are fading. Modern coffee shops now categorize drinks primarily by size, with latte art becoming a standard expectation across all milk-based beverages. This shift has led to more uniform foam levels - the kind that's perfect for creating latte art. This applies to many of the best coffee shops in Singapore as well.

We notice many coffee roasters in Singapore have adopted categorizing coffee drinks by size instead.

In Uniformity Lies the Ratio

This standardization of milk steaming has an unexpected benefit: more consistent coffee to milk ratios. Rather than focusing on foam levels, baristas now prioritize these ratios when crafting drinks.

This approach is supported by industry experts, as shown in Seven Miles Coffee Roasters' video: "The Flat White, Latte & Cappuccino have become the same thing (and why it doesn't matter)".

What makes a good latte

At Homeground Coffee Roasters, we've always served coffee based on cup sizes (4oz and 6oz), maintaining careful ratios for both hot and iced drinks. For hot coffee, we typically use a coffee-to-steamed-milk ratio between 1:4 and 1:6.

For example:

• 160ml cup: 20g espresso + 120g milk (1:6 ratio)
• 320ml cup: 40g espresso + 240g milk (1:6 ratio)

Our philosophy of what we believe makes a great cup of milk coffee is balance, where both the coffee and milk harmonize with each other.

Understanding Milk Science for coffee

When steaming milk for latte art, both weight and volume increase by approximately 25%. This consistent expansion helps us calculate precise measurements for each drink. We believe understanding the science can help us ensure consistency, make drinks easy to replicate, and improve coffee quality.

We see many coffee enthusiasts are now more data-driven and precise with how they prepare their coffee at home. When we weigh out our espresso shots, we can work towards our recommended ratio of 1:6.

Smart Milk Management in Specialty Coffee Cafes

Coffee service can be wasteful, particularly when it comes to milk. While some excess milk helps achieve better latte art, we need to balance this with sustainability.

There are two approaches to determining milk quantities:

1. Coffee-First Approach: Calculate milk based on desired coffee ratio (e.g., 1:6)
2. Cup-First Approach: Start with cup size and work backward to determine coffee and milk amounts

We prefer the cup-first approach as it helps minimize waste while ensuring consistent drink quality. For home brewers, this method is particularly useful as it helps optimize both coffee and milk usage regardless of cup size.

Read Also -- Milk in World Barista Competitions and Coffee and Milk Balance

Tags: coffee calibration, espresso-based drinks, milk-based coffee, specialty coffee roasters in Singapore, best coffee in Singapore.