Latte, frappe, cappuccino — they all sound like the same café order in different outfits. They're not. The difference between a latte and a frappe (and a cappuccino) comes down to temperature, texture, and how much milk is doing the work.
Here's the simple guide, so you always know what you're ordering — and what to make at home.
The quick answer
- Latte — smooth and milky. Coffee with a lot of milk. Can be served hot or, our favourite, iced.
- Frappe — cold and frosty. Coffee blended with ice (and milk) into a thick, whipped, dessert-like drink.
- Cappuccino — bold and foamy. Coffee with less milk and a thick, airy layer of foam on top. Served hot.
Same family, three very different experiences.
What is a latte?
A latte is the mellow one. It's a shot of coffee with a generous amount of milk, so the coffee flavour is smooth and rounded rather than sharp. It's the drink for people who want their coffee comforting, not intense. It works well either way — hot for a cosy moment, iced for the everyday pick-me-up — though iced is the one we make most.
At home, our iced latte makes this easy — the Ten15 Latte sachet already has the milk built in, so you just add 110 ml water and 85 g ice, stir, and you've got a creamy iced latte in under a minute. No machine, milk already handled.
What is a frappe?
A frappe is the cold, indulgent one. It's coffee blended with ice and milk until it's thick, frosty, and almost milkshake-like. Where a latte is smooth and pourable, a frappe is frozen and spoon-worthy — the drink you want when it's 40°C outside.
The key word is blended. That frosty texture only happens in a blender. Our frappe recipe is a sachet with 75 ml cold milk and 110 g ice, blended to a thick finish.
(You may also see "Frappuccino" — that's a trademarked café name for a similar blended drink. A frappe is the general term.)
What is a cappuccino?
A cappuccino is the bold, foamy one. It uses less milk than a latte and finishes with a thick, airy cap of foam. The result is a stronger coffee flavour up front with a light, cloud-like top — traditionally served hot, in a smaller cup.
To make something cappuccino-style at home, start with a strong coffee base — Ten15 freeze-dried Espresso — and froth your milk into foam (a handheld frother does this in seconds). It won't be a barista's cappuccino, but it's a genuinely good approximation without the machine.
Which one should you make at home?
- Want smooth and easy? Iced latte. The simplest, milkiest, most everyday option.
- Want cold and frosty? Frappe. Blended, thick, and treat-like.
- Want bold and foamy? A cappuccino-style cup with a strong coffee base and frothed milk.
Two of the three need nothing but a sachet, water or milk, and ice.
Frequently asked questions
What's the main difference between a latte and a frappe? Temperature and texture. A latte is smooth and milky (often iced or hot); a frappe is blended with ice into a thick, frosty, cold drink.
Is a cappuccino stronger than a latte? It tastes stronger because it has less milk and more foam, so the coffee comes through more. A latte is milkier and mellower.
What's the difference between a frappe and a Frappuccino? "Frappe" is the general term for a blended iced coffee. "Frappuccino" is a specific café's trademarked version.
Which is easiest to make at home? An iced latte — the Ten15 Latte sachet has the milk built in, so it's just water, ice, and a stir.
Want to try all of these at home? Try the Starter Pack — lattes, frappes, and freeze-dried black coffee in one box.
Try the Starter Pack — 50% Off
Keep reading: How to Make an Iced Latte at Home and How to Make a Frappe at Home. Or shop all Ten15 coffee.
