Macchiato

An espresso marked with a small amount of milk or foam.

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How drink styles change the cup

What it means

An espresso marked with a small amount of milk or foam. It keeps the shot concentrated while shaving off some aggression at the edges, so the drink still reads as espresso first.

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Where this leads

Each one pushes this into the cup, compares it, or helps you act on it.

How drink styles change the cup

Cappuccino

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If the foam dominates, the drink tastes dry and mutes sweetness.

How drink styles change the cup

Cortado

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Useful when straight espresso feels too sharp but milk drinks feel too diluted.

How drink styles change the cup

Cafe au Lait

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Expect a gentler breakfast-style cup rather than espresso texture.

How drink styles change the cup

Frappe

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Judge it as a cold, foamy coffee drink, not as a precise expression of the beans.