What Is a Milky Coffee Called? (Solved & Explained!)

Milky coffees come in many different varieties, and sometimes it can be tricky to know exactly what you want when you’re ordering at the counter. The latte is traditionally known as the type of coffee with the most milk, with the cappuccino and the flat white being two other common milky options for coffee lovers.

There are, however, many other types of coffees that feature a large amount of milk, or even cream, that may be more your style, so it’s worth understanding the different options that are out there. Even the milk itself varies between different types of coffee, whether it’s warm or steamed and how much foam sits on the top.

This article will go into detail about some of the different options that you have for milky coffees, and what sets each one apart from the others, so that you can make the right choice for your taste in the coffee shop.

What is the Difference Between a Milky Coffee and a Black Coffee?

Not all coffees are created equal, and one of the main differences that you will find is whether your coffee is milk-based or black. Black coffees are simply any coffee brewed without any additives, like milk or cream, whereas milky coffees incorporate milk to soften the flavour, add creaminess to the texture and often provide a decorative foam.

What Types of Coffee Have No Milk?

The two most common coffee orders that are completely milk-free are the espresso and the Americano. The espresso shot is made by forcing high-pressure steam through ground coffee beans and is the core element of most other coffees, like the Americano which consists of a shot of espresso topped up with hot water to make it weaker.

Are an Americano and a Long Black the Same Coffee?

An Americano and a Long Black coffee are both made up of just espresso and hot water, so they are often mixed up or referred to interchangeably. Actually, the Long Black has two shots of espresso, compared to the Americano’s single shot, and is poured over less water, so it is considerably stronger in taste and caffeination.

What Type of Milk Should I Use in a Milky Coffee?

Generally, when you are thinking about whether to use whole, reduced-fat, or skimmed milk in your coffee, the more fat that is in the milk then the richer and creamier the coffee will taste. Higher fat content also produces a foam that is softer, creamier and thicker, which is much better for decorating.

Can You Use Dairy-Free Milk for Coffee?

There are a lot of different milk options for people avoiding dairy, many of which have a unique and interesting flavour of their own to add to the drink. It can be difficult to get some dairy-free milk to foam in the same way that whole milk does but oat milk, particularly a ‘barista’ version, is a fantastic alternative.

Does Milky Coffee Include Sugar?

Coffee purists insist that black coffee should contain only coffee and water, with no added sugar, but milky coffees are often sweeter. Adding sugar is rarely a defining characteristic of a type of coffee, it is usually a preference of the coffee drinker, but milky coffees are more likely to come with a few optional cubes or spoonfuls.

Are Milky Coffees Less Caffeinated?

While the coffee included in a milk-based drink is the same that you might find in an espresso or an Americano, milky coffees have a lower concentration of caffeine than black coffees. This makes it a popular choice for afternoon or evening coffee drinking, as it is less likely to give you a strong burst of wakefulness.

What is the Milkiest Coffee?

The latte is the king of milky coffees, widely considered to be the milkiest type of coffee that you can have. It is made up of one shot of espresso, steamed milk and a small foam topping with the largest component being the milk, about 1:2 parts coffee to milk with only 1cm of foam on top.

What is the Difference Between a Cappuccino and a Latte?

The cappuccino is made up of the same three elements as the latte (espresso, steamed milk, and foam) but the ratios are what sets it apart. A cappuccino has an equal amount of espresso to steamed milk to foam, 1/3 of each, so it comes out as a more foamy, less milky coffee with a relatively gentle flavour.

What is a Flat White?

The flat white is an often-misunderstood coffee, regularly mistaken for a latte or a cappuccino as it is another popular milky option. While a flat white is like a latte, in that it contains more steamed milk than espresso, it shouldn’t have a distinct layer of foam on the top, and the overall flavour is less milky.

What is an Espresso with Milk Called?

Milky coffees are not all long, sweet, and subtle; you can get milk-based coffees that are much closer to an espresso in nature. Espressos with milk generally combine either steamed milk or foamed milk without overpowering the espresso itself and a few common examples of these are the Macchiato, the Cortado and the Gibraltar.

What is a Gibraltar Coffee?

On the shorter end of the coffee spectrum, the Gibraltar coffee is a great option for people who are looking for more balance from their milky coffee. As opposed to the milk-heavy latte and foam-heavy cappuccino, the Gibraltar is equal parts espresso and steamed milk, giving it a robust flavour but a creamy texture.

Is a Cortado the Same as a Macchiato?

Two other popular choices for short coffees with milk are the Cortado and the Macchiato, and they can seem very similar. The Macchiato is a single shot of espresso with a small layer of foamed milk sitting on top, whereas the Cortado is like a Gibraltar: a double shot of espresso combined with an equal amount of steamed milk.

Are All Milky Coffees Made with Steamed Milk?

Steamed milk is a favourite of baristas because it has a silky texture, maintains the warmth of the drink, and creates foam for decoration, but it is not the only milk that coffee drinkers use. The Café au Lait uses equal parts coffee and hot milk, rather than espresso and steamed milk, and condensed milk is popular in Vietnam.