Coffee Guide: Latte, Cappuccino, Flat White and More Explained

Rendezvous Cafe · Inverness

Stand at any coffee counter and you are faced with a wonderful but sometimes baffling array of choices. Latte, cappuccino, flat white, cortado, macchiato, mocha, the names can blur together. What actually sets them apart? This friendly guide explains the most popular coffees, so you can order with confidence next time, and shows where to enjoy a great cup in Inverness. At Rendezvous Cafe, we serve all of these and more, and we were named one of the Times top five coffee shops in Inverness.

14A Church Street, Inverness
Open 8am to 4pm daily
Top 5 Inverness coffee, The Times

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It All Starts With Espresso

Almost every coffee on the menu begins with espresso, a small, concentrated shot of coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground beans. On its own, an espresso is bold, rich and intense, the pure essence of coffee in a small cup. A double espresso simply doubles the shot. Everything else is, in essence, espresso combined with different amounts of hot water, steamed milk and foam, which is what gives each drink its distinct character. Once you understand that, the whole menu starts to make sense.

The Milky Classics

LatteThe mildest and milkiest of the popular coffees, a latte is espresso with plenty of steamed milk and just a thin layer of foam. Smooth, creamy and comforting, it is the perfect choice if you like your coffee gentle.

CappuccinoA cappuccino has equal parts espresso, steamed milk and a generous, frothy cap of foam. It is lighter and airier than a latte, with a stronger coffee presence and that signature fluffy top.

Flat whiteSitting between a latte and a cappuccino, a flat white is espresso with steamed milk and only a thin layer of microfoam. It is smaller and stronger than a latte, with a velvety texture and a bolder coffee flavour, which has made it a modern favourite.

The Stronger, Shorter Drinks

CortadoA cortado is espresso cut with a small, equal amount of warm milk, which softens the intensity without drowning it. It is short, balanced and a great choice for those who want strength with a little smoothness.

MacchiatoThe word means stained or marked, and a macchiato is an espresso marked with just a dash of milk or foam. It is strong and small, perfect for espresso lovers who want only a hint of milk.

AmericanoAn Americano is espresso lengthened with hot water, giving a longer, blacker coffee that keeps the rich flavour of espresso in a larger cup. Ours is black, rich and bold.

The Indulgent and the Cool

MochaFor chocolate lovers, a mocha brings together espresso, steamed milk and chocolate, a rich, indulgent treat that sits somewhere between a coffee and a hot chocolate.

FrappuccinoWhen the weather warms up, a frappuccino is a cool, blended coffee treat, and ours comes with syrup and ice cream for extra indulgence. It is dessert and coffee in one glass.

Make It Your Way

The beauty of coffee is that it is yours to customise. At Rendezvous, you can add cream, marshmallows or a flake to make a treat of your brew, and dairy free milks are available so everyone can enjoy their favourite. We also offer broad spectrum CBD coffee for a calmer cup, part of our wider CBD range. Our CBD cafe in Inverness page explains more. Whether you take your coffee strong and black or milky and sweet, there is a perfect cup waiting.

Coffee and Company

Great coffee is best enjoyed in a great setting, and our characterful cafe, with classic films playing quietly in the background, is just the spot. A coffee pairs beautifully with a buttery croissant, a slice of homemade cake or a warm scone, turning a quick cup into a proper moment. Our croissants guide covers the perfect pastry partner. There is a reason the cafe and the coffee have gone hand in hand for centuries.

Where to Enjoy Great Coffee in Inverness

If reading this has you craving a proper cup, our cafe on Church Street is ready to welcome you. We serve the full range of coffees, from a bold Americano to a velvety flat white, all freshly made, and we were named one of the Times top five coffee shops in Inverness. Browse the full drinks menu to see everything on offer, and visit our coffee shops in Inverness page for more. Whatever your order, it will be made with care.

A Short History of Cafe Culture

The coffee house has been a cornerstone of social life for centuries. From the bustling coffee houses of seventeenth century Europe, where people gathered to talk, trade and share news, to the espresso bars of Italy that gave us so many of the drinks we love today, the cafe has always been about far more than the drink itself. Espresso, the foundation of most modern coffees, was perfected in Italy, and the names on our menus, from cappuccino to macchiato, carry that Italian heritage. The flat white, by contrast, is a more recent arrival, popularised in Australia and New Zealand before conquering Britain. Today the independent cafe carries that long tradition forward, a place to pause and connect over a well made cup. It is a history we are proud to be part of, one carefully poured coffee at a time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?

A latte has plenty of steamed milk and only a thin layer of foam, making it mild and creamy. A cappuccino has equal parts espresso, milk and a generous frothy foam, so it is lighter and airier with a stronger coffee taste.

What is a flat white?

A flat white is espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam. It is smaller and stronger than a latte, with a velvety texture and a bolder coffee flavour.

What is the difference between a cortado and a macchiato?

A cortado is espresso cut with an equal amount of warm milk, while a macchiato is espresso marked with just a dash of milk or foam, making it stronger and smaller.

Do you offer dairy free milk?

Yes. Dairy free milks are available, so you can enjoy your favourite coffee whatever your dietary needs.

Do you serve CBD coffee?

Yes. We offer broad spectrum CBD coffee across our coffee styles, all meeting UK legal requirements. See our CBD cafe page for more.