Try a Tea Cappuccino on National Cappuccino Day!

If you’re a coffee lover, chances are you’ve tried a cappuccino. The smooth, creamy milk foam gives this drink its signature texture and is what differentiates it from many of it’s similar coffee based counterparts. If you haven’t tried one, no worries – now is the perfect time! Coffee drinker or not, did you know you can sub out the coffee in a cappuccino for your favorite tea blend for a new twist on a classic tea latte!

What is a Cappuccino? 

A cappuccino is made up of 3 equal layers which combine to a 1:1 ratio of liquid to foam. The first layer is espresso. A traditional cappuccino contains one espresso shot, but they are commonly made with 2 in the US. The second layer is steamed milk or a milk alternative. The third layer is key to a great cappuccino – milk foam. A cappuccino typically has a stronger espresso flavor with a light but creamy mouthfeel. The difference is all thanks to the high proportion of milk foam as opposed to steamed milk.

Latte Vs Cappuccino – What’s the Difference?

If you know a bit about coffee and espresso drinks, this description of a cappuccino may sound like a latte. In some ways the two drinks are very similar. However, there are a few distinct differences that make all a cappuccino a very different experience. The most important difference is the texture of the milk in the drink.

Most lattes start out with the same espresso layer, though some shops add more than two shots. A latte is the espresso layer, 2 parts steamed milk, and topped with a layer of micro-foam. The micro-foam created by properly steaming the milk.

In contrast, the milk in a cappuccino is steamed with more air to create a larger amount of milk foam. This leads to the completed drink having a near 1:1 ratio of liquid to foam. This foam leads to a very light but creamy texture, and the smaller portion of milk used allows the espresso flavor to shine. The foam also creates distinct textural layers in a cappuccino, whereas a latte blends together to create a blend of espresso and milk.

Making a Tea Cappuccino

To make a tea cappuccino, we’re applying the same principles as we do to make a tea latte. Instead of espresso, we’ll use a base layer of concentrated tea, steeped briefly in hot water before adding the steamed milk. Like a tea latte, we’ll also add some regular steamed (or warmed) milk. To make a tea cappuccino, we’ll add 1 part steamed milk to 1 part tea concentrate. To make this a cappuccino, we’ll top this with a thicccc layer of milk foam. Just like that, we’ve adapted our tea latte recipe to be a tea cappuccino!

Foam At Home

If you have an espresso machine at home with a steam wand, you’re in luck – this part is super easy! Learn how to use a steam-wand to make your cappuccino foam at home here!

Now, if you’re like us, you don’t have a few extra grand lying around to pick up a professional espresso machine to steam milk with. We’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is there’s no way to truly replicate traditional cappuccino foam at home. But wait! The great news is there are a couple ways to create foams at home that will satisfy your craving for a tea cappuccino at home. That way you can use your favorite blends at home without finding a tea shop.

The easiest method to make cappuccino style foam at home is to use a milk frother. Start by heating your milk or alternative on the stove, and use a handheld milk frother to whip the warm milk. Try frothing right at the surface to incorporate the most air. Whip until you have enough foam to fill the top ⅓ – ½ of your mug. Add your warm milk (1 part) and spoon or pour in foam to finish.

While traditional cappuccinos are only made hot, use a cold-foam if you’d prefer this drink iced. Replace the steamed milk with cold milk and top it with a cold-foam style foam. Make cold-foams by whipping your dairy in a blender, mixer, or blending cup. Please note that if you use this type of foam with a hot tea and warm milk it may melt into the warm tea quickly.

Flavor Options

The best part about making a tea cappuccino at home is you can use your favorite tea blends. Some flavor combos work better than others. Blends we love include:

• Anything earl grey, especially Bright and Early
• Matcha
• Kumaon Black
• Kumaon Let’s Go
• Red Moon Rooibos Chai

Blends we avoid:

• Peachy Keen (some ingredients result in a curdled effect in milk)
• Jaidrate (some ingredients result in a curdled effect in milk)
• Ammunitea (If using this blend while sick, keep in mind that milk products can aggravate symptoms)
• White Peony (Delicate flavor, can be overpowered by milk)