Say No to Imposter Cappuccinos

This rant has been lightly edited for style and space and is not endorsed by Raleigh Magazine.

Raleigh, thankfully, is a coffee mecca—brimming with cozy nooks to steep in (my faves include The Optimist and Pine State Coffee). But there’s a small issue percolating on the local coffee scene. A problem brewing beneath the surface, roasting the core of authenticity. … It’s a fraud, it’s a fake, it’s an imposter cappuccino! 

A real cappuccino, brewed lovingly in a local shop, is a very simple work of art. It has three distinct equal layers: an espresso base, milk center and froth top. All layers must be equal to be considered a cappuccino. So a typical 2-oz. double shot of espresso would be topped with an equal 2 oz. of milk and 2 0z. of froth.

Armed with this knowledge, it becomes painfully easy to spot the “imposters.” These imitation cappuccinos can’t hold their own weight—the balance becomes impossible to meet, mainly due to the crazy sizes being thrown at the exhausted consumer with the promise to “wake them up” with something hip and large.

A great rule of thumb to detect these frauds is the size. If a cappuccino comes in any size other than a 6 oz.—maybe an 8 oz.—that is not a cappuccino. The proportions get thrown off to the point that not even girl math can account for it.

Case in point: An 18 oz. (real size in the wild) cappuccino would need 6 oz. of espresso (not too many baristas serve more than 4 ounces), 6 oz. of milk and 6 oz. froth. The pure amount of froth alone would not rest on the drink. The most likely scenario is that the amount of milk is actually greater than the espresso and froth—and that ain’t no cappuccino. It’s its cousin, the latte.

Now don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with lattes. But why lie? Why not just sell the customer a 16-oz. latte and not call it a cappuccino? It begs the question: How are they differentiating these drinks? If one were to order both a 16-oz. latte and a 16-oz. cappuccino, would they be able to tell the difference? My guess is likely not.

So, be careful out there, Raleigh—and don’t be fooled. This cappuccino conundrum must be put to an end.

—Conscientious Cappuccino Consumer

Got a rant? Email it to [email protected] for print consideration.

Related Articles

Rant or Rave: A Heated Opinion got (non-dairy) milk? But First, Coffee Brewed to Perfection