How much milk goes in a cappuccino?

For a traditional 150 to 180 ml cappuccino: a single or double espresso and around 120 ml of cold milk, which roughly doubles when textured.

Why measure at all

Milk expands unpredictably, so eyeballing the jug is how people end up with too much foam and a cold second drink. Measuring the cold milk fixes the drink before you start.

Rough guide for cold milk:

• Cortado (110 ml glass): 60 ml
• Flat white (150–175 ml): 130 ml
• Cappuccino (150–180 ml): 120 ml
• Latte (250–350 ml): 200–250 ml

The jug matters

Texture properly needs the jug between a third and a half full. A 500 ml pitcher suits 150 to 250 ml of milk, which covers one large or two small drinks.

Putting 120 ml into a litre jug will not work — there is not enough volume to form a vortex.

Foam depth is the real difference

A cappuccino wants a genuine foam layer you could rest a spoon on, so stretch for five or six seconds. A flat white wants barely any, so stretch for three at most.

Same milk, same machine, different drink.

Do not save the rest

Textured milk cannot be re-textured. Measure what you need.