Wet vs Dry Cappuccino: What’s the Difference?

By
Samanta Fryer
Samanta Fryer
Writer
Samanta Fryer is our senior editor and content writer, at CoffeeVibe. Apart from writing and reading, she’s fond of the coffee brewing process and enjoys tasting new coffe read more
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Reviewed By
Ryan Hendricks
Ryan Hendricks
Expert
Ryan Hendricks is our tester, who puts products through their paces. He used to be a barista and is now a full-time coffee enthusiast. He’s always testing out new gadgets, read more
Last updated: August 16, 2023
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Whether you are an avid coffee drinker or not, you have probably heard of the cappuccino. This wonderful drink is one of the, if not the most popular variant of espresso drinks, not just in the West, but all over the world. Which do you prefer: wet vs dry cappuccino? Well, this post will help you know more about these two types of cappuccino. The word ‘cappuccino’ comes from Capuchin monks. These made this particular drink very popular, and their light brown religious robes are of the same color of the popular drink.

In case you didn’t know, cappuccino is an espresso drink. However, unlike other espressos, it is creamy and comes with double shots. It also features a layer of steamed milk and an extra layer of milk foam. Due to this unique combination, many folks find it so much easier to sip. There are different types of cappuccinos you can get at your favorite coffee shop today. However, the most popular types are the wet and dry cappuccino. In this post, we will look at these two types of cappuccino, their differences, and benefits.

What is Wet Cappuccino?

Wet vs Dry Cappuccino: What's the Difference?

Chances are high that you already know what a wet cappuccino is. It is the most popular type of cappuccino. It has more steamed milk in it than frothed milk. Due to this composition, wet cappuccino has a rich, milky flavor which is loved by millions across the globe.

It has this unique flavor because of the steamed milk. The milk serves to smoothen the drink. Furthermore, the steamed milk reduces the bitter, shape taste of dark coffee.

What is Dry Cappuccino?

The dry cappuccino has a very little amount of steamed milk in it. It contains more of frothed milk than it does steamed milk. Why is it called ‘dry cappuccino”? Well, it is called this because it has a small amount of milk in it. Remember, it has a layer of foam milk, which is mostly made up of air, and doesn’t particularly impact the taste of the cappuccino.

This is even truer when you ask your barrister for foamed milk. You can also ask for microfoam milk. However, foamed milk contains bigger air bubbles than microfoam milk.

Differences between Dry and Wet Cappuccino

Wet vs Dry Cappuccino: What's the Difference?

Well, if you tell the barista at your favorite coffee shop that you desire a wet cappuccino, what you are really saying is that you want your espresso to have less foam and more steamed milk. If on the other hand you request for a dry cappuccino, you are telling the barista to give your espresso more foam.

Whether you ask for dry or wet, the size of the drink doesn’t change. The only thing that changes is the ratio of what is added to the drink.

Since the wet cappuccino comes with more steamed milk, it has a sweeter and smoother feel and taste than dry cappuccino. The taste you get from the dry cappuccino is denser, richer, and coarser.

Bone-dry and Super Wet Cappuccino

Most folks usually order either a wet or a dry cappuccino. However, there are even more interesting options available: bone-dry and super wet cappuccino.

The Bone-dry cappuccino is even “drier” than the dry cappuccino. Remember that the dry cappuccino still has some steamed milk in it, even though it isn’t as much as that found in the wet cappuccino. However, the bone-dry cappuccino goes a notch higher. It has only espresso and foamed milk as the ingredients. Without any steamed milk, this particular drink gives you strong, bitter espresso shots.

Many folks have compared the taste of a bone-dry cappuccino to that of macchiato albeit with more foam.

The Super wet cappuccino is as “wet” as you can get! In this type of cappuccino, even more steamed milk is added to a wet cappuccino. Hence, it gives a creamier, sweeter, ultra-smooth taste than the wet cappuccino.

Main Differences between Wet and Dry Cappuccino

Wet vs Dry Cappuccino: What's the Difference?

So, what are the main differences between the two? Let’s see

  • Steamed Milk

As we pointed out earlier, a wet cappuccino has higher steamed milk content than the dry cappuccino. They also have less foam.

  • Preparation

A wet cappuccino is much easier to prepare than the dry cappuccino. All it requires is a milk foam layer. However, to make a dry cappuccino, you need to exert effort and time making the foam.

  • Foam

For the wet cappuccino, the foam gives a creamier taste. In dry cappuccinos, the layer of foam is full of air bubbles, which pop to give off aromas that can make you to enjoy the beverage even better.

Conclusion

The underlying similarity between the wet and dry cappuccinos is the espresso shots. The main difference is the amount of steamed milk added. We hope this Wet vs Dry cappuccino post will help you the next time you go to your favorite coffee shop.

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