Cappuccino is an Italian espresso-based coffee drink made with steamed milk and a deep layer of milk foam, traditionally in roughly equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam. The name comes from the Capuchin friars, whose brown robes are said to have inspired the drink's color.
It differs from a latte, which uses more steamed milk and a thin layer of foam, and from a macchiato, which uses much less milk; a cappuccino's thicker foam cap is its defining feature.
The milk used is typically whole or low-fat, since foam quality depends on the milk's fat and protein content. Cappuccino is served worldwide alongside pastries such as croissants and biscotti, and is also used as a flavoring in desserts like tiramisu.