The cappuccino and the Frappuccino have almost the same name, but they are very different drinks. One is a hot Italian espresso classic. The other is a cold, blended Starbucks dessert in a cup.
The main difference between a Frappuccino and a cappuccino is that a cappuccino is a hot drink made with espresso, steamed milk, and foam in equal thirds, while a Frappuccino is a cold, blended Starbucks drink made with ice, milk, syrups, and whipped cream, with or without coffee.
They also differ on caffeine, calories, size, and whether you can even make one outside of a Starbucks. This guide walks through the six biggest differences, how each drink is made, and which one you should actually order.
Cappuccino vs Frappuccino at a Glance
| Feature | Cappuccino | Frappuccino |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Hot | Cold, blended with ice |
| Base | Espresso | Coffee or creme base, plus ice |
| Milk | Steamed and foamed milk | Cold milk, blended |
| Caffeine (typical) | 64 to 128 mg | 0 to 185 mg depending on flavor |
| Typical size | 6 oz | 12 to 24 oz |
| Calories (typical) | Around 80 to 150 | 250 to 500 or more |
| Sugar | None added by default | High, from syrups and cream |
| Where to get it | Any coffee shop | Starbucks (trademarked) or homemade versions |
What is a Cappuccino?
A cappuccino is a hot espresso drink made with three equal parts: espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. It started in Italy in the early 20th century and is now one of the most popular coffee drinks in the world.
A traditional cappuccino is served in a 6 oz cup. One or two shots of espresso sit at the bottom, steamed milk fills the middle, and a thick layer of airy foam tops it off. The foam is the signature part: when you tilt the cup, the drink feels dense and creamy, not watery.
Because the drink is built on espresso, a cappuccino gives you a strong coffee flavor without being as intense as a straight espresso shot. For more on how the cappuccino stacks up against other drinks, see our cappuccino vs latte guide.
What is a Frappuccino?
The Frappuccino is a trademarked, blended iced drink sold by Starbucks. The word mashes together frappe (a Greek iced coffee made with instant coffee, ice, milk, and sugar) and cappuccino, but the drink itself has almost nothing to do with a real cappuccino.
A Frappuccino is built from a coffee or creme base, ice, milk, and flavored syrups, all blended until smooth. It is then poured into a cup, topped with whipped cream, and finished with sauces, drizzles, or toppings depending on the flavor.
Surprisingly, not every Frappuccino contains coffee. Starbucks sells a whole line of creme-based Frappuccinos in flavors like strawberry, caramel ribbon crunch, vanilla bean, and pumpkin spice. These are closer to milkshakes than to coffee drinks.
6 Key Differences Between a Cappuccino and a Frappuccino
1. Temperature
The most obvious difference between a cappuccino and a Frappuccino is temperature. Cappuccinos are served hot. Frappuccinos are always served cold and blended with ice.
When making a cappuccino, the milk is steamed to around 149 F (65 C). A Frappuccino, on the other hand, is built around ice and blended until it reaches a slushie-like consistency, regardless of whether it contains coffee.
2. Caffeine content
A cappuccino is almost always caffeinated. It is made with one or two shots of espresso, which means around 64 mg to 128 mg of caffeine per drink. You can order a decaf cappuccino, but that is unusual.
Frappuccinos are all over the map. A creme-based Frappuccino has no caffeine at all. A coffee-based Grande Frappuccino is closer to 95 mg. Some of the stronger options, like an Espresso Frappuccino, can hit 185 mg or more in a Venti size.
| Drink | Size | Approximate caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional cappuccino | 6 oz | 64 to 128 mg |
| Starbucks Tall cappuccino | 12 oz | 75 mg |
| Starbucks Grande cappuccino | 16 oz | 150 mg |
| Coffee Frappuccino (Grande) | 16 oz | Around 95 mg |
| Espresso Frappuccino (Venti) | 24 oz | Around 185 mg |
| Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino | 16 oz | 0 mg |
If you are tracking caffeine, the cappuccino is far more predictable. Our guide on caffeine in a shot of espresso explains why the espresso number is so stable.
3. The need for espresso
A cappuccino is always made with espresso. If your drink is one-third coffee, one-third steamed milk, and one-third foam, but the coffee comes from a French press or drip machine, it is not a real cappuccino.
A Frappuccino is much more flexible. It can be built from brewed coffee, an espresso shot, or no coffee at all. At home, you can make a passable Frappuccino with whatever coffee you have in the fridge.
4. Proportions and recipe
The cappuccino is strictly defined. A real cappuccino is one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third milk foam. Change those ratios and the drink turns into something else, like a flat white, a wet cappuccino, or a latte.
A Frappuccino has no strict ratio. It is defined more by what goes in the blender: coffee or creme base, ice, milk, syrup, and toppings. Starbucks even varies its recipes over time, which is part of the reason new flavors keep appearing on the menu.
Worth noting: the word Frappuccino is trademarked by Starbucks. You can call your homemade blended coffee a Frappuccino, but a coffee shop down the road can’t put the name on their menu.
5. Calories and sugar
Because of the syrups, sauces, and whipped cream, a Frappuccino has a lot more calories and sugar than a cappuccino.
A standard cappuccino with whole milk lands around 80 to 150 calories, depending on size, and has no added sugar. A Grande Frappuccino is usually in the 250 to 400 calorie range. Some of the sweeter options, like the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino, clear 500 calories in a Venti.
- Cappuccino (6 oz, whole milk): around 80 to 120 calories, about 6 g of sugar (from lactose in milk).
- Cappuccino (16 oz Grande, whole milk): around 150 calories, about 12 g of sugar.
- Caramel Frappuccino (Grande): around 380 calories, about 54 g of sugar.
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino (Venti): around 510 calories, about 75 g of sugar.
A Frappuccino is closer to a dessert than a morning coffee. A cappuccino is a classic coffee drink you can have every day without much thought.
6. Serving size
A traditional cappuccino is served in a 6 oz cup. Frappuccinos are at least double that size. At Starbucks, a Tall cappuccino is 12 oz, a Grande is 16 oz, and a Venti is 24 oz, but most people still think of a cappuccino as a small drink.
A Frappuccino usually shows up in the same Tall, Grande, and Venti sizes, but it is designed to be sipped slowly while you do something else. The ice melts over time, so the drink evolves as you go.
Popular Starbucks Frappuccino Flavors
Because a Frappuccino is more of a recipe template than a fixed drink, Starbucks has built a huge menu of flavors over the years. Some of the most popular US options include:
- Coffee Frappuccino – the original, built on a coffee base, ice, milk, and classic syrup.
- Caramel Frappuccino – coffee base with caramel syrup, topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
- Mocha Frappuccino – coffee base blended with mocha sauce and topped with whipped cream.
- Java Chip Frappuccino – mocha sauce and chocolate chips blended in, with whipped cream and mocha drizzle on top.
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino – layers of caramel sauce, buttery caramel drizzle, whipped cream, and crunchy sugar topping.
- Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino – a coffee-free option, blended with milk, ice, and vanilla bean powder.
- Strawberry Creme Frappuccino – another caffeine-free pick, built with a strawberry puree.
- Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino – a seasonal favorite in the fall, built on pumpkin spice sauce.
If you have ever wondered why the Frappuccino menu seems to change every month, that is why. It is a platform, not a single recipe.
How to Make a Cappuccino
A cappuccino is equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam, served in a 6 oz cup. You need an espresso machine with a steam wand, freshly ground coffee beans, and cold milk.
- Pull a single or double shot of espresso directly into your cup.
- Pour cold milk into a steaming jug, filling it about one-third of the way.
- Insert the steam wand just below the surface and steam for a few seconds to stretch the milk and build foam.
- Lower the wand deeper into the jug and spin the milk until it reaches 149 F (65 C).
- Tap the jug on the counter to knock out large bubbles, then swirl it to combine the milk and foam.
- Pour the milk into the espresso from a low height, letting the foam slide over the top.
Cappuccinos are only as good as the espresso underneath them. Our guide to the best coffee beans for cappuccinos covers the roasts that work best, and our best home cappuccino machines roundup walks through the gear.
How to Make a Frappuccino at Home
Because Frappuccino is a Starbucks trademark, the only “real” one comes from a Starbucks store. But you can make a very close version at home with a blender.
You’ll need:
- Strong coffee (cold espresso works best, but chilled drip coffee is fine)
- Ice (around 1 cup of crushed or cubed ice per serving)
- Milk of your choice, including oat, soy, or almond milk
- A sweetener such as sugar, simple syrup, or honey
- Whipped cream
- Optional flavored syrups (caramel, vanilla, mocha)
- Add the cold coffee, milk, ice, and sweetener to a blender.
- Blend on high until the mixture looks slushy and smooth, around 30 seconds.
- Pour into a tall glass.
- Top with a generous swirl of whipped cream.
- Finish with your chosen syrup or sauce drizzle.
You can keep experimenting with flavors, and you can skip the coffee entirely if you want a creme-style Frappuccino. Just know that most Frappuccino-style recipes are heavy on sugar, so this is more of an occasional treat than a daily coffee drink.
Cappuccino vs Frappuccino: Which Should You Order?
- Order a cappuccino if you want a hot, classic espresso drink with a balanced coffee flavor, low sugar, and a predictable caffeine hit.
- Order a Frappuccino if you want a cold, sweet, dessert-style drink and you are not too worried about the calorie count.
- Order a creme Frappuccino if you want the blended, iced experience without the caffeine.
- Order an iced latte or cold brew instead if you want something cold but not sugary. You still get the coffee flavor without the dessert.
If you’re deep in the “which coffee drink is which” rabbit hole, our cappuccino vs mocha and cappuccino vs espresso guides are good next reads.
FAQ – Cappuccino vs Frappuccino
It depends on which Frappuccino. A standard cappuccino contains around 64 to 128 mg of caffeine. A creme Frappuccino has zero caffeine. A coffee-based Frappuccino usually lands around 95 mg in a Grande, and an Espresso Frappuccino can hit 185 mg in a Venti. A cappuccino is stronger than most standard Frappuccinos ounce for ounce, but the largest coffee Frappuccinos can beat it on total caffeine.
No. The Frappuccino was originally designed as a cold, blended coffee drink, but it has grown into a separate product line. A modern Frappuccino is a blended mix of coffee or creme base, ice, milk, and syrup, finished with whipped cream. It is closer to a coffee milkshake than a frozen cappuccino.
A frappe is a general term for a blended, iced coffee drink, often topped with whipped cream. A Frappuccino is Starbucks’ trademarked version of a blended iced coffee drink. All Frappuccinos are frappes, but not all frappes are Frappuccinos.
No. Starbucks sells a line of creme Frappuccinos that contain no coffee, including Vanilla Bean, Strawberry Creme, Chai Creme, and Double Chocolaty Chip. These are all caffeine-free unless you add a shot of espresso.
A Frappuccino has significantly more calories than a cappuccino. A whole-milk cappuccino is around 80 to 150 calories depending on size. A Grande Frappuccino is typically 250 to 400 calories, and some Venti options clear 500 calories thanks to syrups, whipped cream, and toppings.
Explore more in our coffee drink guides.
I’m Joel, an espresso-loving coffee nerd. I got into coffee because I spent a lot of time in Milan as a kid and started liking coffee waaaay too young. I’m all about making sure espresso is treated with the same care as any other coffee – it’s not just a quick drink!
Leave a Reply