Cappuccino

A double espresso shot with steamed milk and a thick layer of foam — traditionally one-third espresso, one-third milk, one-third foam. In Australia, it's almost always dusted with chocolate powder on top.

Why it matters — The cappuccino is one of the most-ordered drinks on every Australian café menu. It's the milk-drink benchmark — get the cappuccino right, and the rest of your menu falls into place.

Good to know

• Australian cappuccinos have chocolate on top. Most of the rest of the world doesn't — Italian cappuccinos are unadorned, with no powder.
• Aim for 1.5–2 cm of foam — enough to feel substantial, not so much that the drink is dry.