Lattes and cappuccinos are both made from espresso and milk. The distinction between a latte vs a cappuccino lies in the espresso to milk ratio and whether the milk is frothed or steamed. A cappuccino starts with equal amounts of milk and espresso. A latte, on the other hand, uses twice the amount of milk as espresso.
A latte is in some ways similar to a cappuccino but the key difference is the ratio of milk to foam. In a cappuccino, the volume of espresso, milk and foam is the same, but with a latte, the milk takes up most of the drink – with just a thin layer of foam on top.