Cappuccino
/ˌkæp.jəˈtʃiː.noʊ/noun
A coffee drink made with espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam.
Did you know?The drink’s name comes from the Capuchin friars, whose brown habits and pointed hoods matched the color and shape of the beverage, making this one of the most visually literal “spell names” in coffee culture.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Italian
cappuccio
“hood or cowl”
16th Century
Italian
cappuccino
“Capuchin friar; literally a little hooded one”
17th Century
Italian
Capuccini
“the Capuchin order of friars”
Early 20th Century
Italian
cappuccino
“coffee drink resembling the color of a Capuchin habit”
20th Century
English
cappuccino
“an espresso drink topped with steamed milk and foam”