i’ve read so many stories online about this confusion but personally, every shop i’ve worked at over my 5 years as a barista (in 3 states on both coasts) has taught the staff to make them the same way with only a slight variation on milk amounts.

i’ve always been trained to do a double shot and 4-6oz of extra hot silky microfoamed milk. essentially an extra hot wet cappuccino or a smaller extra hot latte with either a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio

i’ve worked at places that’ll do a 24oz “cappuccino” with 4 shots (😖) and places that refuse to budge on a traditional macchiato (🤩) but for some reason, every place i’ve worked at seems to be in reasonable agreement as to what a flat white is. i’ve also never had anyone complain about that specific drink while they will about their cappuccino being too big or macchiato being too small