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Have you ever gone into a coffee shop and stared at the gigantic menu of fine print wishing they would just write it in plain English? Well, I hope I can help! How about a crash course in Italian & French? If that sounds like too much work, we’ll just stick to the latte lingo for now. You’ll be ordering that tall mocha breve con panna in no time.
First, the basics, most espresso beverages have a base of milk. Whole milk is latte. Half and half is breve. Heavy cream is creme. With whip cream is con panna. Having something dry means only foamed milk, no liquid. You can also have a rice latte or a soy latte instead of regular milk.
Then you add the espresso or caffe. One-shot is equal to one ounce. If you order an espresso, you will get a one-ounce shot of espresso in a demitasse, which is French for half-cup and usually holds about three ounces. An espresso macchiato is the shot of espresso with foam on top, and espresso creme is espresso with an ounce of heavy cream. Whether it be a shot of espresso or a shot of flavored syrup, one shot is one ounce. In a short (small) or a tall (medium) drink, there will usually be two shots of espresso, which is called a double or doppio. The larger sizes (grande or venti) would contain a triple or three shots. And for the daring, a quad would be four shots.
Espresso macchiato made with half and half.
- A caffe latte is steamed with whole milk and espresso.
- A caffe breve would be steamed half and half with espresso, very rich; it is my favorite drink. It is okay to leave off the caffe part (i.e. I’ll have a latte) because they assume you are not asking for just a cup of steamed milk, but need some caffeine to get you going!
- The same goes for a mocha, which just means chocolate, but if you ask for a mocha they will assume you are asking for a mocha caffe latte, not just chocolate.
- A cappuccino is usually 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk, and 1/3 foam.
- A dry cappuccino is made with espresso and foam only.
- Caffe au lait is drip-brewed coffee with steamed milk.
- An Americano is an espresso with hot water; similar to drip coffee, but with a little different flavor.
- Most coffee shops also have a Toddy or the cold-brewed coffee I spoke of last month. These drinks are all assumed to be hot unless you ask for iced. Although in Arizona on a hot afternoon you will have to watch them closely because they might assume that you want iced.
Some common additions and subtractions are con panna, with whip cream. No foam is just as it sounds because a normal latte will have a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of foam at the top, which some people do not enjoy. Half-caf, one-shot regular, and one-shot decaf. Decaf, all shots are decaf. With room is to leave room at the top for cream. Add a shot of _____ can be for any flavored syrup such as vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut.
Now, let’s put it all together. Start with the size, then you can specify iced (if you don’t, they will assume hot), then the drink, and finally any additions/subtractions. Okay, so we could order a tall latte con panna – translation – a medium cup of steamed whole milk, two shots of espresso, with whip cream. A short dry cappuccino is a small cappuccino with only foam. And now – my current favorite drink – a large (or venti) decaf iced breve add one shot of caramel.
This is Stefanie reminding you to enjoy life, one cup at a time.
Coffee Drinks: An illustrated infographic guide to what’s in your cupby Merlin Jobst
Title Photo by Matt Hoffman.
Stefanie writes for the Voice in the Desert newspaper, a local paper serving Cochise County, Arizona.
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FAQs
Latte – A caffè latte, often shortened to “latte,” is a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. Latte translates to milk in Italian, and as such this beverage is milky and without an overwhelmingly strong coffee flavour.
Does latte mean coffee? ›
A latte or caffè latte is a milk coffee that is a made up of one or two shots of espresso, steamed milk and a final, thin layer of frothed milk on top. If you don't drink dairy milk, you can easily swap it for a plant-based alternative like soy, oat or coconut milk.
How much coffee is in a latte? ›
Usually the latte is made with a single or double shot of espresso (1/3 of your drink) and 2/3 of your drink is steamed milk with a small layer (around 1 cm) of frothed milk. The texture of a latte is very important and gives that lit bit of extra to the beautiful appearance of this drink.
What is the translation of latte coffee? ›
Caffè latte (Italian: [kafˌfɛ lˈlatte]), often shortened to just latte (/ˈlɑːteɪ, ˈlæteɪ/) in English, is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk, traditionally served in a glass.
What does latte love mean? ›
"Espresso yourself" is, indeed, used to mean "express yourself" and "ad gets latte love" is similarly used to mean "advertisment gets a lot of love".
What type of person is a latte? ›
If you drink Latte, then drinking latte coffee personality type says that you are a laidback, agreeable, happy-to-go with the flow kind of person.
What is stronger latte or coffee? ›
When comparing the taste and strength of lattes and coffees, it is essential to consider the caffeine content. A traditional 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee usually contains around 95 mg of caffeine, while an 8-ounce latte has about 63 mg of caffeine due to the single shot of espresso used.
Is A latte better than a coffee? ›
Ultimately, the choice between a latte and coffee comes down to personal preference. If you prefer a smooth and creamy taste with a rich flavor, a latte may be the way to go. If you prefer a sharp and bitter taste or want to limit your calorie intake, coffee may be a better choice.
Does a latte need to have coffee? ›
A common question many people ask is, "Do all lattes have coffee?" The answer is that traditional lattes are espresso-based, meaning they indeed contain coffee. At its core, a latte comprises espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. Over the years, lattes have evolved beyond just coffee and milk.
What is the weakest coffee? ›
What's the weakest coffee drink? In terms of caffeine content, an Espresso is actually the weakest coffee drink. Though that may come as a surprise to some, an average Espresso contains anything from 60-90mg of Caffeine compared to most other drinks that start around 100mg and upwards.
When comparing coffee with milk and lattes, one of the key differences lies in the texture of the milk. Steamed milk is utilized in lattes, whereas regular milk is often added to black coffee. Steamed milk is produced by introducing steam into cold milk using a steam wand, found on espresso machines.
Is a latte hot or cold? ›
Does a Latte Have To Be Hot? Despite a latte at its core being espresso with steamed milk, which is hot, a latte does not have to be only hot. Iced lattes can be made with espresso, cold milk, and ice! No flavor is lost, and it is a delicious alternative to have once the months grow unbearably warm.
What is a latte called in America? ›
Most Americans I know call a cappuccino a “cappuccino.” Those same Americans call a latte a “latte.” At a coffee shop, a latte has more milk in it than a cappuccino. That's why a latte is called a latte.
Which is stronger, latte or cappuccino? ›
Latte vs. cappuccino: Which is stronger? The cappuccino uses less milk in the coffee, as the majority of it sits on top of the drink, in a foam-like state. Therefore, leaving the cappuccino tasting stronger than a latte.
What is a latte called at Starbucks? ›
Our Latte Macchiato and classic Latte (also called a Caffè Latte) have the same two ingredients: milk and espresso. But the craft of our baristas is what makes each drink unique. Latte Macchiato is our most espresso forward latte, while Latte has a more balanced, delicate flavor.
What do Italians call a latte? ›
3. Latte. Latte means milk in Italian. Unless you wanted a nice glass of milk, you'll need another term. In fact, what Americans call a latte is, in Italian, a caffè latte or latte macchiatto - milk with espresso.
What do the French call a latte? ›
Un Café Crème: A café crème is somewhat equivalent to a cappuccino or latte. It's made up of equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam. Un Café Au Lait: Similar to 'un café crème' but usually has a lot more milk and is served in a bigger cup or even a bowl.
What is a latte with heavy cream called? ›
at our café, we call any milk-based espresso drink made with heavy cream instead of normal milk a “crème” (like how you might say a breve latte for drinks made with half-and-half).
