What is a latte?
A latte, or caffè latte, is a coffee drink made with espresso and a large amount of steamed milk, topped with a thin layer of foam. It is milder and creamier than a cappuccino.
A typical latte contains one or two shots of espresso and around 150 to 300 milliliters of steamed milk, with about a centimeter of microfoam on top. Smooth, velvety microfoam allows baristas to pour latte art. Lattes are usually served in tall glasses or large cups.
The name means milk coffee in Italian. If you order a latte in Italy, you might simply get a glass of milk, because latte means milk. Italians call the drink caffè latte. Milky coffee drinks have been popular in Europe for centuries, such as the French café au lait.
Popular variations
Flavored lattes, like vanilla, caramel and the autumn favorite pumpkin spice latte, are hugely popular. Other versions include the iced latte, matcha latte and chai latte, which use tea instead of coffee. Plant-based milks such as oat milk have also become common choices.
Did You Know?
The flat white, from Australia and New Zealand, is similar to a latte but smaller, with a higher proportion of espresso and a thinner layer of foam.