What is a Café Latte?

– A Complete Guide –

There are many great coffee drink creations for us to explore out there.

The café latte is certainly one of the all-time classic coffee types. Throughout the years, its popularity increasingly spread all over the world.

Today, you will hardly find any coffee shop or restaurant that will have no café latte on its menu.

It simply tastes delicious and gives us an energy boost the same time.

Many coffee lovers also appreciate the creative latte art that comes with each served cup. Every café latte cup becomes a real visual spectacle and piece of art in its own.

Traditionally, the café latte is a coffee-based drink made primarily from espresso and steamed milk.

Coffee enthusiasts appreciate the smooth and bold flavor. Together with the typical health benefits of every coffee-based drink, it is a perfect combination.

But what exactly is a café latte? Where does it come from?

And, how do you make it?

Let’s find the answers together.

Here is everything you need to know about the café latte.

What is a Café Latte

Both the cappuccino and latte have two main ingredients.

This usually causes a lot of confusion between these two coffee versions. From the outside, both coffee types very much look the same.

In more detail however, the cappuccino basically consists of three equal thirds. These are 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk and 1/3 milk foam.

All three layers are not meant to blend into each other too much. The exact opposite would actually refer to a perfectly desired cappuccino.

Ideally, you are supposed to taste and enjoy all three distinct cappuccino layers or thirds and their characteristics by themselves.

On the other hand, the café latte aims more to mix all ingredients and layers. As a result, your drink will become smoother and a bit sweeter.

In order to achieve this, the latte’s recipe and ratio significantly differs from the cappuccino’s one.

It basically consists of one 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk. On top, coffee makers will pour a thin layer of milk foam.

Depending on the skill set, the foam can create certain latte art designs. If you pour the foam onto the drink the right way. It can create amazing patterns like floating hearts or flowers, for example.

Indeed, the world and culture of latte art is a very interesting topic in itself.

History of Café Latte

The modern name ‘latte’ comes from the Italian words ‘café latte’.

It simply means ‘milk coffee’.

Nowadays and in mainly English-speaking countries, many people refer to the café latte only as latte. They do not really use the word café as well anymore.

However, this will not get you your favorite latte drink in countries like Italy then.

If you walk into any restaurant or café in Italy or mostly anywhere else in Europe and ask for a latte, you will probably only get a glass of milk.

In Italy, you specifically need to ask for a café latte.

Around the regions of France and northern Europe, the common name is café au lait. It is French and practically also just stands for milk coffee.

Spanish-speaking countries go with café con leche and Portuguese café com leite.

As you can see, the café latte has become a worldwide phenomenon. Many countries developed their own culture, preparation and flavor characteristics around it.

But where does the latte actually come from?

Origins of Café Latte

The answer to the latte’s origin will probably depend on who and where you are asking.

As with many favorite foods or beverages, the origins are not always clearly defined as such.

But there is at least one thing, we can all agree on. The espresso, one of the two main ingredients of the café latte, originates from Italy.

In fact, Europeans have been mixing milk and kinds of coffee for centuries already. You can especially find many historical traces in Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Austria.

The café latte was one of many traditional breakfast drinks in these regions for generations already.

Nevertheless, the today’s modern latte seems to have its origins from somewhere else.

Most people consider it to be an American invention.

During the 1980s, the modern latte invention and its trend started in Seattle. By the 1990s, it was already popular all over the United States.

Quite interestingly, with the help of big American coffee chains like Starbucks, the café latte found its way back to Europe.

Since then, many local coffee shops popularized it as their own. Nowadays, you can find different latte versions and names for it all over the world.

It is still difficult to say though, whom we mostly have to hank for this delicious coffee type creation in the first place.

Many coffee enthusiasts say that this irresistible drink caught fire in different parts of the world around the same time.

Maybe, it is safest to say that the modern latte was a worldwide joint effort.

I mean, that’s essentially the beauty of our vastly colorful coffee culture, right?

It somehow connects us all, one way or the other.

How to Make it

Typically, coffee makers prepare a café latte in a 240 ml (8oz) glass or cup.

First, they are using 1 standard shot of espresso. This espresso can either eventually consist of a single shot (30ml or 1oz) or a double shot (60ml or 2oz).

Second, you are filling your cup with steamed milk.

Third and last, you are topping everything with a layer of foamed milk. This layer is approximately 12 mm (1/2 inch) thick on top.

Sometimes, people also prepare a café latte with stronger coffee, instead of the usual espresso.

Furthermore, instead of the regular whole milk, some coffee makers mix everything with scalded milk. The preferred and approximate espresso to milk ratio is 1 to 1 then.

If you would make your way to Australia or New Zealand these days. You would even encounter an already newer coffee trend.

The flat white is very similar to the traditional café latte.

Baristas usually serve it in smaller ceramic cups. They are pouring the creamy and steamed milk over a single shot of espresso. This preparation holds back the lighter milk froth at the top.

A different latte version is born. Quickly, it is more and more conquering the rest of the world as well, now.

Next time you go to your nearby coffee shop, give it a try.

All About The Espresso

As we found out already, people have been mixing milk and coffee for centuries already.

So, what makes the café latte so special and different?

You probably already guessed it. The espresso makes the modern latte unique.

Thanks to this essential ingredient, the café latte gets its signature kick.

Typically, you will brew an espresso by forcing or expressing very hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans.

This makes the espresso’s texture much thicker.

In contrast, when you brew a regular coffee. Most of the aromatic oils are getting lost during the prolonged brewing process.

A good espresso will have a thicker, more velvety sensation in your mouth.

Lastly, it is usually also much less acidic than a regular cup of coffee. The reason for this affect would be a much shorter and different brewing process.

There is simply less time for the acidic flavors of the coffee beans to seep into the finished beverage.

All of these factors in an espresso eventually come together. They enable the café latte to provide an overall smoother drink texture and rich flavor sensation.

So, when we are talking about the modern latte’s success story.

We need to highlight the increasing worldwide popularity of the espresso at the same time as well.

How to Serve it

With such a globally famous beverage, many different traditions develop.

For example, in some regions you will receive your latte in a glass on a saucer. Besides, you will find a napkin, to hold the sometimes still hot glass.

This is probably one of the most common serving ways.

In Europe and particularly in Scandinavia however, your café au lait will come in a bowl.

Even more interestingly, tea has also found its way into the modern latte in some parts of the world.

Especially in Asia and North America, coffee shops combine the café latte with tea, too. They now offer hot or iced latte versions of chai, matcha, and Royal milk tea.

Ever heard of a red latte maybe?

It comes from South Africa and is made with rooibos tea. Yes, as the name already suggests, it comes in a deep red color. And on top, it tastes interestingly delicious.

What about the creation of ghetto latte or bootleg lattes? Do they sound familiar?

In some regions, people complained about relatively high prices. Hence, a cheaper preparation method found its way.

Customers can basically mix their own lattes, now.

First, they are ordering a lower-priced espresso. And then, they mix it with milk by themselves.  Other free ingredients are then available at these self-serving coffee bars too then.

You should try it. It’s really fun. And, it challenges your own imaginations. Plus, you can save some money.

Additionally, there is also a great variety of sweeteners you can add. Popular latte flavorings include vanilla, chocolate and caramel.

Nowadays, many major coffee shops also offer lattes made with milk substitutes. These are mainly soy or almond milk then.

As you can see, the more latte is out there, the more creative we are getting.

Final Café Latte Thoughts

In summary, it seems that the latte will be around for a lot longer.

As it further evolves over time, the core principles remarkably still remain the same. Maybe because the basic recipe is so simple and straight forward to everyone.

There seems no real need to change the basics. Its success story goes on.

Personally, I find it fascinating that every country has its own name and culture around it.

Many different people enjoy the traditional café latte in one way or the other these days.

It is quite exciting to see what further journey may lie ahead.

How about you?

Under which name do you know the latte? What are the unique characteristics from your region you are coming from?

When was the last time you had a latte?

Feel free to share your experiences and thoughts with us.

Until then, stay safe, healthy and properly caffeinated.

Cheers!