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Beverage made with espresso coffee and milk From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Caffè latte (Italian: [kafˌfɛ lˈlatte][1][2]), also known as caffè e latte or caffellatte, less correct caffelatte, often shortened to just latte[a] (/ˈlɑːteɪ, ˈlæteɪ/) in English,[3][4] is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk, traditionally served in a glass. Variants include the chocolate-flavored mocha or replacing the coffee with another beverage base such as masala chai (spiced Indian tea), mate, matcha,[5] turmeric or rooibos; alternatives to milk, such as soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk or oat milk, are also used.
| |
| Alternative names | Caffè latte, caffè e latte, caffellatte, caffelatte (less correct) |
|---|---|
| Type | Milk coffee |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Main ingredients | Espresso, steamed milk |
| Variations | Caffè mocha (chocolate-flavored) |
The term comes from the Italian caffellatte[6] or caffè latte, from caffè e latte, literally 'coffee and milk'; in English orthography, either or both words sometimes have an accent on the final e (a hyperforeignism in the case of *latté). In Northern Europe and Scandinavia, the term café au lait has traditionally been used for the combination of espresso and milk. In France, cafè latte is from the original name of the beverage (caffè latte); a combination of espresso and steamed milk equivalent to a "latte" is in French called un crème (un grand crème using cream instead of milk) and in German Milchkaffee.
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A caffè latte consists of one or more shots of espresso, served in a glass (or sometimes a cup), into which hot steamed milk is added.[7] The difference between a caffè latte and a cappuccino is that the cappuccino is served in a small 140 mL (5 US fl oz) cup with a layer of thick foam on top of the milk, and a caffè latte is served in a larger 230 mL (8 US fl oz) glass (or cup), without the layer of thick foam.[8] Thus, a caffè latte is much milkier than a cappuccino, resulting in a milder coffee taste. The way the milk is steamed for a caffè latte results in very fine bubbles being incorporated in the hot milk. This microfoam can be poured in such a way as to form patterns in the white microfoam and brown crema (latte art). The texture of the microfoam changes the taste and feel of the drink.[9]
A similar drink is the latte macchiato, which is also served in a glass, but the espresso is added to the glass after the steamed milk.[7] In Italy, milky coffee drinks such as caffè latte, latte macchiato, and cappuccino are almost always prepared for breakfast only.[10]
In the United States, a latte is often heavily sweetened with 3% sugar (or even more). These sweeteners usually come in the form of refined white sugars, artificial sweeteners or agave syrup.[11]
In English-speaking countries, latte is shorthand for caffè latte or caffellatte (from caffè e latte, lit. 'coffee and milk'), which is similar to the French café au lait, the Spanish café con leche, the Catalan cafè amb llet, or the Portuguese galão.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term caffè e latte was first used in English in 1867 by William Dean Howells in his essay "Italian Journeys",[12] but as this preceded the spread of espresso machines, this drink would have been "nothing like the lattes found today at specialty coffee shops".
The French term café au lait was used in cafés in several countries in western continental Europe from 1900 onward; however, the term café crème was used in France for coffee with milk or cream.[citation needed]
In Spanish, the phrase café con leche (lit. 'coffee with milk') is used, which is by default served in a medium or large cup, whereas the similar cortado (coffee with less milk) is served in a small cup.[citation needed]
The Austro-Hungarian Empire (Central Europe) had its own terminology for the coffees being served in coffee houses. Kapuziner is mentioned in Austrian coffee houses in Vienna and Trieste in the second half of 1700s as "coffee with cream, spices, and sugar" (being the origin of the Italian cappuccino). Melange or café au lait was introduced in Austrian cafés around 1850. In German homes, it was still called Milchkaffee.[citation needed]
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The drink is thought to have "technically originated" in 17th-century Europe.[13]
The modern caffè latte appeared in the 20th century, following the invention of the espresso machine in the 19th century.[14]
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In the United States, latte was popularized in Seattle, Washington, in the early 1980s.[15]
In South Korea, espresso and its variants (cappuccino, latte, and caffè mocha) became popular in 2000.[16]
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Calling people "latte drinkers" pejoratively has become a common political attack in some Western cultures. The popularity of espresso drinking in large cities, especially among more affluent urban populations, has caused some to consider it elitist behavior. In the United States, conservative political commentators have been known to call their opponents "latte-drinking liberal elites".[30][31][32][33] In Canadian politics, latte drinking is used to portray people as out-of-touch intellectuals and the antithesis of the Tim Hortons coffee drinker, who is considered representative of an ordinary Canadian.[34][35]
According to a 2018 study, 16% of liberals in the United States prefer lattes, whereas 9% of conservatives and 11% of moderates do.[36] The study states further that the overwhelming majority of people, whether they are liberal, conservative or moderate, express a preference for brewed coffee.[36]
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