What is a Latte?

A Cafe Latte is comprised of milk and espresso(* which are the basic building blocks to every espresso drink.)

2 things, amongst others, that will make or break a Latte are:

1. The Quality of the Espresso

The quality of the beans themselves is no doubt a huge factor but equally as important as how they are pulled. It is very important to note that if an espresso shot is pulled too long or too short it will negatively effect the flavor of the Cafe Latte.

2. The Steamed Milk

The most obvious clue that your latte was made by an inexperience barista is huge bubbles in your latte. A cafe latte, or any other espresso drinks, should contain micro film/ bubbles. These will enhance the flavor of your drink by adding sweetness. The type of milk used is also a huge factor. In my opinion, full cream milk does the best job of accentuating the flavor of the espresso and makes for a more creamy beverage.

A latte, unlike an espresso macchiato or a cappuccino which use  less milk, is made up of a higher ratio of milk to espresso. Latte's ratios differ but a good middle ground is a 4:1 ratio of milk to espresso. the milk to espresso ratio will differ from cafe to cafe depending on the quality of espresso and clientele of that particular coffee shop.


Do you drink Latte or Cappuccino ?