The latte is one of the most popular forms of coffee served at any coffee shop. Go to just about any coffee shop, and you’ll probably see someone order a latte within the hour. However, many beginners in the coffee world may not know just what a latte is.
A cafe latte is a coffee-based drink with two-thirds steamed milk, one-third espresso, and a thin layer of foam. Lattes can be ordered in many different flavors, including a chocolatey mocha latte, vanilla, caramel, or the seasonal pumpkin spice latte.
Many people may want more info on just what makes a latte a latte. So let’s break it down so you can decide if the latte is the right drink for you. In this article, we’ll go into what a latte is, its origin, the different flavors, and the perfect time to drink them.
What is a Latte?
What most people imagine when they hear the term “latte” is actually a drink called a “cafe latte,” which combines a special kind of steamed milk with one or two shots of espresso.
The sweet, creamy texture of the steamed milk blends with the strong flavor of the espresso to create a drink with a beautiful flavor and texture that anyone can enjoy drinking.
The true definition of a latte is just a style of steamed milk. This milk is steamed and frothed, creating a soft, creamy drink. Most places will serve you a cafe latte if you go to a coffee shop and order a latte.
However, some more authentic Italian and European cafes may just serve you a glass of steamed milk. This is especially true for cafes actually in Italy since the word “latte” in Italian literally just means “milk.”
Where Did Lattes Come From?
Lattes can be traced back to 17th century Italy. Having coffee with milk was popular in the area. It was a ubiquitous drink to have with breakfast. Although it is unknown who came up with the idea or just how the drink was invented, it is easy to imagine someone replacing the regular milk in their coffee with steamed milk.
This drink has many different names in many different cultures and can be served in different ways. For example, in France, the cafe latte is known as café au lait, and many French cafes in other countries continue to use this term.
In Spanish, the latte has two different names. The term café con leche (literally translates to “coffee with milk”) is served in either a medium or large cup, as opposed to the cortado (“coffee with less milk”), which is served in a small cup.
For the US, the Caffe Mediterraneum in Berkeley, California, claims that one of its early owners invented the American version of the latte in the 1950s. However, despite this early start, it didn’t become a popular drink until the 1980s.
This popularity boom occurred in Seattle, which is often referred to as the capital of coffee due to it being the origin of Starbucks. It is estimated that millions of lattes are consumed each day, so it is safe to say that the drink is a mainstay in the coffee world.
How is a Latte Made?
The typical latte is made using a ratio of one-third espresso, two-thirds steamed milk, and a thin layer of foam on top.
To make espresso, Espresso roast coffee grounds are finely ground. This step is usually completed well before you order your latte. They are brewed with water to make some lovely dark and bitter liquid espresso. Most cafes will use a dedicated espresso machine for this part.
Microfoam
As for the steamed milk, most cafes also use the espresso machine for this part. Most espresso machines come with something called a steaming wand. This steaming wand turns milk into something most baristas call microfoam.
This microfoam is a unique type of milk with that wet-paint-like texture that lattes are known for. This microfoam is sometimes called velvet milk due to its silky smooth texture. Microfoam’s texture is due to the tiny, uniform bubbles that coat its surface.
You can use any milk for this step, but certain ones will work better than others. The best one to use for flavor is whole milk. Whole milk’s high-fat content will produce a much richer and creamier texture than other kinds of milk.
If you want to avoid the fat due to its high-calorie content, you can also use 2 percent fat and skimmed milk. These will have a worse texture, but you’ll still get that nice latte feel. You can also use soy milk to make your latte to avoid dairy.
DIY Milk
If you want to make your own milk for a homemade latte, and you don’t want to buy a fancy espresso machine, you can also use a milk frother (on Amazon), which is around $10.
You just need to heat your milk to a scalding temperature (about 150 degrees Fahrenheit) and then whisk it using the milk frother. You can also use an actual whisk for this step, but it takes much longer and will get you less foam than the milk frother.
Finally, these ingredients are combined in the same ratio we mentioned earlier (one-third espresso, two-thirds steamed milk, and a thin layer of foam on top), and the latte is complete.
You can use these steps to make your own latte at home or just leave it to the professionals. Either way, you’ll end up with a nice creamy drink that’ll give you the energy you need.
How is Latte Art Made?
Latte art is one of the many draws of getting your latte made by a professional barista. If you get your latte made at a cafe, you may find a nice drawing in the layer of foam at the top.
This art is created using a technique called free pouring, where the design is carefully created by pouring milk on the espresso layer from a precise height. The pitcher moves while pouring to combine the milk foam and cream. Finally, the pattern is created using an etching pen to finely define shapes in the foam.
Some of the first latte art designs that a barista learns to do are the heart and the rosetta, which is a leaf-looking design. Once experienced, most baristas learn how to make swans and tulips. These are both variations of the original two designs.
Finally, once the fundamental techniques have been mastered, baristas will be able to go on to make any design they can dream of.
What Are the Most Popular Latte Flavors?
When you order your latte, you are not only doomed to the classic coffee and milk flavors. There are a ton of different options that just about anyone can enjoy. Let’s go through a few to help you find the right one for you.
Mocha Latte
First up is the mocha latte, which combines your latte with a nice chocolate flavor that’s perfect for any chocolate lover. There are also vanilla and caramel flavors that combine the latte with either vanilla or caramel cream.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon lattes add a nice earthy cinnamon tone to better round out the flavor of your latte. Chai lattes are also another popular flavor. These replace the espresso part of your latte with chai tea to create a more comforting flavor.
Pumpkin Spice
One of the most popular seasonal flavors is the pumpkin spice latte. This latte uses a delicious combination of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove to add a delightful and cozy taste. Unfortunately, these are usually limited to the fall season, typically available sometime in August. However, this will depend on where you’re ordering it from.
What is the Best Time of Day to Drink a Latte?
You can drink a latte whenever you want, but there is a science to the perfect time of day to drink a latte. In your body, there is a stress hormone called cortisol. It has other functions, but cortisol mainly works to keep you alert and focused.
Once you wake up, your cortisol levels naturally peak for about 30 minutes. Drinking coffee during this cortisol spike will cause your cortisol levels to spike even further. Causing this even sharper cortisol spike is theorized to be able to harm your immune system.
Following this logic, the best time to drink coffee is about 3 hours after waking up. If you wake up at 6:00 a.m., you probably want to drink your coffee around 9:00 a.m. If you’re willing to put off your morning cup of joe, you will find that you will have a much longer-lasting source of energy.
It is also worth noting that there is a maximum time to drink coffee before bed. Therefore, when you drink coffee, it is recommended that you leave at least six hours for the caffeine to wear off.
If you go to bed without letting the caffeine wear off, not only will you have difficulty going to bed, but it will also negatively affect your sleep quality.