The term comes from the Italiancaffellatte[6]orcaffè latte, from caffè e latte, literally "coffee and milk"; in English orthography either or both words sometimes have an accent on the final e (ahyperforeignism in the case of *latté, or to indicate it is pronounced, not the more-common silent final e of English). 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.
A cup of latte, served at Merewether Beach, Australia
A 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 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 latte is served in a larger 230 mL (8 US fl oz) glass (or cup), without the layer of thick foam.[8] Thus, a latte is much milkier than a cappuccino, resulting in a milder coffee taste. The way the milk is steamed for a 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 originating in Australia and New Zealand is the flat white which is usually served in the smaller 140 mL (5 US fl oz) ceramic cup of a cappuccino but with steamed milk microfoam like the latte. This results in a stronger tasting drink. In the United States this beverage is sometimes referred to as a wet cappuccino.
Another variant 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]
The drink is thought to have "technically originated" in 17th-century Europe.[12]Caffè e latte, Milchkaffee, café au lait, and café con leche are domestic terms of traditional ways of drinking coffee, usually as part of breakfast in the home. Public cafés in Europe and the United States seem to have no mention of the terms until the twentieth century.
The Italians used the term caffè latte domestically, but it is not known from cafés such as FlorianinVenice or any other coffee houses or places where coffee was served publicly. Even when the Italian espresso bar culture bloomed in the years after WWII both in Italy, and in cities such as Vienna and London, espresso and cappuccino are the terms used and latte is missing on coffee menus of that time.[citation needed]
The modern latte appeared in the 20th century following the invention of the espresso machine in the 19th century.[13] Kenneth Davids maintains that "...breakfast drinks of this kind have existed in Europe for generations, but the (commercial) caffè version of this drink is an American invention".[14][dubious – discuss] The Caffe MediterraneuminBerkeley, California, claims that one of its early owners, Lino Meiorin, "invented" and "made the latte a standard drink" in the 1950s.[13] However, it is unlikely that Meiorin was the first to add a generous amount of milk to espresso or call such a drink a caffè latte.
The latte was popularized in Seattle, Washington in the early 1980s [15] and spread more widely in the early 1990s.[16][17]
In northern Europe and Scandinavia, a similar "trend" started in the early 1980s as café au lait became popular again, prepared with espresso and steamed milk. Caffè latte started replacing this term around 1996–97 but both names often exist side by side and generally are more similar than different in preparation.[citation needed]
In South Korea, espresso and its variants (cappuccino, caffe latte, caffe moca) became popular in 2000.[18]
In English-speaking countries, latte is shorthand for caffelatteorcaffellatte (from caffè e latte, "coffee and milk"), which is similar to the French café au lait, the Spanish café con leche, the Catalancafè amb llet, or the Portuguesegalão.
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"[19] 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.
In Spanish, the phrase café con leche (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.
The Austrian-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 coffeehouses around 1850. In German homes, it was still called Milchkaffee.
In the United States, an iced latte is usually espresso and chilled milk poured over ice.[20] Unlike a hot latte, it does not usually contain steamed milk or foam.[21] Iced lattes often have sugar or flavoring syrups added, although purists prefer them to consist simply of coffee and milk; they also are served blended with ice.[22] The espresso can be pre-chilled (sometimes as a mixture of espresso and milk) or frozen in advance to avoid warming up the drink.[23]
A cup of latte made with matcha, called green tea latte, is a popular variation of latte found in East Asian countries.Soy milk latte with latte art
Lattes are usually served with the glass on a saucer with a napkin, allowing the drinker to use the napkin to hold the (hot) glass.
Some establishments serve the latte in a cup or mug instead of a glass.
Sometimes a latte is served in a bowl; in Europe, particularly Scandinavia, this is referred to as a café au lait.
Increasingly common in the United States and Europe, latte art has led to the stylization of coffee making, and the creation of which is now a popular art form. Created by pouring steaming, and mostly frothed, milk into the coffee, that liquid is introduced into the beverage in such a way that patterns are distinguishable on the top of coffee. Popular patterns can include hearts, flowers, trees, and other forms of simplistic representations of images and objects.
Often iced latte is served unstirred, so that coffee appears to "float" on top of white milk in a glass cup.
ALayered Latte reverses the traditional order of creating a Latte. Rather than pouring steamed milk into a shot of espresso, pouring hot espresso into a glass of steamed milk will create a combination of temperature and density that will cause the latte to split into multiple density layers. The science behind the Layered Latte is referred to as double-diffusive convection. To make the Layered Latte, pour a shot of espresso into a glass of steamed milk at the same temperature. The layering of the beverage is largely dependent on variables such as glass size as well as the ratio between milk and espresso.[24][25]
A variation of the iced latte, known as the "bootleg latte", "ghetto latte", or "poor man's latte",[26] is an iced espresso ordered in a larger than normal cup that will be filled up with free milk from the condiment station.[27] The beverage has spawned debate at coffee shops where an iced espresso is considerably cheaper than an iced latte.[28][29][30]
In South Asia, East Asia, and North America, local variants of teas have been combined with steamed or frothed milk to create "tea latte". Coffee and tea shops now offer hot or iced latte versions of masala chai, matcha, and Royal Milk Tea. An Earl Grey latte is known as a "London fog".
Other flavorings may be added to the latte to suit the taste of the drinker. Vanilla, chocolate, and caramel are all popular variants.
In South Africa a red latte is made with rooibos tea and has been known as a caffeine-free alternative to traditional tea or coffee-based latte.
An alternative version of latte may be prepared with soy milkoroat milk, as both have the ability to foam in the same way as cow milk, with soy milk versions being more prevalent. Such alternatives are popular among people with lactose intolerance and vegans.
The Sea Salt Latte, a famous variation of the traditional style latte made with a salted milk foam over an espresso-based coffee, was invented and popularized by Taiwanese international cafe chain 85C Bakery Cafe.[31][32]
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".[33][34][35][36] 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.[37][38]
According to a 2018 study, 16% of liberals in the United States prefer lattes, whereas 9% of conservatives and 11% of moderates do.[39] The study states further that the overwhelming majority of people, whether they are liberal, conservative, or moderate, express a preference for regular brewed coffee.[39]
^"Americans wake up and smell the coffee". New York Times. 2 September 1992. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017. ... espresso-based drinks with names like caffe latte ....
^"The politics of me". New York Times. 18 August 1996. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2017. ...self-indulgent, self-centered, latte-drinking, DKNY-wearing, BMW-driving, inner-child-searching softies..
^"The anti-mall". New York Times. 9 October 1994. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017. ... hip-hopping community of MTV-watching, planet-saving, latte-sipping individualists...
^"The". New York Times. 11 January 2004. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017. ...government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New-York-Times-reading...
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