See, it’s all about how you pour the foamed milk into the espresso. It doesn’t have nearly as much milk as a latte, but it has quite a bit more than a macchiato.ĭespite being one of the most popular milky espresso drinks all over the world, a lot of cafés don’t make them like they should. It’s a shot of espresso with foamed milk poured over it. Next, let’s talk about my personal favorite: the cappuccino. Related Reading: Latte Vs Coffee: What’s The Difference? (A Complete Guide) Cappuccino While American and Italian lattes usually have 6 times more milk than coffee in them, a cafe au lait contains roughly equal parts heated milk and coffee. It’s like an Italian latte, except it uses filter coffee instead of espresso.īecause filter coffee isn’t anywhere near as concentrated as espresso, the coffee to milk ratio is quite different from a caffe latte. In France, a latte is called a cafe au lait. When the weather warms up, you can enjoy your American or Italian latte over ice for a refreshing caffeine fix. As a result, you get a latte that’s more liquidy, without any foam on top. The method I described above is the American way, because the milk is steamed to make it thicker and foamier.Īn Italian latte uses hot milk, which hasn’t been steamed. There are pretty much 2 main methods of making a latte: the Italian way, and the American way. It is sweeter and more mellow than other espresso-based drinks, so it will slowly introduce you to the taste of coffee Caffe Latte Variations

If you are new to coffee, a latte is a great place to start. The amount of milk you add is up to you, but I find that around 6 parts milk and 1 part espresso is a good ratio to aim for. Steam milk until it turns to microfoam (not foam).If you want a vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut latte, add a shot of flavored syrup.

Brew a double shot of espresso and pour it into a tall glass.Some will be weaker, some will be stronger. Some will be foamier, some will be flatter. They all start with a shot (or 2) of espresso, but different baristas will make them using different amounts of frothed milk. There isn’t really a standard recipe for a latte. A latte tastes a lot weaker than a macchiato, but you’re still getting the same amount of caffeine.

A latte has quite a lot of milk in it compared to other drinks.īecause it has so much milk, it’s more diluted, so it has a much milder taste than a macchiato, or even a cappuccino.Įach of these drinks contain at least one shot of espresso. What sets it apart from other milky coffee beverages is the amount of milk. LatteĪ latte is basically just an espresso shot (or a double shot), with steamed, frothed milk poured over it. It only has a dash of milk over an espresso shot, so its flavor is far more intense than the others, and it’s also a lot smaller. It’s not as big as a latte, but by no means tiny either.Īnd finally we have the macchiato, the espresso drink with the least amount of milk. As a result, it tastes a lot more intense than a latte, but nowhere near as strong as a macchiato. It’s an espresso drink that doesn’t have nearly as much milk as a latte, but still has a lot more than a macchiato. Plus, it has a significantly larger volume. It’s got quite a lot more than a cappuccino or a macchiato, and a much milder, sweeter taste. They’re all a mixture of espresso coffee and steamed milk – just with different ratios.Ī latte is an espresso based drink with a whole lot of milk in it. The all important difference between these beverages lies in the amount of milk used to make them.

Macchiato vs latte