Latte () or caffè latte (Italian: [kaffe(l)ˈlatte]), also known as caffellatte, caffelatte, or rarely caffè e latte, is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso coffee and steamed milk, traditionally served in a glass.
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Definition
A caffè latte consists of one or more shots of espresso coffee, served in a glass (or sometimes a cup) to which hot steamed milk is added. 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. 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 produces very fine bubbles 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, a technique known as latte art. The texture of the microfoam changes the taste and feel of the drink.
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. In Italy milky coffee drinks such as caffè latte, latte macchiato, and cappuccino are often prepared for breakfast only. In the United States, a latte is often heavily sweetened, usually with 3% or more of refined white sugar, artificial sweeteners or agave syrup.
