What it means for a café
The highest-volume drink in most cafés and usually among the highest-margin, because the cost sits in milk rather than coffee. Its size is why it is the drink most often upgraded: going from regular to large costs pennies and reads to the customer as a real reward.
This page describes latte in general. It is not a description of any particular chain’s recipe, and the photograph is not of any named company’s product.
- Typical serve
- 220–350 ml
- Milk
- Steamed, thin microfoam
- Also called
- Caffè latte
More coffee
Espresso
Espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground beans, served in a small cup.
Cappuccino
A cappuccino is espresso with steamed milk and a thick layer of foam, traditionally served in a cup of around 150–180 ml.
Flat white
A flat white is espresso with steamed milk and a very thin layer of microfoam, served smaller than a latte so the coffee stays forward.
Americano
An americano is espresso diluted with hot water, producing a drink of similar strength to filter coffee but with espresso’s character.
Mocha
A mocha is espresso combined with chocolate and steamed milk, sitting between a coffee and a hot chocolate.
Cold brew
Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for many hours and then filtered, producing a low-acidity concentrate usually served over ice.
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