The most versatile coffee drink is the Latte

Simple, but universally loved, the latte celebrates espresso and silky, foamy milk.

The latte is perhaps the most well-known caffeinated beverage in the world, with its endless hot and cold versions.  It seems that latte flavors are getting less like coffee with each season. Perhaps Starbucks is to blame –– they make everything from an apple crisp You can also visit our website at pistachio Latte, and pumpkin spice lattes. If you’re like me and really crave the balanced blend of well-made espresso paired with creamy milk, a classic latte might be the drink for you. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

What is a Latte?

“At its core, the latte is a simple and structured coffee drink that respects the espresso,” says Paige Chamberlain, former barista at buzzy artisanal coffee shop Coffee by Design in Portland, ME. The latte, which is made with steamed milk, espresso and sugar, is a classic barista-bar drink. However, there are many variations of this two-ingredient beverage. They’re all called something different and taste objectively similar, so it’s easy to get them confused. To put the latte in perspective amongst its peers, it’s volumetrically larger than a cortado Flat whiteIt is smaller than a cappuccino and contains more liquid. Cappuccino uses equal amounts of espresso, steamed dairy, and milk foam. A latte is simply espresso and steamed water poured into a cup. The milk bubbles created during steaming create the creamy topping of a latte without any milk foam.

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How to Make a Latte

“Lattes are an interesting beverage to talk about because they are [so] milk forward,” says Giovanni Betteo, Director of Sales for Minor Figures, a London-based coffee brand specializing in canned oat milk lattes and boxed oat milk. In a 16 ounce drink — that’s a Grande latte at Starbucks, for reference — a latte is built with three ounces of espresso and thirteen ounces of steamed milk, so your choice of milk will greatly affect both the taste and texture of your latte. There have never been so many latte options. options Both dairy and non-dairy milk are available on the milk market. To make a latte, milk is steamed to about 160°F and foam is created as air bubbles from hot water vapor are forced into the warm milk. It’s no surprise that creamier milks will lead to a silkier latte.

Barista-style oatmeal milks are velvety in consistency and when steamed create tiny bubbles that give the latte its luxurious mouthfeel. When it comes to integrating this creamy milk alternative with espresso, it’s a total balancing act: “Most people want to drink an oat milk latte because they are so comforting and have a creamy mouthfeel, but the coffee is not the star of the cup,” says Batteo.

Rich Labriola loves a good latte with whole milk. Rich Labriola, the founder of Stan’s Donuts & CoffeeLabriola is a Chicago-based donut business that makes delicious donuts. They also specialize in classic coffees. Labriola loves smooth coffees with simple flavors. “While personally I have always been drawn to whole milk over other dairy alternatives, when I first tasted Ghost Town, I couldn’t believe it was oat milk,” says Labriola. The Black-and-queer-owned oat milk brand creates creamy lattes with a lightly sweet flavor, and  “ has the sweetness and creaminess of whole milk with a smooth texture that blends perfectly into lattes.”

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The best latte starts with quality espresso

“When it comes to the quality of a latte, the crema created as the espresso shot gets pulled will help ensure a silky texture and creamy foam,” says Chamberlain. Espresso crema is the creamy, puffy layer of liquid espresso that is added to it after extraction. espresso machine. “Crema is one of the most prized components of a well-made espresso. Creamy and caramel-colored, crema is made when hot water melts. coffee bean oils and floats atop the espresso with smooth little bubbles,” writes Maria Yagoda. Crema is what makes a latte creamy. It emulsifies well with steamed milk and creates a rich mouthfeel. However, this can be distracting from the pleasure of drinking a single shot of espresso. Yagoda says crema contains carbon dioxide which can add bitterness to an already bitter espresso.

How to make an Iced Latte

Classic latte’s higher ratio of espresso to milk makes it great for cold drinks. Iced lattes can be made by adding milk to the espresso, and then ice. “I love the option to make it hot or cold,” says Labriola, “as a Chicago-native where the weather changes quite frequently, lattes are a great option all year round.” Whether you’re enjoying a hot latte in the comfort of your home, iced and on-the-go, and flavored or not, the latte is worthy of your care and attention.