Skip to content

32 Drinks

Latte · LAH-tay

An espresso-based drink with a large volume of steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam, typically served at 10 to 16 oz.

  • Origin: Italian
  • Also called: caffè latte
  • Ratio: 1 espresso : 5 steamed milk
  • Availability: Common

A latte (short for caffè latte, "milk coffee" in Italian) is the milkiest of the standard espresso drinks. The ratio is usually one or two shots to roughly 8 to 14 oz of steamed milk, with about half a centimeter of microfoam on top, enough to hold latte art but not so much that it drinks foamy. Brooklyn shops pour it as the default order; if you want something more espresso-forward, ask for a cortado or a flat white.

Etymology

Short for 'caffè latte,' Italian for 'milk coffee.' In Italy, ordering 'latte' alone gets you a glass of milk.

Related terms