View source for Latte

{{Short description|Beverage made with espresso coffee and milk}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Latte
| image = Caffe Latte at Pulse Cafe.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Latte served with [[microfoam]] [[latte art]] in a South Australian [[Coffeehouse|café]]
| alternate_name = Caffè latte, {{lang|it|caffè e latte}}, {{lang|it|caffellatte}}, {{lang|it|caffelatte}}
| country = [[Italy]]
| region = 
| creator = 
| course = 
| type = [[Milk coffee]]
| served = 
| main_ingredient = [[Espresso]], steamed [[milk]]
| variations = 
}} 

'''Latte'''{{efn|In [[Italian language|Italian]] {{lang|it|latte}} means {{gloss|milk}}.}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɑː|t|eɪ|,_|ˈ|l|æ|t|eɪ}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latte|title=Latte – Definition of latte by Merriam-Webster|work=merriam-webster.com|access-date=2008-03-17|archive-date=2015-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920005831/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latte|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/latte|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921105116/https://www.lexico.com/definition/latte|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2020|title=latte – definition of latte in English from the Oxford dictionary|work=oxforddictionaries.com}}</ref> or '''caffè latte''' ({{IPA|it|kafˌfɛ lˈlatte|lang}}),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dizionario.rai.it/poplemma.aspx?lid=65499&r=2469|title=Caffè|publisher=Dizionario d'ortografia e di pronunzia|access-date=2022-01-05|archive-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105043736/http://www.dizionario.rai.it/poplemma.aspx?lid=65499&r=2469|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=caff%C3%A8|title=Caffè|publisher=dipionline.it|access-date=2022-01-05|archive-date=2022-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105044644/http://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=caff%C3%A8|url-status=live}}</ref> also known as '''{{lang|it|caffè e latte}}''', '''{{lang|it|caffellatte}}''' or '''{{lang|it|caffelatte}}''', is a [[List of coffee drinks|coffee drink]] of [[Italian cuisine|Italian]] origin made with [[espresso]] and steamed [[milk]], traditionally served in a glass.

The term {{lang|it|latte}} comes from {{lang|it|caffellatte}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/caffellatte/|title=caffellatte in Vocabolario|website=[[Treccani]]|access-date=2019-07-12|archive-date=2019-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712153138/http://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/caffellatte/|url-status=live}}</ref> or {{lang|it|caffè latte}} (from {{lang|it|caffè e latte}}, {{literally|coffee and milk}}); in [[English orthography]], either or both words sometimes have an [[Accent mark|accent]] on the final ''e'' (a [[hyperforeignism]] in the case of *''latté'').

==Definition and etymology==

===Definition===
[[File:Coffee with milk (563800).jpg|thumb|upright|Preparation of caffè latte]]
A caffè latte consists of one or more shots of [[espresso]], served in a glass (or sometimes a cup), to which hot steamed milk is added.<ref name="How to order coffee in Italy">{{Cite news |title=How to order coffee in Italy |url=https://flavorofitaly.com/when-in-rome/travel-tips-when-in-rome/how-to-order-coffee-in-italy/}}</ref> The difference between a caffè latte and a [[cappuccino]] is that the cappuccino is served in a small {{convert|140|mL|usoz|0|abbr=on}} cup with a layer of thick foam on top of the milk, and a caffè latte is served in a larger {{convert|230|mL|usoz|0|abbr=on}} glass (or cup), without the layer of thick foam.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Coffee and why cup size matters] |url=https://longshortlondon.com/coffee-cup-and-why-size-matters/}}</ref> Thus, 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 results in very fine bubbles being 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'' ([[latte art]]). The texture of the microfoam changes the taste and feel of the drink.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cappuccino vs latte |url=https://www.latteartguide.com/cappuccino-vs-latte/ }}</ref>
[[File:Latte at Doppio Ristretto Chiang Mai 01.jpg|thumb|upright|Latte art]]
A similar drink is the {{lang|it|[[latte macchiato]]}}, which is also served in a glass, but the espresso is added to the glass after the steamed milk.<ref name="How to order coffee in Italy"/> In Italy, milky coffee drinks such as caffè latte, {{lang|it|latte macchiato}}, and cappuccino are often prepared for breakfast only.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomson |first=Julie |date=8 August 2017 |title=Never Order A Latte In The Afternoon: The Rules Of Drinking Coffee In Italy |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/italian-coffee-rules_n_598866b9e4b041356ec0f9de |work=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref>

In the United States, a latte is often heavily sweetened with 3% sugar (or even more). These sweeteners usually come in the form of refined [[white sugar]]s, [[Sugar substitute|artificial sweeteners]] or [[agave syrup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/caffe-latte|title=Caffè Latte|work=starbucks.com|access-date=2016-08-07|archive-date=2016-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814150529/http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/caffe-latte|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Etymology===
The term {{lang|it|caffè e latte}} is first attested in English in 1867, in [[William Dean Howells]]'s "Italian Journeys".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/00333261?query_type=word&queryword=latte&first=1&max_to_show=10&single=1&sort_type=alpha|title=Latte|edition=new online|work=Oxford English Dictionary|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=2011-11-22}}</ref> As this preceded the spread of [[espresso machine]]s, it would not have been made with espresso coffee and steamed milk.

==History==
{{Expand section|date=July 2025}}
[[File:Glass of Coffee Latte with Pastry (2).jpg|thumb|Caffè latte]]

===Origin===
The drink is thought to have "technically originated" in 17th-century Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deyn |first=Matthew |date=28 June 2022 |title=What is a latte & why is it so popular? |url=https://perfectdailygrind.com/2022/06/what-is-a-latte/ |website=Perfect Daily Grind}}</ref> In William Dean Howells' "Italian Journeys", he notes that he was served the beverage on a steamship when traveling from [[Trieste]] to [[Venice]].<ref name="danilovich">{{cite web |last=Danilovich |first=Nico |date=2022-12-05 |title=The Mysterious History Of The Classic Latte |url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/1124484/the-mysterious-history-of-the-classic-latte/ |website=Daily Meal |publisher=Static Media |access-date=2025-07-20}}</ref>

The modern caffè latte appeared in the 20th century, following the invention of the espresso machine in the 19th century.<ref name="masterclass">{{Cite web |title=Origins of the Latte|url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cappuccino-vs-latte#663pjjTHqw21uAVEx4RxuY}}</ref> This was made possible by the addition of the [[steam wand]] to the espresso machine in 1903, which made it possible to add heat and texture to milk added to coffee.<ref name="historyofthelatte">{{cite web |date=2020-01-23 |title=The History of the Latte |url=https://achillescoffeeroasters.com/blogs/specialty-coffee-blog/history-of-the-latte |website=Achilles Coffee Roasters |access-date=2025-07-20}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Portal|Italy|Drink|Coffee}}
* [[List of coffee drinks]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Coffee|nocat=1}}
{{Coffee in Italy}}
{{Cuisine of Italy}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Italian drinks]]
[[Category:Coffee drinks]]
[[Category:Espresso drinks]]
[[Category:Italian words and phrases]]

[[de:Milchkaffee]]