{{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 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 coffee, steamed milk | variations = }}
'''Latte''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɑː|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|kaffe(l)ˈlatte|lang}}),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=caffellatte|title=caffellatte|publisher=Dizionario di pronuncia italiana online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dipionline.it/dizionario/ricerca?lemma=caffelatte|title=caffelatte|publisher=Dizionario di pronuncia italiana online}}</ref> also known as '''{{lang|it|caffellatte}}''', '''{{lang|it|caffelatte}}''', or rarely '''{{lang|it|caffè e latte}}''', is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso coffee and steamed milk, traditionally served in a glass. In Italian {{lang|it|latte}}, an everyday word, means {{gloss|milk}}; a "latte" ordered in Italy is therefore a glass of milk.<ref>{{cite web|last=Feleciano|first=Jenny|title=How to order coffee in Italy|website=Uncharted Traveling|date=9 May 2024|url=https://www.unchartedtraveling.com/post/how-to-order-coffee-in-italy}}</ref>
The English term {{lang|it|latte}} comes from the Italian {{lang|it|caffè e latte}}, {{literally|coffee and milk}} or {{lang|it|caffè latte}}, or, less correctly, {{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>
==Definition and etymology==
===Definition=== thumb|upright|Preparation of caffè latte 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.<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> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cappuccino vs latte |url=https://www.latteartguide.com/cappuccino-vs-latte/ }}</ref> 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, usually with 3% or more of refined white sugar, 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 latte}} is first attested in English in 1847, in ''Cultivator'' (Albany, New York,<ref>{{Cite OED|cafe latte}}</ref> before the development of the espresso machine.
==History== {{Expand section|date=July 2025}} thumb|Caffè latte
===Origin=== The drink is said 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 a drink described as "cafè latte" 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
==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