# Latte
A latte (caffè latte, Italian for "milk coffee") is an espresso-based drink made by combining one or two shots of espresso with a large volume of steamed milk, finished with a thin layer of microfoam about 1 cm deep on top.[1](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte) The high milk-to-coffee ratio makes it the mildest of the classic espresso drinks: smooth and milky, coffee-flavored but not coffee-forward.[1](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Composition | One or two shots of espresso (30–60 mL) topped with 180–300 mL of steamed milk and a thin (~1 cm) microfoam layer[1](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte) |
| Ratio | Steamed milk to espresso between 3:1 and 4:1 by volume, yielding a 240–300 ml drink[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) |
| Serving size | Typically 8–12 oz (240–350 ml), much larger than a cappuccino or flat white[1](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte) • [3](https://www.storyofcoffee.net/learn/cappuccino-vs-latte-vs-flat-white) |
| Milk temperature | Steamed to 60–65 °C; above about 68 °C lactose begins to scorch and sweet flavor compounds degrade[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) |
| Name | English "latte" dates to 1990–95, borrowed from Italian (caffè) latte, "(coffee with) milk"; in Italian alone, latte means milk[4](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/latte) • [1](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte) |
| Foam texture | Fully integrated microfoam with no distinct dry cap, the velvety texture needed for latte art[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) |
## Composition and proportions
The drink is built on a base of espresso, usually a double shot of roughly 60 ml, over which steamed milk is poured. The milk is texturized into a homogeneous microfoam rather than a separate froth, and the milk-to-espresso ratio by volume sits between 3:1 and 4:1.[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) At 3:1 the coffee flavor is assertive; at 4:1 the cup is creamier and rounder.[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) A commonly taught home version is one-third espresso to two-thirds steamed milk, with shops often adding still more milk for a richer, subtler espresso flavor.[5](https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-make-a-latte)
Serving size varies widely. Independent cafes often serve around 240 ml, while large chains go well over 400 ml; the bigger the cup, the milder the drink, because the extra volume is almost always milk rather than coffee.[6](https://thecoffeeguru.net/coffee-drinks/latte) In competitions and specialty shops the ratio is often measured by weight in grams rather than volume, for consistency across baristas.[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4)
## Milk and steaming
**Milk choice and temperature** control the texture. Whole milk at 3.5% fat gives the richest microfoam, because milk proteins denature at steaming temperatures and produce stable bubbles; 2% milk works but gives a slightly less velvety texture.[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) Milk should enter the steam wand cold, at refrigerator temperature of about 4 °C, since a cold start extends the steaming window before overheating and gives the barista more control.[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4)
The target temperature of 60–65 °C is a sensory ceiling: above 68 °C lactose begins to scorch and sweet flavor compounds degrade.[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) Manufacturer guidance matches this range for dairy milk and adds a lower limit for alternatives: non-dairy milk should not be taken above about 55 °C (130 °F), where it can separate or curdle.[7](https://www.breville.com/us/en/coffee-journey/recipes/latte.html)
## Latte compared with cappuccino and flat white
All three drinks use the same two ingredients, espresso and steamed milk; they differ in cup size, milk amount, and foam depth.[3](https://www.storyofcoffee.net/learn/cappuccino-vs-latte-vs-flat-white) A cappuccino is a small 150–180 ml cup with roughly equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and a thick, airy foam cap. A flat white is the same small size but packs a double shot with minimal foam, making it the most coffee-forward of the three per sip. The latte is the largest and milkiest, diluting its espresso across two to three times the milk of the other drinks, with only a thin foam layer.[3](https://www.storyofcoffee.net/learn/cappuccino-vs-latte-vs-flat-white)
The foam hierarchy follows the same pattern: a latte carries more microfoam than a flat white but less than a cappuccino, with about half an inch (roughly 1 cm) on top.[7](https://www.breville.com/us/en/coffee-journey/recipes/latte.html) No worldwide standard exists, and a wide divide separates specialty cafes from chain cafes; a flat white especially may be anything from a latte with little foam to a wet cappuccino, varying by shop.[8](https://www.streetlevelcoffee.com/latte-vs-cappuccino-vs-flat-white/) A café latte should also not be confused with café au lait, which is generally brewed filter coffee with hot milk and no espresso.[9](https://vitrinelinguistique.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/fiche-gdt/fiche/26533024/cafe-latte)
## Latte art and variations
Because the latte's microfoam is fully integrated and silky rather than dry, it is the classic canvas for [latte art](https://www.edgepedia.org/latte-art), patterns such as the rosetta poured into the surface foam.[2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) • [1](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte) The steamed milk has little foam by nature, but many baristas add microfoam specifically to make latte art.[10](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/latte)
**Flavor variations** are common but not traditional: vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, and seasonal flavors are typical, with syrups usually added to the espresso before the milk is poured in.[1](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte) • [2](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4) The latte is also the espresso drink most often ordered iced or made with plant milk.[6](https://thecoffeeguru.net/coffee-drinks/latte) The pumpkin spice latte has anchored autumn cafe menus for two decades, and in 2026 caramel apple, brown sugar, and maple lattes joined it as rising seasonal flavors.[11](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/31/pumpkin-spice-apple-caramel-starbucks)
The word has also spread to drinks with no coffee at all. Drinks such as the matcha latte, the chai latte, and the turmeric latte adopt the same steamed-milk style yet leave out the espresso, and they generally carry much less caffeine, or none at all.[6](https://thecoffeeguru.net/coffee-drinks/latte)
## Name and usage
In Italian, "un latte" simply means a glass of milk; to order the coffee drink in Italy one says "caffè latte."[1](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte) The English word entered usage between 1990 and 1995, from the Italian (caffè) latte.[4](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/latte) "Caffe latte" and "café latte" are the same drink as "latte" used alone.[6](https://thecoffeeguru.net/coffee-drinks/latte)
## References
1. [What Is a Latte? Espresso and Steamed Milk, Coffee Studies](https://coffeestudies.com/espresso-drinks/latte)
2. [Latte Milk-to-Espresso Ratio (1:3 to 1:4), Taste Lab](https://www.tastelab.food/encyclopedia/ratios/latte-milk-to-espresso-ratio-1-3-to-1-4)
3. [Cappuccino vs Latte vs Flat White: The Actual Differences, Story of Coffee](https://www.storyofcoffee.net/learn/cappuccino-vs-latte-vs-flat-white)
4. [LATTE definition in American English, Collins English Dictionary](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/latte)
5. [How to Make a Latte, Food Network](https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-make-a-latte)
6. [What Is a Latte?, The Coffee Guru](https://thecoffeeguru.net/coffee-drinks/latte)
7. [Latte recipe, Breville](https://www.breville.com/us/en/coffee-journey/recipes/latte.html)
8. [Latte vs Cappuccino vs Flat White: Which Is Best for 2026, Street Level Coffee](https://www.streetlevelcoffee.com/latte-vs-cappuccino-vs-flat-white/)
9. [café latté, Grand Dictionnaire terminologique, Office québécois de la langue française](https://vitrinelinguistique.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/fiche-gdt/fiche/26533024/cafe-latte)
10. [LATTE, Cambridge Dictionary](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/latte)
11. [Caramel apple lattes shake up PSL season, Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/31/pumpkin-spice-apple-caramel-starbucks)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Food, customs, and everyday culture › Food, cooking and hospitality › Beverages and drink culture › Coffee and tea › Coffee: drinks, preparation, and science › Espresso and espresso-based drinks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license