Coffee and its unique properties have been known to man for a very long time. Its effect on performance and good mood is known all over the world. Nowadays there are many coffee drinks and cocktails. One of them is coffee latte. He gained a huge number of fans in America and European countries, as his taste and special culture of serving were loved by adults and children. Its composition is very simple - it is whipped hot milk and brewed espresso coffee. “Latte” is translated from Italian as “milk”.
The story of its origin has several versions. Some believe that this drink was invented for baby food, since the latte contains three quarters milk and one quarter coffee. This combination has a minimum of caffeine and does not put stress on the heart. The Italians tell another story, as if one barista added a little coffee to heated milk for flavor, resulting in such a delicate taste. The Austrians and French take credit for the "invention" to themselves. But, no matter who considers himself the first creator of latte, the word is Italian and it sounds with an emphasis on the first syllable.
Currently, thanks to Italian baristas, basic latte recipes have been developed. All coffee shops in the world adhere to their recommendations, both in preparation and in the aesthetics of serving it to customers.
What does a latte consist of?
In the world of coffee, the word Latte refers to a layered cocktail: espresso, milk and a small amount of milk foam.
Translated from Italian, the word latte means milk. This hot drink consists of espresso coffee and milk in a ratio of about 1:3 - three parts frothed milk to one part espresso.
The drink is served in a tall glass glass with a long ice cream scoop and straw and consists of three layers that do not mix with each other. The first layer is hot milk, the second is espresso coffee, the last, top layer is high foam whipped from milk. Espresso does not mix with the first milk layer due to its higher temperature and lower density than full-fat milk.
The easiest way to achieve the required “layering” is to pour the espresso into the drink last, passing it through a layer of foam.
Peculiarities
Latte is a drink consisting of three components:
- espresso coffee;
- milk;
- milk foam.
These ingredients should be layered and not mixed. When preparing, the following proportions are observed:
- espresso - 1 part;
- milk - 2 parts;
- milk foam - 1 part.
Only espresso coffee is used to prepare latte. This is the name of the drink obtained by passing hot water under pressure through ground coffee.
A properly prepared latte never tastes bitter. After all, the milk part in it significantly prevails over the coffee part. The finished drink has a delicate creamy taste.
How is the latte served?
Although latte is a coffee of Italian origin, its presentation and presentation around the world can be very different from the Italian original.
Latte is usually served in an Irish glass, on a saucer with a napkin (to hold the sometimes hot glass), in a special large cup (like for cappuccino, only larger - 300 ml) or in a tall glass with a straw.
Traditionally, latte is served in a special Irish glass. It has a handle, the glass of which must be heat-resistant for ease of feeding. The volume of the glass is about 250 milliliters.
Some establishments serve the so-called ghetto latte or bottled latte. This means that all the ingredients of the drink are served separately, and customers mix milk and espresso to their taste, adding cinnamon, chocolate, syrups or other seasonings if desired.
There are many layered coffee cocktails based on latte: hazelnut latte, iced latte, cinnamon latte, chocolate and whipped cream latte, ice cream latte. Any syrups intended for making coffee cocktails (except citrus, since it turns the milk sour) can also be safely added to the drink.
The combination of latte coffee and blackcurrant syrup is considered the most successful. You can also make an alcoholic cocktail - for example, an amaretto latte or a rum latte. A particularly refined latte is obtained by adding 10-15 ml of Baileys liqueur.
Italians prefer to drink latte, like other coffee drinks with milk, in the morning. Oddly enough, in Italy itself, latte is not as popular as in other European countries - Italians love strong black coffee too much. Americans drink lattes in huge doses; a serving of latte at Starbucks, for example, can reach a volume of 600 ml.
Italian tea recipes
We offer several tea latte recipes. Each of them is capable of giving a lot of strength and charging you with vigor no worse than coffee. Only tea is much healthier.
Green tea latte
It is very popular among fans of a healthy lifestyle. Preparing the drink is very simple, all the ingredients are available, and most importantly, healthy.
Compound:
- brewing green tea - a teaspoon;
- thyme - a teaspoon;
- cardamom - half a teaspoon;
- ground ginger - half a teaspoon;
- nutmeg - half a teaspoon;
- milk – 200 milliliters. It can be replaced with water;
- cinnamon - teaspoon;
- cloves - five pieces;
- tub - 2 pieces.
We collect all the ingredients and prepare the tea latte. Mix all ingredients in a teapot, add hot water and leave for 10 minutes. The drink is ready. Green tea with milk is very filling, so sugar or honey is rarely added to it.
Advice!
You can diversify your tea by adding a pinch of vanillin, a slice of orange or a little pepper for some piquancy.
You can experiment with the ingredients, using different proportions, to create the perfect combination of green tea latte for yourself, which will bring true pleasure.
See also: Baikhovy tea - what is it, varieties, how to brew and drink
Tea latte recipe with Japanese Matcha
Matcha is a Japanese tea made from powder. It has a very original taste, which can make the drink much richer and more aromatic.
Curious!
Matcha is a green tea used in Japanese tea ceremonies. Only this tea is not the usual twisted leaves, but a green powder. Thanks to its beneficial properties, this drink is a favorite among true tea gourmets.
To make a latte with Japanese Matcha we will need:
- milk – 200 milliliters;
- matcha – 1.5 teaspoon;
- hot water – 200 grams;
- sugar – added as desired.
Before putting matcha into a cup or teapot, it is sifted to avoid lumps. Afterwards, the powder is poured with hot water and stirred until it is completely dissolved and a thick foam appears.
In a separate mug, mix milk and sugar. Heat the milk until bubbles form. There is no need to boil it. Then whisk the milk using a whisk to form foam. Now pour the finished mixture into a container of matcha tea.
Advice!
You can sprinkle a little green powder on the foam to make the tea bright and unusual. Drink the drink hot or cold with a few ice cubes.
Spice Chai Latte Recipe
Spicy aromatic tea latte is very simple to prepare, but here you need to stock up on all the ingredients to get its original, inimitable taste.
- regular black leaf tea – 1 tablespoon;
- water – 100 grams;
- milk – 300 milliliters;
- black peppercorns - a couple of pieces;
- cardamom – 5 pieces;
- ground ginger - one teaspoon;
- cinnamon - several sticks;
- brown sugar - optional.
All seasonings are added at the same time and carefully, leisurely mixed. You need to brew tea in a good mood and with pleasant thoughts. There is no need to crush the peppercorns so that the tea is not bitter. But cinnamon and cardamom can be crushed a little. Add 100 grams of ordinary water to the finished composition, put it on the fire, and bring to a boil. Then add milk and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. While the spicy mixture is infused, add tea to a ceramic teapot, which has previously been doused with boiling water. Fill it with the prepared decoction, wrap it in a warm cloth and leave for another 7 minutes. The drink is served in tea cups. You can serve sweets with tea or just enjoy its taste.
See also: The healing properties of monastery tea: myth or reality
Ginger tea latte
This is a tasty and very healthy drink, to which not only tea and milk are added, but also ginger and other spices. Basically, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom are added to ginger tea latte. These aromatic additions make the taste of the drink unforgettable and original. Milk is often added to tea and foam is whipped out of it, but it can be replaced with whipped cream, then the foam will be richer and sweeter.
Tea components:
- black tea – 2 tablespoons;
- ground ginger – 1-2 teaspoons;
- ground cinnamon - teaspoon;
- ordinary water – 240 milliliters;
- vanillin - one pod;
- milk – 240 milliliters;
- sugar - spoon.
Mix water and milk in a bowl, then add vanillin. We put the resulting composition on the fire, after it starts to boil, remove the dishes from the stove. Add ginger, cinnamon, sugar and tea to the mixture. Let the drink steep for 7-10 minutes. The finished ginger tea latte is poured into cups and served hot. Garnish the drink with whipped cream and chocolate and an orange slice.
Classic latte recipe
- Prepare a standard shot of classic espresso;
- Whisk 150-170 ml of milk in a pitcher using steam. At the same time, latte foam should be more fluffy and airy than cappuccino foam;
- Pour the frothed milk into a glass, then slowly pour the espresso into it in a thin stream.
If the whole procedure is carried out carefully, the layers of coffee and milk will not mix and you will get a delicious layered coffee cocktail. It is sometimes also called latte macchiato (also pronounced latte macchiato, latte macchiato, etc.). If the frothed milk is at the right consistency and the espresso is at the right temperature, the layers should separate clearly. It is the clear separation of the three layers that is considered the first indicator of the quality of a latte macchiato. If you do not have enough experience or do not have professional utensils and accessories to separate layers of foam, milk and espresso, you can use a spoon.
Contraindications
There is no specific harm from tea latte, nor are there any contraindications to its use. It is not recommended to drink the drink if you are intolerant to milk or another ingredient included in the tea. It is also not recommended to drink the drink before bed, because it invigorates. But, as with any food or drink, you need to know when to stop.
If you are tired and just want to relax, warm up and gain strength, brew yourself a latte tea. A serving of fresh drink will help you relax, unwind and dream a little. Treat yourself to an amazing tea latte with milk and other ingredients.
Differences between latte and cappuccino
In the modern world, it is difficult to find a person who has never tried a latte or cappuccino in his entire life. However, not everyone knows the difference between them. Also, many people make a mistake in the word “cappuccino”, believing that it contains double letters. At the same time, in the word “latte” the stress always remains on the first syllable.
The main difference between a cappuccino and a latte is, first of all, that the latter is not coffee. In fact, a latte is just a coffee drink; sometimes it is also called a cocktail. It may follow from this that the volume of coffee in a cappuccino is much larger than the entire drink. If you rely on the classic latte recipe that we described above, two servings of milk are required per serving of espresso (milk foam can also be used). For cappuccino, each ingredient has the same proportions.
Proportions of milk and espresso in cappuccino and latte.
Even their foams are different. Of course, milk foam in any case should have a uniform consistency and no air bubbles. But the significant difference is that thicker foam is used for cappuccino. When the foam does not fall off when sugar gets on it, this means that the drink is prepared correctly.
However, both drinks still have similarities. Namely, the method of their preparation. First, a portion of coffee is poured, then milk is added. It must first be heated to a certain temperature. Usually it is about sixty degrees.
The serving method also differs for each type of coffee. For cappuccino, cups of 180 milliliters are usually used, no more. With this volume you get a better balance between milk and espresso. To ensure that there is enough milk for the entire coffee, it is better to use cups with an expanded top.
For both latte and cappuccino, the same temperature is acceptable, no higher than seventy degrees. By adding frothed milk to the drink, you can use it to create various patterns on the surface. There is a special technique called latte art.
In conclusion, we can conclude that the similarities between the two types are only in the method of preparation. Everything else is completely different.
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From history to linguistics
Perhaps because France is geographically closer to Russia or due to the fact that French was once the second native language for the Russian aristocracy, the name of a fashionable drink from Europe was pronounced with an emphasis on the last syllable. But you shouldn’t offend child-loving Italian mothers and skilled Italian baristas. In the word milk - latte, they emphasize the first vowel.
Important: competent speech is always in trend, so don’t forget that it’s correct to say latte. Even if you don’t have a trip to Italy in the near future, let’s not forget about it!
And this is a poem to reinforce:
What is more valuable to us than gold?
This is a smooth latte!
Walnut
To create one serving of the drink, take: 30 g of roasted hazelnuts, a teaspoon of condensed milk and finely ground coffee, half a glass of water and half a glass of milk.
The sequence for preparing a nut latte is as follows:
- Grind the nuts using a blender, leaving a few to decorate the drink.
- Mix milk, condensed milk, nuts in a saucepan and place it on the stove,
- Bring the mixture to a boil and pour it into a latte glass.
- Brew coffee the classic way and add it to the mixture,
- Garnish the resulting cocktail with hazelnuts and enjoy the pleasant taste. It's especially nice to drink a hazelnut latte through a straw.
Composition, preparation rules and calorie content of coffee latte
Several components are used for preparation. Drink composition:
- milk;
- coffee;
- water.
Moreover, liquids other than milk are not always added to lattes. A two-component drink consists of it and coffee. The proportions are always different, which determines the properties, height of the foam, and taste.
To prepare latte macchiato, 2 main ingredients are used. The sequence of actions is different: milk is added to coffee. Moreover, this drink has similarities with cappuccino (appearance, taste). The difference lies in the ratio of milk and coffee. In a latte, the first component is contained in an amount that is 2 times greater than the dose of the second ingredient. During its preparation, on the contrary, coffee is added to milk. Another difference is that the height of the milk foam is much smaller.
When preparing such a drink, the fat content is taken into account, especially if the goal is to maintain weight at the desired level. The composition includes a significant amount of dairy product, so this variety cannot be considered for weight loss.
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Calorie content (based on a standard set of components) – 124-183 units. The value of this parameter is indicated for a serving of coffee containing 5 g of sugar. This indicator increases as the dose of the sweet substance changes. Calorie content of a latte without sugar per 100 ml is 58-63 units. It depends on the properties of the products used (milk fat content). The value of this parameter (if a standard serving of coffee is considered) is 104-163 kcal.
Basic rules for making latte:
- the recommended ratio of components is 1:2 or 1:3 (given that milk is used in a larger volume than coffee, the strength of the finished drink decreases);
- common recipe: about 60 ml espresso, 120-180 ml dairy product;
- First of all, a coffee drink is prepared: in a Turk or coffee machine, coffee maker, Aeropress.
Selection of coffee, roasting and grinding beans
They use different types: ground, grain, instant. In each case, finished products with different taste qualities are obtained.
Expert opinion
Vadim Kudryavtsev
Coffee expert, professional barista and simply in love with this aromatic drink.
Ask the barista a question
However, to prepare a classic drink you need a component with special properties. This can cause complications in the cooking process, as it takes time to find and prepare suitable ingredients. But the result is the right drink.
Recommendations for choosing coffee:
- The most suitable option is with a pronounced taste, bitterness should be present, like Arabica or Robusta. Therefore, a mixture of these species is used in a ratio of 5:1 or 10:1;
- To make latte coffee, it is not necessary to purchase expensive, elite varieties (without additives). In this case, weak shades of aroma will be lost, since milk enhances more pronounced tones.
- Grinding is also important: it is recommended to choose a medium or fine grain size. Moreover, it does not matter how long ago the beans were ground - you can use freshly prepared coffee or purchased some time ago in a store.
- When preparing a drink with flavors (finished product), do not use a Turk or a carob coffee maker; in this case, a French press is used.
- Roasting may vary, but it is noted that in most cases, preference is given to dark roasted coffee varieties, as they taste bitter. For lovers of a mild taste, a slightly lighter version is suitable; richly light-roasted beans are not used due to increased acidity.
Interesting! What is the difference between a latte and a latte macchiato
Choosing water and the right milk
When a latte is prepared at home, its taste greatly depends on the properties of the main components. These include liquid. Thus, it is not recommended to use boiled tap water. In both cases, chlorine compounds will negatively affect the properties of the finished product. The most preferred types of liquid:
- bottled;
- spring;
- well
But in each case there are also restrictions, for example, they do not use a liquid whose mineralization rate is above 200 mg/l. Recommended values for this parameter are 70-150 mg/l. It is acceptable to use a liquid with a mineralization index of 150-200 mg/l, but the taste of the finished product may change slightly.
Expert opinion
Vadim Kudryavtsev
Coffee expert, professional barista and simply in love with this aromatic drink.
Ask the barista a question
When choosing milk, take into account the degree of fat content. Thus, in practice it was found that the most suitable product should be characterized by a value of this parameter in the range of 2.5-3.2%.
The higher this indicator, the more difficult it is to froth the milk until foam appears. When drinking the drink, a high percentage of fat content will be felt, which can also negatively affect the taste of the coffee. If this figure is less than 2.5%, a change in the properties of the finished product is also noted. It loses its creamy taste.
It is recommended to use pasteurized milk. Its temperature is also taken into account. For preparation, take the dairy product cool (for a cappuccino maker) or warmed up (if you use a mixer for whipping). In the first case, the temperature should not exceed +60°C; in the second, the value of this parameter is reduced to +4°C (refrigerated product is used).
What kind of milk do you use for your latte?
RegularPaterized
Let's serve the latte beautifully
The rules of etiquette stipulate that latte should be served in a tall transparent glass with a volume of 250-300 ml. There will certainly be a spoon next to it on the plate, with which the foamy cap is eaten. But such a scenario is not at all necessary. By mixing the foam with the contents of the glass, you will get a drink with a delicate texture that is drunk with special pleasure.
Latte macchiato in coffee shops is often served in Irish cream glasses. They have a beautiful shape and a comfortable handle at the bottom. A cocktail straw is placed on the saucer along with the layered drink. Some gourmets ignore its presence because they consider it blasphemous to add the taste of plastic to the taste of a luxurious latte. But those who want to try every layer of macchiato use a straw quite willingly.
On the basis of latte, a real art of decorating it was formed, which is called latte art. The skillful hands of the barista pour whipped milk foam from the spout of the pitcher jug in a special way, drawing unusual foam patterns.
Interesting: this type of designer latte art has its own “Olympic Games”. Since 2014, international latte art competitions have been held annually in the United States.
How and with what to drink coffee
If the coffee contains sugar, then in the future the question will arise whether it is necessary to stir the latte, since this will disrupt the layered structure. You need to drink this coffee with a straw. Moreover, it is recommended to stir the individual components before use. The result will be a drink with a uniform structure, which will allow you to find out what this coffee tastes like. If you drink from a straw, lowering it to different levels into the container, you will not be able to understand that latte is attractive not only due to its aesthetic properties, but also due to its taste.
To enhance/improve the taste, use cinnamon, cocoa powder, chocolate chips - these components are added when the drink is ready (sprinkled on foam).
You can use honey, caramel, syrups or any other ingredients depending on personal preferences (if the coffee was prepared according to a classic recipe).