What Is a Latte and How to Make One

If you’ve ever ordered a latte and wondered why yours looks different from the one down the street, you’re not alone. Lattes vary wildly by country, café, and even barista. But at its core, what makes a latte a latte? Whether you’re brewing at home or ordering out, understanding the fundamentals helps you get the drink you actually want.

A classic latte consists of one-third espresso and two-thirds steamed milk, typically served in a large cup. That 1:2 ratio is the standard for a traditional Italian-style latte. In contrast, an American latte includes a thin layer of cold milk foam, typically less than half a centimeter thick, on top.

What Exactly Is a Latte?

The word "latte" comes from the Italian "latte," meaning "milk." In English-speaking countries, a latte refers to any coffee drink primarily made with hot milk. More specifically, a Cafe Latte is an espresso-based drink with a generous amount of steamed milk—usually around 30ml of espresso and 60–90ml of milk, though proportions can vary by taste.

Because of the high milk content, lattes are smoother and milder than straight espresso, making them a popular breakfast coffee. They’re almost always served in wide-mouthed cups or mugs rather than demitasse cups, which are built for espresso or cappuccino.

The Traditional Italian Latte Recipe

Making a traditional Italian latte is straightforward. Start with a freshly brewed shot of espresso—typically around 30ml—and pour in nearly boiling steamed milk. The milk is heated using the steam wand on an espresso machine to around 60–65°C, creating microfoam without too much volume.

The standard ratio is 1 part espresso to 2 parts milk. That means for every 30ml of espresso, you add roughly 60–90ml of steamed milk. This produces a drink with a small layer of foam on top, but not as much as in a cappuccino. Unlike cappuccinos, which have equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam, lattes prioritize milk quantity and smooth texture.

You can adjust the ratio based on your taste—more espresso for stronger flavor, more milk for a creamier drink. Most people use a latte mug or cup rather than a demitasse, since the overall volume is larger.

How Americans Modified the Latte

In the United States, especially in chains like Starbucks, the latte often includes an additional component: a light layer of cold milk foam on top. The drink is assembled in layers: espresso at the bottom, then steamed milk heated to 65–75°C, and finally a thin cap of cold foam no more than 0.5cm thick.

This version creates a slightly different mouthfeel and visual appeal. The cold foam contrasts with the hot milk and espresso beneath it. While not traditional in Italy, this method has become common in many English-speaking countries and cafés worldwide.

The History of the Latte

The famous saying, "I am not in the café, I am on my way to the café," came from a musician in Vienna. Vienna’s culture has long been associated with both music and coffee—including the latte.

The origin of adding milk to coffee is credited to a Viennese man named Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli, though local lore often highlights Franz Georg Kolschitzky. Kolschitzky was a Viennese man who had traveled in Turkey. During the Second Ottoman Siege of Vienna in 1683, he volunteered to break through enemy lines—speaking fluent Turkish—to deliver a message to the Polish army. His mission succeeded, leading to the joint Polish-Austrian victory over the Ottomans.

When the Ottomans retreated, they left behind supplies, including 500 bags of coffee beans. These beans, which had been closely guarded in the Muslim world, became the property of the Viennese. Not knowing what to do with them, the Viennese were initially uninterested. Kolschitzky claimed the beans as his reward and opened Vienna’s first coffeehouse, "The Blue Bottle."

Early coffee drinkers in Europe weren’t used to the thick, bitter, unfiltered Ottoman-style coffee. To make the drink more palatable, Kolschitzky filtered out the grounds and added plenty of milk—creating an early version of what we now call a latte.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard espresso to milk ratio in a latte?

A traditional latte uses a 1:2 espresso to milk ratio. That’s roughly 30ml of espresso and 60–90ml of steamed milk, served in a large cup or mug. The exact amount of milk can vary depending on taste preferences.

How is an American latte different from a regular latte?

An American latte includes a thin layer of cold milk foam (less than 0.5cm thick) on top of the steamed milk and espresso. It’s assembled in layers: espresso, hot milk (65–75°C), and then the cold foam. This differs from the classic Italian latte, which usually doesn’t have foam on top.

What’s the origin of the latte?

The latte as we know it evolved from early European coffee practices. Its modern milk-heavy form was popularized in Vienna after the 1683 siege, when Franz Georg Kolschitzky, a Viennese man who had lived in Turkey, introduced filtered coffee with added milk to suit local tastes.

Do you drink a latte from a mug or a demitasse cup?

Lattes are almost always served in large mugs or cups due to their higher milk content and overall volume. A demitasse cup, designed for espresso, is too small for a standard latte.

What’s the temperature of the milk in a latte?

Steamed milk in a traditional latte is heated to around 60–65°C. In an American latte, the milk may be heated to 65–75°C, and a thin layer of cold foam (around 0–5°C) is added on top.

Can you make a latte without an espresso machine?

Yes, you can make a latte-like drink using strong brewed coffee or aeropress coffee instead of espresso, paired with steamed or heated milk. However, it won’t have the same crema or intensity as one made with a proper espresso shot.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Blends for Lattes

For latte lovers, FrontStreet Coffee offers several blends tailored to milk drinks. Their Classic Blend is ideal for home and commercial use, delivering rich crema and a smooth, approachable profile—perfect for highlighting milk sweetness. The Black Cocoa Blend is a cost-effective, high-quality option with bold body and chocolatey depth, great for balancing latte flavors without breaking the budget. For fruity notes, the Strawberry Candy Espresso adds a sweet, soft profile that pairs beautifully with milk, appealing to those who prefer a milder, fruit-forward cup. All three are compatible with standard espresso machines and designed to create velvety microfoam. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.