Café Latte Brew Guide

2 espresso shots (2 ounces)

½ cup (4 ounces) fresh whole milk

Brew espresso to your preferred strength

Steam the milk (espresso machine or stovetop method)

Pour steamed milk over espresso

Mix steamed milk into espresso

Add frothed milk to top & Enjoy!

A café latte is a coffee drink with espresso and steamed milk, topped with a layer of milk foam. You can top your latte with simple foam or get creative with a “wet-paint” like texture that baristas call “microfoam.” Most of us have seen the heart-shaped designs in the microfoam of a latte - and we love it!

As we mentioned, a latte is made of espresso topped with steamed milk. Fresh milk makes the best froth, but the non-dairy option of oat milk froths up well and has great flavor. Lattes can be enhanced with flavorings such as vanilla, hazelnut, and seasonal pumpkin spice or enjoyed in its fresh-brewed natural flavor.

A cappuccino is made with equal amounts of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk. This drink is presented with the ingredients in layers. A café latte is a delicious mixture of espresso and steamed milk with a layer of milk froth on top. The ratio of espresso to milk in a latte develops a smoother coffee drink.

A typical 8-ounce café latte has 75 to 100 mg of caffeine. An 8-ounce cup of regular drip coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine. If you choose to add two shots of espresso to your latte, that will increase the caffeine strength. Because a latte coffee drink is mixed with milk, it loses a bit of its potency but none of the great taste.

You can cool off your latte with a little ice without compromising flavor. Just add two shots of espresso to your steamed milk and pour over ice. Letting your espresso cool before pouring it over ice reduces the watered-down effect of melted ice. Add your steamed milk and a dollop of dreamy milk froth, and enjoy your cool coffee concoction. 

An 8.5-ounce latte cup is ideal. There are cups made specifically for lattes, which allow for the right volume of espresso and foam. A standard coffee mug will always work in a pinch, and you can still have room to experiment with your milk foam art!