So just what is a latte? Basically, a latte is a coffee beverage based upon an espresso, that is made with steamed milk and topped with foam milk which is known by baristas as microfoam.
As you know, coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverage that was once deemed more valuable than gold.
To this day, coffee is considered a very valuable commodity and is consumed in countries all over the globe.
Coffee is one of those beverages that just seems to make everything better. Feeling tired and run down? Just grab a coffee. Want a delicious warm beverage on a cold winter’s morning? Just pour yourself a coffee.
Another awesome thing about coffee is the fact that it can be used to create a variety of different beverages, including the one that we’re going to be looking at in today’s article. If you ever have found yourself wondering, What Is A Latte, the answer is here.
Walk into any coffee shop and you’ll almost certainly be able to order a latte, but precisely what is a latte and why is it such a popular beverage?
Here are 5 fun latte facts to mull over, and will stop you wondering just What Is A Latte.
Firstly, What Is A Latte?
First and foremost, we’re going to address the question of exactly what a latte is.
Basically, a latte is a coffee beverage based upon an espresso, that is made with steamed milk and topped with foam milk which is known by baristas as microfoam.
The good thing about a latte is the fact that you can add additional flavourings. These can range from vanilla and hazelnut to even caramel.
Why Is It Actually Called A Latte?
Okay, so now that we know what is a latte, lets dive into why is it called a latte in the first place?
Well, in English, the name ‘latte’ is derived from the Italian word Caffellatte, which actually means ‘milk coffee’. Remember, lattes are made with milk, rather than water, so in reality, the name makes perfect sense.
Europeans Have Been Enjoying Lattes For A Long Time
Since the 17th century, Europeans have enjoyed coffee and milk, and according to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first recorded use of the term ‘Caffe e latte, was used back in 1867 by a man named William Dean Howells, who wrote an essay entitled ‘Italian Journeys’.
Don’t Order A Latte In Italy If You Want A Coffee
Walk into any coffee shop around town and order a latte, and instantly you know that you’re ordering a delicious coffee-based beverage made with milk as opposed to water.
Walk into a store in Italy and order latte, however, and you will be presented with a glass of milk. This is because latte, in Italian, means ‘milk’.
If you enjoy an ice-cold glass of milk and want to bump up your calcium intakes, by all means, ask for a latte when in Italy. But if you’re looking for a hot latte, though, caffellatte is what you need to request.
Latte’s Popularity Originated In The US
Latte nowadays is a staple in many a coffee shop, but that wasn’t always the case.
Lattes became popular back in the 1980s, in Seattle, Washington State. As more people in the US became aware of them, their popularity spread and by 1990 the US. Soon the rest of the world had fallen in love with the milky coffee goodness of the humble latte.