If you are new to the coffee world, the names of coffee drinks may be confusing, but rest assured that you will find a variety of delicious drinks on any café menu. But, first, you should be aware that espresso is the base for many coffee beverages. One of them is a latte.
A latte is a coffee drink made from espresso shots and steamed milk. An espresso is a concentrated coffee beverage that weighs approximately one ounce per shot. It is divided into three sections: the dark brown body at the bottom, the lighter middle, and the foamy light crema at the top.
Let’s talk about how these drinks are made, their caffeine content, flavor, and more to truly understand the differences between an espresso and a latte.
What Exactly Is An Espresso?
As previously stated, espresso is a concentrated coffee beverage weighing approximately one ounce per shot.
This drink is made with an espresso machine, which forces hot water at about 190 degrees Fahrenheit through 9 to 10 bars of well-tamped, finely ground coffee.
High pressure, a hot temperature produces espresso’s acclaimed flavors and aromas and finely ground coffee beans.
The espresso body is dark brown at the bottom, the middle is a lighter brown, and the foamy, light-colored crema sits on top.
This beverage is typically served as a doppio (2 ounces) or a triple (3 ounces) by a barista (3 ounces).
Espresso is delicious on its own, but some people like to add a little cream or sugar. After dinner, most Italians drink espresso.
Espresso has the viscosity of warm honey and is typically thicker than other brewing techniques. Because of the three dispersed phases, the flavors and chemicals in a shot of espresso are quite concentrated.
The first phase involves the emission of oil droplets, the second involves the suspension of solids, and the third involves the formation of a layer of foam or gas bubbles.
Espresso has a higher caffeine content per volume than most other coffee drinks. However, the smaller serving size would not contain as much caffeine as a mug of brewed coffee.
What Exactly Is A Latte?
The term latte is derived from the Italian cafe latte, which translates to “coffee and milk” in English. Since the 1600s, coffee and milk have been a staple of European cuisine.
However, in Italy, make sure to order a caffe latte rather than a “latte,” as this only means milk in Italian, and you will most likely get a glass of milk.
A caffe latte is typically made at home for breakfast using a Moka pot in Italy. Traditionally, a latte is made in a 240 ml cup with one espresso shot, steamed milk, and a layer of foamy milk on top. The original Italian latte has no foam.
This beverage contains more steamed milk and less foam. It is similar to a cappuccino, but a cappuccino is made of espresso and steamed milk and has a thicker layer of foam than a latte.
The combination of strong espresso and steamed milk results in a creamier, more delicate version of the strong espresso flavor.
Before 11 a.m., most Italians drink lattes. Milky coffee is customarily consumed in the morning, but not in the afternoon or after a meal!
What Is the Name of an Espresso with Milk?
Espresso is typically consumed without milk or cream, but a few espresso drinks include milk.
Cappuccino, latte, and café latte are espresso-based drinks, but they are not espresso because coffee is only a minor component of those beverages.
For example, consider the following three espresso drinks with milk:
1. Cortado
The term “cortado” is derived from the Spanish word “cortar,” which means “to cut.” The hot-frothed milk in this espresso beverage “cuts” the acidity of the espresso.
The cortado is made by combining frothed milk and a double espresso in a 1:1 ratio. This drink is typically served in a small cortado glass with a thin froth layer in most cafes.
2. Macchiato espresso
This drink was created by Italian baristas who wanted to show the difference between a regular espresso and one with a splash of milk.
In Italian, macchiato means “stained” or “marked.” This rich drink is made with espresso and topped with frothy milk. A stronger espresso flavor is created by combining two parts espresso and one part milk.
3. Galaosis
This is a creamy Portuguese drink made with one-quarter espresso, and three-quarters foamed milk. It’s always poured into a tall glass.
The drink is sweet, rich, and milky, and it is one of the most popular beverages in any Portuguese café. The galoa is best served for breakfast or brunch with a sweet or savory pastry.
Is Espresso More Potent Than Latte?
When deciding between an espresso and a latte, you must consider the addition of steamed and light milk froth. Lattes contain 60% milk, so the volume of the drink is greater than that of an espresso.
A cup of espresso is stronger than a cup of latte because espresso is made from straight coffee concentrate, whereas a cup of latte contains milk to soften the strength of the coffee.
In addition, if you order a latte with syrups and sweets, the strength of the coffee will be lowered as a result.
Is it necessary to use espresso to make a latte?
A latte requires a concentrated shot of coffee, but it does not require an espresso machine.
A latte is made with two coffee shots, steamed milk, and a thin layer of foam on top. You don’t need a machine to make a delicious latte at home, but you will need coffee and milk.
You can use espresso beans or any other beans you like. An espresso machine or a one-touch system like Nespresso can make the shot required for a latte.
However, a manual device such as the Aeropress can make extra-strong coffee. Therefore, it does not produce authentic espresso, but it does produce a concentrated coffee that can be used to make a latte.
Using any coffee-brewing device, such as a portable espresso maker or a Moka pot, you can prepare a strong coffee shot, as long as you use two to three ounces of coffee.
However, espresso is a strong, concentrated coffee made with fine grounds and pressurized water. Therefore, if you use regular brewed coffee, make it as strong as possible.
After you’ve brewed your coffee, it’s time to froth your milk. If you don’t have a frother, you can heat your milk on the stove or microwave and then vigorously shake it. Continue frothing until the volume has doubled.
After frothing your milk, pour your strong coffee or espresso into a glass. Next, pour the hot milk while retaining the foam with a spoon.
After that, you can add the foam and even top it with whipped cream. As a finishing touch, you could add latte art.
How Many Espresso Shots Are in a Latte?
A standard latte is made in most cafes with two shots of espresso and 10 ounces of milk. A tall hot latte at Starbucks contains one shot of espresso, whereas a Grande and hot Venti latte contains two.
So when you pay more for a larger size at Starbucks or any other coffee shop, you don’t get more caffeine. Instead, you’re simply getting more milk and sugary syrups.
Is Espresso Better for You Than a Latte?
Espresso is undoubtedly one of the healthiest coffee beverages available, as well as one of the lowest-calorie coffees.
Because it is only coffee and water, black coffee with no added ingredients is healthier than a milk-based drink like a latte.
Lattes are not inherently unhealthy, but they become less so when sweeteners and syrups are added. Too much dairy will undoubtedly cause problems, but a latte shouldn’t do too much harm now and then.
Keep in mind that a 16-ounce latte contains 206 calories and 8 grams of fat; a large latte contains nearly one-third of a woman’s recommended fat allowance.
You can also make a latte healthier by using skimmed milk. If you’re trying to cut calories, espresso is preferable to lattes. In general, black coffee has numerous health benefits, including fighting obesity.
However, you should not consume more than 5 to 6 cups of water per day.
Consider drinking espresso or any black coffee one to two hours before exercise because caffeine causes fats to be released into the bloodstream during movement.
This allows the body to use fat as its primary energy source, and you will burn fat faster as a result.
Last Thoughts
This article covered various topics, including espresso and latte preparation methods, serving sizes, and health benefits.
Finally, we can say that espresso and latte are not interchangeable and are entirely different drinks.
Latte is a morning beverage, whereas espresso is a post-meal drink. You can drink espressos and lattes whenever you want, but remember how the Italians drink their coffee.