A latte, also known as a caffè latte, is a coffee drink of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk. It is typically made up of one or two shots of espresso, steamed milk, and a final, thin layer of frothed milk on top. Variants include the chocolate-flavored mocha or replacing the coffee with another beverage base such as masala chai (spiced Indian tea), mate, matcha, turmeric, or rooibos; alternatives to milk, such as soy milk or almond milk, are also used.
The term "latte" comes from the Italian "caffellatte" or "caffè latte," which literally means "coffee and milk". In northern Europe and Scandinavia, the term "café au lait" has traditionally been used for the same drink.
While a latte and a cappuccino share some similarities, such as containing espresso and milk, they have distinct differences. A cappuccino has an even distribution of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk, while a latte has more steamed milk and a light layer of foam. The layers of espresso and steamed milk in a cappuccino are distinctly separated, while in a latte, the espresso and steamed milk are mixed together.
