You walk into the local cafe and the girl asks what you want to order. Your fiend ordered a latte so you asked for one too though in your head you were wondering what in the world is a latte?
Latte is Italian for milk. This is why if you go to an Italian coffeehouse and order a latte you will be given a glass of milk. Hmmm…probably not what you planned to order.
Nowadays, latte is a term that refers to a particular coffee preparation with steamed milk. A latte is made with one part espresso and two parts steamed milk. This is a brew enjoyed by those who do not enjoy their coffee black.
When you order your latte, you may be asked if you want it wet or dry. This refers to how much foam you want as some latte recipes have foamed milk forming a third of the brew. Wet means you do not want it with foam. Dry means you want more foam. Sounds a bit confusing? You get used to it.
There is an art to creating a latte and there is also latte art. This is one brew that you do not just pour into a cup and stir. Some coffee lovers will tell you that the espresso and the milk must be poured at the same time; each from opposite sides of the cup. This is said to create a balance in the taste as well as in its look. It also sets the theme for any latte art or foam designs that will be done on your cup.
Originally posted on July 1, 2006 @ 8:04 pm