Did you ever walk into a specialty coffee shop and look at all those menu options and have no idea what you were going to get? Well, we’re going to clear up some of that stuff for you. This week we’re talking about the most basic of espresso based drinks – the latte.

A latte can be a lot of different things in a lot of different shops. But usually, it’s about an eight to twelve ounce drink. Some shops will do up to 16 or 20 ounces. Personally, drinks that big often lack flavor. Eight to twelve ounces is definitely the sweet spot. It includes a double shot of espresso in there, a whole lot of steamed milk, and a little bit of foam on the top.

If your barista crafted a really good latte, they probably poured art on the top of it—a little rosette or a heart, making it pop out of the cup for an overall fantastic drink.

Steaming and frothing the milk creates a sweeter tasting milk. The espresso should blend in to yield a perfect coffee flavor that’s not overly powerful or lost with the milk.

A latte is probably the most popular drink on an espresso menu. You can also add a flavor shot to make a vanilla version, a caramel latte, or whatever you prefer. To learn more, make sure to check out the video!