Lattes.

The History of the Latte.

The word ‘latte’ literally means ‘milk’ and is used today to describe the original ‘caffe latte’ or ‘cafe au lait’, which is a traditional drink of ‘coffee’ and ‘milk’. If you ask for a ‘latte’ in an Italian coffee shop, however, you might just end up with a cup of milk!

Europeans have been drinking coffee and milk for centuries, some say since at least the 17th Century. Said to have become popular because American travellers didn’t enjoy the bitter and richer flavours of their traditional espresso, the caffe latte has stood the test of time and has become one of the quintessential drinks of the modern cafe.

The latte has seen many changes over the years and now goes beyond just coffee and milk to include turmeric lattes, chai lattes, mocha latte, caramel latte, you name it … the number of ways in which you can enjoy a creamy, velvety beverage is endless.

The Ritual of Latte Making.

Before the invention of the steam wand, traditional lattes were made by warming milk in a saucepan and whisking it to create a creamy texture before adding a shot or two of espresso. Caffe lattes were generally served at breakfast. Today, milk is steamed and frothed using a steam wand before adding a shot of espresso to create a creamy, velvety warm drink to be enjoyed any time of day.

These days, you can add warm, frothy milk to pretty much anything you like, using any kind of milk you like.

Benefits of Lattes.

With the popularity of lattes and the rise of diets like keto and paleo, many people now enjoy a beautiful, rich latte (sometimes sans milk) in place of a meal at breakfast, but they can really be enjoyed anytime of day, even before bed (not with coffee, obviously!)

Many people still enjoy traditional dairy milk, some enjoy almond milk and those on a keto diet even replace the milk for gelatin and ghee or MCT oil to create a rich, creamy froth. The addition of beautiful ingredients such as ghee and gelatin keep your energy levels up, your brain alert and those sugar cravings away. Adding nourishing fats and protein to your coffee is also great for those with adrenal issues as it means they generally won’t get normal jittery effect they get from can get from coffee.