Many people love coffee drinks. Moreover, they may differ in a diverse composition. Latte coffee appeared in Italy, it is drunk there in the morning. Today it is popular all over the world. Read more about the composition of latte and cooking described in the article.
The drink is in demand in cafes, bars and restaurants. Due to the composition of the latte and the mild taste, many people like this type of coffee. Another drink is sold in coffee houses on wheels. It is prepared on its own at home - you just need to familiarize yourself with the recipes.
What it is?
The answer can be found in the name. “Latte” in Italian means “milk”. The drink was invented by the Italian barista as a sugar-free milk shake for children. It contains natural coffee oil. It was added as a flavor. The composition of latte coffee is simple: 3/4 part of milk and a small portion of coffee - 1/4 part.
There is even a culture of drinking. There are tips on how to drink latte, but it is especially important to do it with pleasure. Such coffee is appreciated by people of different ages and nationalities.
Taste properties
Latte is a coffee based drink. The last component is only flavoring, its shade is almost not felt. First, a creamy milk flavor is noticeable. Milk tenderness is emphasized by the structure of the layer - the bubbles are similar to those found in the oxygen cocktail. Therefore, the texture of milk is airy, loose.
If you compare the taste of latte with cappuccino, then the latter will feel more coffee. And then a nutty aftertaste appears. Milk added to cappuccino can emphasize the rich taste of coffee, and in latte it sets off the creamy taste. The foam of the last variety of the drink is its decoration. Since its structure is delicate, it does not hold sugar, chocolate, and sprinkles well.
Milk preparation
Whatever the composition of the latte, one must take fat milk (3.2%). It produces a thick, resistant, delicate foam. The drink will be tastier. With a diet, lean milk is suitable, but then the coffee will be watery. It is necessary to prepare it beforehand: heat on a stove or in a microwave to 30-40 degrees, and then beat for 5-15 minutes.
Vegetarians can also make a drink. You need to use coconut milk. With lactose intolerance, you can take soy. Beat it thoroughly, it is advisable to use a powerful blender with a whisk or mixer. A shaker or a closed thermos is also suitable. Then you need to work hard with your hands for 15 minutes.
Cooking
If latte ingredients are prepared, how to make the drink itself? To make it at home, you must go through the following steps:
- The glass must be heated with hot water or steam to infuse coffee.
- There is a “golden” composition of latte, or classic. 30-50 g of black natural coffee and 150-200 g of milk are taken on it. The proportions and method of preparation may vary, it all depends on preferences.
- It is better to choose arabica with the addition of robusta (8: 2). You can use 1 version of coffee in latte, but this combination allows you to get a pleasant taste and aroma. If there is no natural coffee, a teaspoon with a slide of soluble is suitable, but it is advisable to cook natural.
- Regardless of the composition, latte is prepared in a Turk, a geyser coffee maker or a coffee machine.
- Even with home cooking, you want to beautifully serve a drink. To do this, you need special dishes: a mug or cup for a latte, a glass or a glass.
These recommendations are used in cafes and restaurants. If you follow the rules of preparation, you get a tasty and aromatic drink.
Classic version
What is part of latte according to this recipe? It includes:
- coffee - 30-50 g;
- milk - 150-200 g.
These components must be placed in the dishes according to the following rules:
- First, milk is poured.
- It turns out a light foam on top.
- Brewed coffee must be poured into the center with a thin stream.
The result is a three-layer drink. You can mix the 2 lower layers into one. Decorations are usually drawings with a toothpick or stencils. There are a lot of filing options.
Kinds
Often, the classic recipe is changed with a double serving of coffee. Additional components are added, due to which various drinks are obtained. The most popular are:
- Cinnamon. A pinch of powder or a stick of cinnamon is added to the prepared drink. It looks especially beautiful when served in a special mug.
- With syrup. There are a lot of syrups , you can choose to your taste. Usually no more than 20 g is added to black coffee before pouring the milk-foam mixture. Syrup gives the drink a sweetness. If it is fruity, it can affect the souring of milk in a few seconds. Therefore, it is better not to choose berry, fruit, citrus options. But vanilla, almond, chocolate or cocoa syrup is perfect.
- Vanilla Latte. Before heating, pour 1-3 drops of vanilla extract into milk and beat it. If there is no extract, classic vanillin is used. Then the cooking sequence is the same.
- Caramel To do this, buy or prepare caramel. It is added to black coffee and mixed before pouring into the milk-foamy mixture.
- Autumn recipe. This is pumpkin latte. Great for Halloween parties. Pumpkin in folk medicine is a cure for many ailments. The vegetable has a delicate pleasant taste. You will need a pumpkin (200 g), which is cut into slices, water (1 cup), sugar (100 g), black coffee (40 ml), milk 3.2% (120 ml). It is necessary to bake 200 g of pumpkin (30-40 minutes), which is cut into pieces. Beat the vegetables in mashed potatoes, into which water is added, sugar is added. The product is stirred on low heat in a saucepan until the mass thickens. The resulting delicacy is divided into small portions (2 tbsp. L.), Pour coffee with milk, spread foam on top. It is advisable to take a large cup for this drink. Garnish with grated chocolate or pumpkin seeds.
Caffeine is present in the drink, therefore, with high sensitivity to it, you should drink carefully in the evening. Autumn is also called latte with cinnamon. It warms and speeds up the metabolism.
These recipes are the most popular, but there are many others. Among the huge variety, everyone can find a suitable option for themselves.
Ice
In summer, many prefer ice latte. The composition of this drink is as follows:
- cold milk - 100 ml;
- espresso - 50 ml;
- ice cubes - 4-5 pcs.
If desired, syrup is added. The cooking technology is as follows:
- It is necessary to cook a portion of espresso, cool.
- In a blender, beat 2-3 ice cubes with coffee.
- Pour cold milk into a glass, put an ice cube and add a mixture from a blender.
Serve the drink in the usual way, like a regular latte. It perfectly quenches thirst in the summer, and also gives strength and self-confidence.
Latte macchiato
Its composition is the same as in the standard version. It is distinguished by the cooking process:
- Coffee is poured into milk, and not vice versa.
- More milk is needed.
- There will be more foam in this drink.
- Coffee and milk are not mixed, but added in layers with noticeable boundaries.
Macchiato has three layers:
- At the bottom is hot milk.
- In the middle is coffee.
- Above is foam.
Black
Many prefer black latte, whose composition is different. This is a slimming drink that was developed by a therapist. Preparation is as follows:
- Powdered activated carbon (1 tablet) is mixed with boiling water (1/3 cup).
- It is necessary to warm the milk and add to the charcoal water.
- Prepare a drink with vanilla, cinnamon, honey. It is better to drink it before meals or instead of snacks, but not more than 3 cups per day.
How to get a beautiful foam?
It is performed in several ways. You can use a thermos. Warm milk is poured into a container and shaken for 15 minutes. Another method is to use a whisk or mixer. A blender will do.
Often a French press is used to create the foam, but this process will be lengthy. Milk foam is poured into the center of the bowl to make latte art. Drawings can be original, and after some time it will turn out to make not only hearts and leaves, but also complex images.
Calorie content
The drink may differ in calorie content, it all depends on the amount of milk. What matters is its fat content, the amount of sugar, cocoa. If you make a standard portion with milk 2.5%, then the calorie content will be approximately 110 kcal.
When using milk of 3.2%, 8 kcal is added. It is also important to consider the amount of added sugar. Keep in mind that only 1 tablespoon of sugar includes 20 kcal. For the preparation of nutritious and high-calorie coffee, 10% cream is added, which will increase the calorie content to 200 kcal.
Recommendations
If you know the rules for making coffee, then you can easily make it at home, and not go after it in a cafe. This drink can please your loved ones in the early morning or afternoon.
Properly selected glasses add aesthetics. Such a drink is able to give joy for the whole day. Do not worry if there is no glass under the latte. If you have the skills, you can pour the drink into transparent disposable cups.
In summer, in addition to chocolate chips, the recipe can be varied with coconut. Coffee is sprinkled with chips and the appropriate syrup is added. It turns out an interesting option a la Hawaii. In addition to its excellent taste, this supplement is safe for milk compared to fruits and fruit syrups that can oxidize it.
Supply and consumption
Decoration is done using drawings on the foam. This is done with coffee and toothpicks, chocolate chips, which are sifted through stencils with various patterns on a delicate foam. In the author's recipes, whipped cream, topping, ice cream, pumpkin seeds, chopped nuts are added. They do not spoil the taste, on the contrary, improve it.
You can serve a three-level drink in a glass with a straw. Now they are preparing a two-level drink - milk, which is mixed with coffee, and foam. In a glass put a spoon for mixing.
It is advisable to drink coffee in the morning, since the milk in the composition can negatively affect digestion if you drink the drink in the afternoon. Although at first cooking may seem difficult, but if you do this several times, the work will be easier and faster.
Unlike Cappuccino
Many do not know how these drinks differ, because the components for their preparation are the same. To determine the difference, you need to familiarize yourself with the main nuances of cooking:
- Although the composition of cappuccino and latte is the same, the ratio is different. To prepare the second drink you need heated milk and espresso in an amount of 3: 1. And for cappuccino - 2 to 1.
- In addition to the composition of cappuccino coffee and latte, there is a difference in the sequence of infusion. For latte, coffee is poured into whipped hot milk. When preparing a cappuccino, the opposite is true.
- The foam in the latte is more loose and porous, and in cappuccino it is uniform and has small bubbles. In the first drink, the layers do not mix.
- Almost 2 times more espresso is added to cappuccino, so latte has a more delicate taste of milk.
- Latte is served in a glass, and cappuccino in a cup.
Benefit and harm
The following useful properties are known:
- The drink has an invigorating effect, so it helps with severe drowsiness.
- Due to the addition of sugar, latte restores strength after physical and mental stress.
- A drink can increase the level of the hormone of happiness.
- Allows you to cope with stress.
- According to studies, 1 cup consumed daily reduces the risk of oncology, Parkinson's disease, cirrhosis.
- Coffee is used for migraines to relieve symptoms.
- In men, a small amount of drink leads to stimulation of potency.
- Latte has antioxidants that slow down aging.
But the drink should not be consumed during exacerbations of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, with a feeling of depression and anxiety, high pressure. Latte is better not to drink with arrhythmias, headaches. Due to the addition of sugar and sweet syrups, it can not be consumed with diabetes.
Is it allowed to drink during pregnancy and lactation?
Doctors do not provide unambiguous answers to this question. But most believe that at this time it is better to do without this drink. And if you really want to, it should be consumed rarely and little by little. Still, it’s better to take more wholesome drinks. It is advisable to consult a doctor in this regard.
Thus, latte coffee is a tasty and healthy drink. You can learn to cook any kind of it yourself. With this skill, you can always please yourself and loved ones with this wonderful drink.