latte

A latte (pronounced lah-tay) is a coffee drink made with espresso and a lot of steamed milk, usually with a small layer of foam on top. The word comes from the Italian caffè latte. People often choose it when they want a coffee that tastes smooth, creamy, and less strong than a plain espresso or some other espresso drinks.

In everyday English, "latte" usually means the drink you buy in a coffee shop, though it can also appear in names like vanilla latte or iced latte. The idea stays the same: espresso mixed with milk. So when someone orders a latte, they usually want a soft, milky coffee rather than a sharp, strong one.

A latte is an espresso-based coffee drink made by combining one or more shots of espresso with plenty of steamed milk and a light layer of foam. In cafes, it is known for its gentle coffee taste and creamy texture. Because it contains more milk than many other espresso drinks, it usually tastes softer and less bitter than a cappuccino, a flat white, or straight espresso.

The word comes from Italian, where latte means "milk," and the full phrase caffè latte means "milk coffee." In English, however, people commonly shorten the name and simply say "latte." That is why someone in a cafe might say, "Can I get a large latte?" and be understood immediately. The drink may be served hot or cold, and many common versions add flavors such as vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut.

Most of the time, this word refers only to the drink itself, not to a general color, lifestyle, or social group. You may sometimes see it used in product names or descriptive phrases inspired by the drink, but that is secondary. In normal everyday use, if someone mentions a latte, they almost certainly mean a smooth coffee made with espresso and milk.