Breve Latte

Last updated on October 26th, 2023 at 20:29

A breve latte is a great coffee drink, decadent, rich and very, very creamy compared to a regular latte. This article details a breve latte and discusses a few other similar beverages and gives you a great recipe to follow.

Keep reading and keep your eyes open for that breve latte recipe.

A breve latte is tasty and delicious and, like a regular latte, can be flavored to your hearts desire and with salted caramel and vanilla being popular options.

It’s great, tasty, and rather delicious on its own too. The delicious recipe will show you how to make this great coffee at home both Au natural and flavored.

Let’s get to the details.

Read: Does a breve have coffee?

What Is A Breve Latte?

A breve latte is a more decadent, richer and creamier latte with a heavier mouthfeel and richer texture.

Like a regular latte, a breve latte is an espresso based drink with a shot or two of espresso and an espresso to steamed dairy ratio of 1:2 and a fine cap of milk foam.

Breve Latte: An espresso based drink with steamed half-and-half cream using an espresso to dairy ratio of 1:2.
Regular Latte: An espresso based drink with steamed milk using an espresso to milk ratio of 1:2.

Despite the Italian name, Breve coffee, breve latte and all spin off drinks like a breve cappuccino were created and invented in America.

Iced Breve Latte

An iced breve latte is exactly the same as a regular breve latte with ice in it.

If you are making a breve latte and following our recipe, take the extra step to make some breve latte ice cubes which will melt and ensure that your drink does not lose any of the delicious flavor.

If you want an additional step, when your breve latte is ready, you can pour your finished drink into a cocktail shaker with regular ice cubes and shake with vigor and energy for one minute. This instantly cools your coffee drink.

You can then add your breve latte ice cubes to a tall glass and pour your chilled coffee over it.

Read: Iced breve

Breve Cappuccino

A breve cappuccino is very similar to a regular cappuccino with the only difference being the type of dairy used. Instead of steamed milk, steamed half-and-half cream is used.

It is a creamier, richer, heavier and more decadent cappuccino and tasty treat!

Breve Cappuccino: An espresso based beverage made with a single or double shot of espresso, steamed half-and-half cream and foam in a 1:1:1 ratio.
Regular Cappuccino: An espresso based beverage made with a single or double shot of espresso and steamed milk and milk foam in a ratio of 1:1:1.

What Is A Breve Latte At Starbucks?

At the world’s largest and most popular coffee shop, the term “breve” refers only to half-and-half cream. If you order only a breve but want a breve latte, you will be disappointed.

If you want a breve coffee, which is a double espresso with an equal amount of steamed half-and-half cream, make sure you ask for a breve coffee (or cafe breve).

If it is a breve cappuccino, you want, be sure to ask for a breve cappuccino, if you want a breve latte, ask for a breve latte.

At Starbucks, any drink can be ordered as a breve, even their tea drinks.

Latte Vs Breve

These two drinks are very similar, but produce a very different coffee experience.

A latte, the classic Italian coffee drink, is made usually with a single or double shot of espresso, with larger and more caffeinated lattes made with a triple shot. Steamed milk is then added using an espresso to latte ratio of 1:2.

Any milk can be used for making a latte, with oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk and cashew milk being popular choices for alternative milks.

Regular dairy milk used can vary from whole fat milk, low fat and nonfat milk.

Breve latte, is exactly that, a latte made with a different type of dairy, half-and-half cream. The result is a heavier mouthfeel, richer and silkier texture and a coffee drink that has a higher calorie count.

Read: Breve

Breve Latte Recipe

This breve latte recipe is very easy to make and can be made in less than 5 minutes. At Latte Love Brew we strongly advise that you follow the baristas principle of using the best quality ingredients to get the best results.

Breve Latte Recipe – The Ingredients

Very few ingredients are needed for this recipe. I encourage you to make your own half-and-half cream as it is incredibly easy to make and the excess heavy cream and whole milk can be used to make multiple different coffee beverages and goods in your kitchen.

Ingredients For Each Cup Of Breve Latte

60 ml (2 Oz) Whole milk.
60 ml (2 Oz) heavy cream.
40 Grams (1.34 Oz) whole coffee beans.

Breve Latte – Instructions

This is a coffee drink that is incredibly easy to make. For the best results, an espresso machine is needed.

Despite what you may hear and read on cooking sites, there is no other machine or piece of brewing equipment that will get you an authentic strong, bold and intense espresso.

If you don’t yet own a home espresso machine, consider investing in one and think about how much you will save from your regular visits to Starbucks and other coffee shops and get that same gourmet quality coffee at home.

Step 1: Make Your Half And Half Cream

Measure 60 ml (2 oz) of both heavy cream and heavy cream and whole milk per cup of breve latte that you want to make and mix them well together.

Step 2: Weigh Your Beans

Weigh 40 grams of whole beans per cup of breve latte that you want to make. grind them to fine powder like grind of 200 microns. Grind in bursts of 5 seconds.

Step 3: Tamp Your Grounds

Tamp your coffee grounds using a flat and even 30 kg pressure.

Step 4: Pull Your Shot

Pull your double shot of espresso. Time your extraction. It should take between 20 and 30 seconds to be within the perfect range with 25 seconds being the sweet spot for perfect extraction.

If your extraction time is out with this range, adjust your grind size. If it is 19 seconds or less, use a smaller grind size. If your shot is 31 seconds or longer, use a larger grind size.

Step 5: Steam It!

Steam your half-and-half cream and pour it onto your espresso shot. Spoon on a little foam.

Serve and enjoy your breve latte.

Vanilla Breve Latte Starbucks Style

You can convert your homemade breve latte to a Vanilla breve latte by adding a pump or two (one or two tablespoons) of Vanilla simple syrup to your half-and-half cream and mix well.

Alternatively, you can use half a teaspoon of vanilla essence.

For the chef in you, you can use a sliced vanilla pod and heat your half-and-half cream and then let it cool down and leave your vanilla pod to extract into your half-and-half cream for 6 to 12 hours depending on how strong your want the flavor of vanilla to be.

Breve Latte Calories

A breve latte is high in calories and really should be a drink that is enjoyed on occasions. and as a treat, especially if you are on a diet and trying to lose weight.

A Tall 12 Oz (360 ml) Starbucks breve latte has 426 calories. That is almost a quarter of your daily calorie allowance for a 2,000 calorie diet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breve Latte

What Is Breve In Italy?

In Italy, a caffe breve is a decadent and delicious espresso-based coffee beverage that is made with a shot of espresso and steamed half-and-half cream in equal ratios and a little frothed milk on top.

What Is A Latte With Heavy Cream Called?

A latte that is made with heavy cream is called a crème latte; if it is made with whipped cream it is called a latte con panna.

What Is Starbucks Breve Latte?

A Starbucks breve latte is a latte that is made with half-and-half cream instead of regular milk. A Breve cappuccino is a cappuccino made with half-and-half in place of whole milk. And a Breve macchiato is a macchiato made with half-and-half cream.

Breve can be added to any drink to make it a little more decadent. In the Starbucks lingo, if you order just a breve all you will get is a cup of half-and-half cream with no coffee.

What’s The Difference Between A Breve And A Latte?

The difference between a Breve and a latte is the type of milk that is used. A traditional latte is made with whole milk and espresso to milk ratio of 1:2 while a breve is made with half-and-half cream and made with an espresso to dairy ratio of 1:1.

The result is a coffee that is more decadent, richer and silkier texture and fuller flavor due to the greater fat content.

Is Breve Latte Same As Cappuccino?

No, even though the dairy and espresso are used in the same ratio as each other, a breve latte is not the same as an espresso as it does not have an equal amount of froth and is made with steamed half-and-half cream and not whole milk.

Is Breve Heavy Cream?

No, at Starbucks breve is in reference to half-and-half cream and not heavy cream. A cafe breve that is made with heavy cream is a crème latte.

Is Breve Caffeine?

Breve has caffeine. The amount of caffeine depends on the number of espresso shots used to make it. If a single espresso shot is used there is 75 mg of caffeine, and 150 mg of caffeine if two shots of espresso are used.

Is A Breve Latte Low Carb?

Yes, a breve is low in carbohydrates and is very easy to make. However, if you make it at home or order it at Starbucks, request that your breve latte is made with heavy cream for a lower sugar content and lower carbohydrate and more keto friendly.

For making a breve latte at home with heavy cream you will need a milk frother.

Final Thoughts – Breve Latte

A breve latte is great coffee and one that is best enjoyed infrequently, and especially if you are trying to lose weight or get in shape due to the high calorie count. Don’t fall for the seductive decadence and rich taste too often!

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location