Last updated on October 27th, 2023 at 14:36
As a coffee lover you are perhaps quite familiar with the difference between breve and latte, two popular espresso based coffee beverages.
The difference is much greater than just a different dairy produce used in the two drinks.
Keep reading to find out the main difference between these two tasty and popular coffee drinks.
What Is Breve?
Table Of Contents
A breve coffee, known also as a breve latte, café breve and caffe breve. It is one of the few espresso drinks that are both a drink and dessert. It is a drink that is made with equal parts of espresso and half-and-half cream.
It is usually made with a single shot of espresso but is much better with a double shot. It is a variation of an Italian latte and more closely resembles an Austrian cappuccino, a cappuccino made with heavy cream.
An American breve is a breve that is made with heavy cream instead of half-and-half cream.
Read: Whats a breve coffee?
Difference Between Breve And Latte
A breve has the tendency to be fluffier than a classic latte that is made with regular milk. Steamed half-and-half increases the volume of the foam used in an espresso beverage and due to the use of half-and-half milk, a breve has more cholesterol, more fat and more calories than a café latte.
An American breve, which is made with heavy cream, has more cholesterol, fat and calories than a regular breve.
What Is a Latte?
This is the espresso drink that you are already familiar with, a latte. Similar to a breve, a classic latte only has two ingredients: a quality espresso shot and steamed milk.
A latte starts with a well-made and well pulled espresso and then has a large amount of steamed milk added with a small layer of foam on top.
The espresso shot for a classic latte can be from a medium, medium-dark or a dark roasted coffee. The type of milk can vary from full fat milk, half fat milk or a nut based or plant based non-dairy milk.
A latte is famed for its latte art. The popularity of latte art is something that has been increasing in recent years with it expected on a perfect latte.
The size of latte drinks can vary from a regular six ounces (180 ml) to 20 ounces and beyond. It has a smooth texture and a pronounced espresso flavor with the espresso toned down with the presence of the milk.
A latte is an enjoyable drink that can be flavored in a number of ways with caramel, chocolate, hazelnut, pumpkin spice and vanilla being popular choices.
Read: What does breve mean in English?
Appearance
A breve latte is easy to recognize due to the thickness of the half-and-half cream which separates the espresso in layers. It looks a lot like a dry cappuccino.
A latte has the milk mixed with the espresso shot and has a much thinner layer of microfoam than a breve late.
Taste
A latte is slightly sweet and milky. The high milk content brings about a mild coffee flavor.
A breve is creamy and rich tasting and due to the steaming process burning some milk sugars it has a caramel like hint. It has a stronger and more pronounced pungent coffee taste due to a darker roast being used and needed.
Calorie Count
A breve latte has an astonishing amount of caffeine content. It can have up to 3 or 4 times as many calories as a regular latte.
The calories of a breve are from the high fat content of the half-and-half milk.
A 12 ounce serving (360 ml) of a latte will have 150 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrates and 6 grams of fat.
A 12 ounce serving (360 ml) of breve latte will have 420 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrates and 36 grams of fat.
Read: Breve
Breve Vs Latte: The Technical Difference Between Breve And Latte
Both a breve and latte are two similar drinks, and it is fair to say that a breve is a version of latte, since after all it is often called a breve latte.
There is one key important difference: The type of dairy produced used to make them. There are also technical differences that make the two coffee drinks taste very different.
A latte is made with a shot of espresso and has a strong coffee flavor that is toned down by the steamed milk, which is steamed whole milk or low fat skimmed milk and then topped with microfoam.
A latte can be flavored with a flavored syrup and made with any roast of coffee from medium roast and above.
A breve latte, similar to a latte, is made with a shot of espresso and with steamed half-and-half milk. Similar to a cappuccino, a breve latte is topped with a lot of foam. They are distinctly creamier and richer than a latte and needs a very strong shot of espresso, to bring the flavor of the coffee through the thick cream.
Only a dark roast will work well with a breve latte.
A Latte Is:
- Espresso with steamed milk.
- Topped with a small amount of steamed milk foam.
- May have flavored syrups.
A Breve Is:
- Espresso and half-and-half cream.
- Topped with a lot of thick foam.
- Richer, thicker and creamier.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Difference Between Breve And Latte
Is Breve Better Than Latte?
A breve is a nice tasty treat and a nice change from a regular latte. It’s richer, sweeter, but it is loaded with fat and cholesterol. It is also high in calories. A breve is not a drink to enjoy daily. It is a once in a while treat.
Is A Breve Or Latte Healthier?
A latte is healthier than a breve due to the high cholesterol, fat and calorie count that a breve has. Healthier still is a skinny latte due to the type of milk used being skimmed milk and not the full fat milk that a regular latte has.
If you need to use a sweetener, use stevia, honey or any other natural sweetener.
Is Breve Sweeter Than Latte?
Yes, a breve is naturally sweeter than a latte. It’s an espresso beverage that is made with a shot of espresso or a double espresso and steamed half-and-half instead of milk. Due to the natural sweetness of the creamy milk, it is naturally sweeter than a latte that is made with steamed milk. The espresso to milk ratio in both drinks are the same; it is the sugar content of the creamy half-and-half milk that makes a breve sweeter.
Is Breve Heavy Cream?
A breve is normally made with steamed half-and-half cream. There is a variation, an American breve latte which is made with steamed heavy whipping cream.
Is A Breve Sweet?
Yes, a breve is a sweeter coffee drink due to the higher sugar content of half-and-half cream. Unlike a regular latte, a breve latte does not have simple syrup or a flavored syrup added to it.
Due to the natural sweetness of the coffee beverage, it is rare for a drinker to add sugar or artificial sweetener.
What Does Breve Mean In Coffee?
Breve in the coffee world means made with half-and-half cream as the drink is a shot of espresso made with an equal amount of half-and-half cream. It’s an Americanized version of an Italian latte but is creamier and richer. The closest coffee beverage to a breve is a cortado which is equal parts espresso and whole milk.
Why Is Breve So Good?
Breve is so good due to being made with half-and-half cream, which gives it a richer and creamier texture.
Is A Breve Stronger Than A Latte?
Typically, a breve is stronger due to having a more focused ratio of espresso and the dairy product used. A latte is made using a ratio of 1:2 while a breve has a 1:1 ratio which gives it a stronger taste.
Final Thoughts – Difference Between Breve And Latte
Know you know the difference between breve and latte you know what one to have, when and why. Even though you can enjoy a latte every day or multiple cups per day, it is not at all advisable to have a breve every day, and certainly not multiple cups per day.
If you do, you will have both heart and weight problems. Breve is one of those once in a while drinks, best left for special occasions.
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
