How To Make A Breve Latte At Home Like A Pro Barista!

How To Make A Breve Latte At Home Like A Pro Barista!

Last updated on November 5th, 2023 at 15:50

When you learn how to make a breve latte at home and have all the right equipment, including top quality deep dark roasted coffee beans, you will end up with a coffee at home that is on part with any of your local or regular coffee shops, including Starbucks.

…and a breve is tasty, thick and very enjoyable!

Keep reading for instructions on how to make a tasty breve at home that rivals your local Starbucks!

What Is A Breve Latte?

A Breve Latte is one of the many espresso based coffee drinks and is an espresso based coffee drink that is made with half-and-half cream that is steamed to make it incredibly rich tasting and very fluffy. It is a variation of the average latte, which is made with an espresso shot and steamed milk.

It is a tasty latte that is perfect with chocolate or chocolate donuts.

What Is A Breve
A Breve

Read: Whats a breve coffee?

How To Make A Breve Latte At Home

Making a breve latte at home is easy, with nothing at all difficult or too complex for even novice home baristas.

Let’s get on with the equipment and ingredients needed.

Equipment And Ingredients Needed

  •  Home Espresso Machine with a milk frothing tool.
  • Milk jug.
  • Coffee mug.
  • 1 Ounce of very finely ground coffee ground.
  • 1/2 cup of half-and-half cream.
  • 2 Ounces of filtered water or mineral water.
  • Sweetener (optional).

Use the best and highest quality ingredients that you can get your hands on

How To Make A Breve Latte At Home
A Home Espresso Machine

Read: Breve

Instructions

Start by steaming your half-and-half cream with your milk steamer until you get a good quality froth.

Pull your espresso shots – a breve latte tastes much better with a double shot of espresso. If your espresso machine or portable espresso maker doesn’t have the ability to make a double shot, make two single shots.

Even though a breve is supposed to be a short latte it does taste so much better with a double shot of espresso or better still a double ristretto.

Note: Due to the density and thickness of half-and-half cream, a good deep dark roast is an ideal roast for a breve to cut through the cream. Roasts below this roast profile will struggle to get the coffee flavor to pull through.

If you don’t have a home espresso machine, now might be a good time to seriously consider one. Meanwhile, your tried and trusted moka pot will make a decent makeshift espresso for your breve latte.

It’s not perfect, and it doesn’t make an espresso as such, but it will make that short, strong coffee that you need for making a breve latte.

Add the double shot to your coffee mug. Then slowly and steadily add your half-and-half cream to your coffee. Use a spoon to add the thick creamy foam on top of your coffee.

If you want extra flair, add a sprinkling of cocoa and chocolate shavings.

Pro Tip: Add an equal amount of half-and-half cream as you do coffee for a perfect breve latte.

Half And Half Fat Alternatives That You Can Consider

If you want a breve latte but want to try out non-dairy options, the best to try based on density and texture are cashew milk or full-fat coconut milk.

With these two milks you will still get the same thick consistency and sweet taste.

Breve Latte Calories

According to Carb manager, one 20 ounces (600 ml) breve latte serving has 460 calories, 15 grams of net carbohydrates and 15 grams of total carbohydrates. There are 13 grams of protein and 39 grams of fat.

Breve Vs Latte

The principle difference between these two espresso based drinks is what is used to whiten and froth the coffee drinks. A latte is made with regular milk, skimmed milk or plant-based milk. A Latte can, if requested, be flavored with any number of flavored syrups.

A breve latte is made with a shot of espresso and half-and-half cream. The half-and-half cream is steamed and frothed in the same way as you would for a latte and has a large amount of foam that is thick and creamy sitting on top.

How To Pronounce Breve Correctly

Breve is an Italian word, pretend that you are Italian and pretend that you are Italian when pronouncing the word. It has two syllables “Breh” and “Veh”

I hear it being butchered and poorly pronounced “Café Breev”

What Does Breve Mean In English?

Breve in Italian means short, or brief, meaning in coffee terms a Breve latte is supposed to be a brief or short latte.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Make A Breve Latte At Home

A breve latte at Starbucks is a latte that has been made with half-and-half, a breve cappuccino is a cappuccino that is made with half-and-half cream. At Starbucks, you can order an espresso drink and request it to be steamed half-and-half instead of regular milk.

Yes, you can make a Latte with half-and-half. You can also order your latte to be made with alternative milks like soy latte or rice latte instead of regular milk. A breve is a thick creamy latte that has been made with half-and-half creamy foam. It is particularly good when it is mixed with a double shot of espresso.

Due to the fat content and higher cholesterol, a breve is not particularly healthy. For a healthy latte, order a skinny drink which is a regular latte made with skimmed milk and go sugar-free or use an alternative sweetener.

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

A caffe breve is creamier and fluffier than a regular or average latte that is made with the standard milk that baristas use. When half-and-half cream is steamed, it increases the volume more than steamed milk. It is an espresso beverage, like a latte except it is made with half-and-half and not milk. 

No, a breve is made with half-and-half cream but not heavy whipping cream. An American breve, which is a variation of a breve but is made with heavy whipping cream. In both cases, the cream is steamed to create a frothy appearance.

What Makes A Latte Breve?

A breve latte, also known as a breve coffee, is made with equal parts of espresso coffee and half-and-half cream. It’s a very American version of a classic Italian latte. It’s made with espresso and heavy cream and whole fat milk in equal amounts. 

Can You Make A Breve With Regular Coffee?

Yes, you can make your breve with your favorite coffee grounds and your preferred coffee made with an espresso machine being the best option. When your coffee is brewed, a double two ounces of well brewed espresso, add it to your blender and with two ounces of half-and-half milk and blend well. This will produce a coffee with the richest and creamiest texture. 

How Does Starbucks Make A Breve Latte?

Starbucks makes their Breve latte with a shot of their signature espresso and steamed half-and-half milk. You can order any drink to be made with half-and-half to make it a little more decadent. Just order a cappuccino breve or a mocha breve for example. 

Final Thoughts – How To Make A Breve Latte At Home

Now that you have the instructions for how to make a breve latte at home I encourage you to make it, and make it with specialty grade coffee beans of a deep, dark roast and high quality half-and-half cream. 

Join our fun, free and very friendly coffee community and tell us about any “secret” customizations that you make to your caffe Breve. Find us on Facebook/Meta.

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

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