Talk:Latte

Glass, Caffe Latte, etc

Hummm , "Caffe Latte", the beverage not the "word" is not italian , even of course is very popular in Italy . Americans only think is Italian, cause they know Italy much more than all the other countries, lol . U heard about Italy and France, and thinks that everything from Food (& Recipes) , comes from Italy and France . Rubbish (sorry) . The same, in literature, to France and Germany !! (im wrong?) And then, u put french and italian names, in everything, lol . Just pure non- sense . I'm Portuguese, and what u called "caffe latte", and then many names in french etc, and many theories, etc, in my country have all these names , such : "garoto ", " galão" , "meia de leite", "cimbalino", etc etc .. This, are just the most important types of "caffe latte", in my country ,Portugal . Imagine the others . Sorry, but i will not tell why its drinked in what u called "china" (but ITS NOT BY "TRADITION" ) , but have everything to do with "coffee", "milk", and incredibly (LOLOLOL) with Portugal . (that was a tip) I am Mediterranean, European, consumer, I even used to have a restaurant, I know History , etc etc . My name is Paulo Quintela, and i am here > http://partidaritenao.blogs.sapo.pt/ , (in Portuguese, and serious subjects) , so im not anonymous . All the best to you , all ...

Dear Paulo, I did not quite understand you :) But indeed, the word "caffellatte" is italian, and -as I believe you state here, the beverage did not originate in Italy. True. But it did not come to Portugal until after it had been a common drink in Italy and France and Spain. The portoguese imported coffee from their colonies just as the french and the spanish did, and the italians has imported coffee longer than any other european country. But it was in Austria the continental "café" traditions developed -in Vienna- , and it is believed it was there someone for the first time served publically coffee with milk in it -as a speciality drink-.

But it was the french who made it popular, and thus the demand for better equipment to serve coffee rapidly and in larger numbers in the popular cafés in larger cities, resulted in larger coffee machines in the 1800's. The italians improved these during the first half of the 1900's, and almost patented the idea itself. Good espresso machines spread from Italy to France to Spain and Portugal. In most of Italy, parts of the french riviera and in Spain, many coffee drinks are served in smaller or larger glasses; I understand that is also the tradition in Portugal. Thus, the beverage named 'caffellatte' (and even more, the cappuccino!) grew in popularity -and the way the italians modernly made it with their new improved espresso machines after the war -the idea was sold to cafés all over quite soon. The french first served their beverage as 'café au lait', but now commonly names it 'café crème' (Grand Crème if served large).

There is a common misunderstanding that 'café au lait' is a french term used for regular coffee and warm milk being served in cafés. At their homes they may call it this, as the italians would call the same beverage made on their kitchen stove 'caffèllatte'. But as in Italy, you won't find regular coffee (from drip coffee makers) in public cafés anymore. They all have espresso machines. And although you may ask for 'café au lait' in a french café, what the waiter writes down (or shouts to the barista) is 'un créme!' :) The term has been borrowed, though, and here in Norway, a 'café au lait' -in a café - is the same as a caffèllatte. People are confused, and some say the french word is used when you serve it in a white china bowl, while the italian word is used when you serve it in a tall glass. There is no true answer -and it does not matter that much. The spanish use their own language: "cafe con leche" (and the catalans in Barcelona use their term "café amb llet"). In Germany, though, a "Milchkaffee" isn't quite the same beverage. But the idea is more or less the same: coffee and milk.

A translation sounds silly in norwegian :) -just as in menus worldwide, a traditional dish is more specified when named in its presumed original language. A "boillabasse" cannot be translated without losing its identity. English "fish'n chips" has to be presented just like that. 'Cappuccino' is often written differently (capuchino?), but there is no way to translate that.

(You may try to translate the word 'spaghetti' to your own language.).

I digress hehe. Did I answer any question?

Coffee vs. espresso

No, a latte shouldn't be made by "pouring milk and coffee simultaneously," as lattes are usually made with espresso, not regular coffe. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.51.198.28 (talk • contribs) .

Espresso is a type of coffee, and the article mentions in the same paragraph, above that line, that a latte is usually made with espresso. As for whether the liquids need to be poured in simultaneously, this is a different matter. With no disrespect meant, I've always found that Americans seem to be far more prescriptive about the "correct" manners of making Italian-style coffees than my local bartenders in Rome. — Asbestos | Talk (RFC) 12:03, 10 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Bowls and napkins

I removed the references to Australia and New Zealand, because being served a latte in a glass (with a napkin tied around it) or in a bowl is by no means unique to that part of the world. Skeezix1000 14:12, 30 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Spelling

...and the beverage is in italian correctly written in one word, tied with an extra 'l': caffellatte ...according to a barista in Firenze - John in Oslo —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.191.126.166 (talk • contribs) .

Glass?

Does anyone know why a caffe latte would be served in a glass? - Daniel "burnt hands" in Sydney - —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 125.63.151.129 (talk • contribs) .

Seems the italians as in the rest of the mediterrenean has not had a tradition to serve in china, but in glasses. Cafés on the continental europe has generally served coffee in white china -cups with handles :) Italian coffee-shops has served caffellatte in kitchen glasses, french and viennese cafés in china. But why your coffeeshop can't get themselves cups, I don't know. Bring your own :) -and if you burn your fingers, the milk is far too hot! John, Barista, Oslo

Yuppies

I think it'd be worth mentioning that this is the stereotypical yuppie drink. -- LGagnon 02:02, 6 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Latte or Latté?

Where does the accent in some instances of the word in the article come from? To me it looks like trying to "frenchify" the Italian term somehow. I'm not American, can someone please verify if Latté is indeed a common spelling?