• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Coffee and Tea
  • Cooking Equipment
  • Food Storage
  • Wine
  • Is It Gluten Free?
  • About
  • Contact Us

RecipeFAQ logo

  • Coffee and Tea
  • Cooking Equipment
  • Food Storage
  • Wine
  • Is It Gluten Free?
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Coffee and Tea
  • Cooking Equipment
  • Food Storage
  • Wine
  • Is It Gluten Free?
  • About
  • Contact Us
search icon
Homepage link
  • Coffee and Tea
  • Cooking Equipment
  • Food Storage
  • Wine
  • Is It Gluten Free?
  • About
  • Contact Us
×

Home » Is a Latte Hot or Cold?

Published: February 16, 2023 / Updated: February 16, 2023

Is a Latte Hot or Cold?

A latte is one of the most popular coffee drinks in the world. For coffee lovers, this simple combination of espresso and milk is the perfect way to start the day. But is a latte hot or cold? Let’s take a look.

hot latte and iced latte overhead

I remember the first time I stepped into a big coffee chain location about 30 years ago. I was a coffee novice and had no idea what to order. Plus, the menu was overwhelming. Flustered, I walked up to the counter and blurted out something like, “I’ll have a medium mocha latte with milk.”

The person behind the counter patiently explained to me that:

  1. Mochas and lattes are two different drinks
  2. Both come with milk already

I settled on a latte. Then she asked me if I wanted it hot or cold? “Umm…”

I didn’t know it at the time, but you can enjoy either a hot or cold latte. Each is made with the same ingredients and both are delicious.

Let’s take a look at exactly what is in a latte and how to make them.

Jump to:
  • What is a latte?
  • Are lattes hot?
  • How do you make a hot latte?
  • How do you make an iced latte?
  • What’s the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?
  • So, is a latte hot or cold?
  • More coffee-related answers

What is a latte?

latte in a white mug with a red towel

Latte is simply the Italian word for “milk.” A traditional coffee latte consists of one or two shots of espresso, topped with steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. The mixture helps create a smooth, balanced coffee drink.

Though one of its key ingredients, espresso, wasn’t developed until the early 20th century, a version of the coffee latte is believed to have originated in Italy at least three centuries ago.

The latte skyrocketed in popularity in the U.S. in the 1980s and ’90s after coffee chains like Starbucks began offering both original and flavored versions of the drink at its stores. Now it’s one of the most widely consumed coffee drinks in the world.

Are lattes hot?

Yes, an authentic latte is prepared hot, using both hot espresso and warm milk. But, as you’ll see later in this post, iced lattes are made with the same ingredients. So what you enjoy better is really up to you!

Here are ways to make both hot and iced lattes.

How do you make a hot latte?

Step 1 – To make an authentic hot latte, first make the espresso — either a single or double shot of espresso depending on your tastes. If you don’t have an espresso machine at home, you can also use very strong hot coffee.

Step 2 – Next, heat up some whole milk. Usually, you want twice as much milk as espresso. A good ratio is 4 ounces of milk to 2 ounces of espresso.

You can also use non-dairy varieties like oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk if you prefer. Once the milk is warm, place it under a milk frother for a few seconds to create a thin layer of foam on top. You can also put it in a sealed mason jar and shake it vigorously for a few seconds.

Step 3 – To assemble the latte, add the hot espresso shots to a cup, then pour the frothed hot milk gently over the top. That’s it! Now you have a tasty hot latte.

Of course, I know there are some of you out there wondering: how hot is hot? What temperature should the milk and espresso be to create the perfect latte? I’m here for you, coffee drinkers.

Now, a coffee nerd alert warning as I spend the next few paragraphs on the ideal latte temperature.

What temperature should a latte be served at?

A well-made latte should be served at around 155° to 160° degrees Fahrenheit (68°-71° Celsius). The trick is balancing out the temperature of the two ingredients, espresso and milk.

Espresso is created by pushing very hot water through fine coffee grounds at high pressure. It usually reaches high temperatures between 190°-200° F.

The milk in a regular latte is more warm than hot. In most cases, you don’t want it to exceed 150° F. You can make it hotter if you want more foam, but you’re veering into [cappuccino territory] with too much milk foam.

So if you’re making your own, you don’t want to boil the milk — you merely want to warm it up.

Since there’s usually twice as much milk than espresso in a latte, when the two are mixed they should balance each other in terms of temperature to produce an ideal warm latte.

Can I order an extra-hot latte?

Some people like their coffee drinks very hot. If that’s you, here are some things to be aware of if you’re considering getting an extra hot latte.

Increasing the temperature of either the espresso or the milk in the latte beyond their ideal ranges can negatively affect the flavor.

You can make espresso with water that’s over 200° F, but when you reach those temperatures, you can start to over-extract the coffee. That can lead to an unpleasantly bitter taste.

Similarly, if you warm the milk to the point that it’s boiling, you could end up overheating it. That could result in a latte that tastes burnt and flat. And since hotter milk produces more froth, you could wind up with more of a cappuccino than a latte.

If you prefer hotter lattes, you can ask your barista to heat both the espresso and milk to the upper ranges of their ideal temperatures without burning them. If you’re making lattes at home, it might just take a bit of trial and error to get your cup at the best temperature.

How do you make an iced latte?

iced latte in tall glass with red striped straw

The process of making cold lattes or iced lattes is similar to making a traditional hot version. The differences are the temperature of the milk and the addition of ice.

To create an iced latte, you first add ice cubes to a tall glass. Then you pour espresso over it. Next, add cold milk and mix them together. Note: To get a frothier top, you can first shake the milk in a mason jar for about 30 seconds, then pour it over the espresso and ice.

What’s the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?

cappuccino with coffee beans on a wood board

Though a latte and a cappuccino are each an espresso-based drink combined with steamed milk, it’s the foam layer on the top of each one that really is the main difference between the two.

The best way to make a latte is by pouring warm, steamed, slightly frothy milk over hot espresso. Usually, you have two parts milk to espresso and less foam on top. When the two ingredients mix together, the higher ratio of milk balances out the espresso, resulting in a mellow coffee drink.

To make a cappuccino, you heat up your milk a bit more and froth it for longer until you get a thick head of foam on it. Then you pour the milk over the espresso coffee. The ratio should be equal parts espresso, milk, and foam. This produces a stronger coffee drink that feels a bit airier and more luxurious due to the foam.

So, is a latte hot or cold?

hot and iced latte with a red towel

The answer to whether a latte is hot or cold is: both! You can savor a delicious latte either hot or iced, depending on your personal preference and mood. If it’s a cold winter day, reach for that hot latte. If it’s a hot day in the middle of summer, you may yearn for a cool, refreshing iced latte.

And since they’re both easy to make, try both at home and see which one you like better. Before you know it, you’ll be an amateur barista making a great latte of your own at home!


More coffee-related answers

Looking for more answers to your coffee questions? Check out these posts.

  • cappuccino with coffee beans on a wood cutting board
    Frappuccino vs Cappuccino
  • coffee grounds and coffee beans on a wooden cutting board
    Can You Reuse Coffee Grounds for Cold Brew?
  • iced coffee with a blue striped coffee overhead
    Can You Heat Up Iced Coffee?
  • cold brew coffee overhead
    Can You Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee?
« Can You Freeze Caviar?
Can You Reuse Coffee Grounds for Cold Brew? »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

alain author image

Hi, I'm Alain! I used to be a TV journalist. Then I caught the cooking bug. Now I've blended both of those passions into this site. I dive into all sorts of food and drink-related topics to uncover the answers to common and not-so-common culinary questions. My goal is to make it easy for you to quickly find accurate cooking answers, so you can spend more time making dishes instead of researching them.

Learn more about me →

Popular posts

  • pouring pinot noir into a wine glass
    Pinot Noir vs Cabernet Sauvignon: A Wine Tasting Guide
  • platter of fish and chips with lemon, tartar sauce, and slaw
    How to Reheat Fish and Chips: 4 Best Ways
  • slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting on a pink plate
    How Long Does Cake Last in the Fridge?
  • americano coffee from overhead
    Americano vs Cappuccino: What’s the Difference?
  • blue silicone mold in front of air fryer
    Can You Use Silicone in an Air Fryer?
  • honeycrisp and granny smith apple with jar of homemade apple juice
    8 Best Apples for Juicing

Latest posts

  • flat white in a blue cup
    Cortado vs Flat White: What Are The Differences?
  • Can You Freeze Coconut Oil?
  • pouring pinot noir into wine glass
    Pinot Noir vs Merlot: Wine Tasting Guide
  • chicken broth in ladle over bowl over broth
    Is Chicken Broth Gluten Free?

Footer

↑ back to top

Popular topics

  • Coffee and Tea
  • Cooking Equipment
  • Food Storage
  • Wine
  • Is it Gluten Free?

About

  • About
  • Contact

Legal

  • Privacy and Accessibility Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2023 RecipeFAQ

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE, I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. YOU MAY NOT USE ANY PHOTOS OR RECIPES ON THIS SITE FOR ANY PERSONAL OR COMMERCIAL USE WITHOUT MY EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION.