NATIONAL LATTE DAY

NATIONAL LATTE DAY

National Latte Day on February 11 celebrates the explosion of flavor of espresso and silky crema. Today's beverage holiday is dedicated to the smooth, creamy, and irresistible coffee classic, the latte.

#NationalLatteDay

A latte, or cafè latte, is a milk coffee with a smooth and silky layer of foam. A true latte is a combination of a shot or two of espresso, streamed milk and a thin layer of frothy milk on top. Unlike it's cousin the Cappuccino where ingredients are equally balanced, the latte has more of a coffee profile.

A good latte begins with preparation of the coffee beans to create an Espresso. Basically, an Espresso is a concentrated form of finely-ground coffee beans that are processed through a small amount of nearly boiling water under high pressure through finely-ground coffee beans. A perfect Espresso consists of three layers:

  1. The dark brown base at the bottom, which should provide bitterness and body.

  2. The middle layer, usually a caramel-brown color.

  3. The Crema top, which is composed of air bubbles and coffee oils.

The secret to a great latte is the foam. Microfoam to be exact. When done correctly, the steamed milk will create small bubbles. These bubbles are what the crema is made of and are often described as wet paint or melted ice cream.

Latte vs. Cappuccino

The Latte and Cappuccino are cousins. It's no wonder many people confuse the two when ordering either drink. Both are made with the same two ingredients--espresso and steamed milk. The difference between the them is the ratios of milk and the texture the milk provides each drink.

The easiest way to identify a Cappuccino, is by the milk foam, which is light. The ingredients of a Cappuccino are measured into three equal parts--1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, 1/3 milk foam. When drinking a cappuccino, the first thing you should taste is the foam, not the coffee. A Cappuccino is traditionally served in a smaller cup because there is less milk. Less milk also means a bolder espresso flavor.

HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL LATTE DAY

There are endless ways to creamy up your morning and celebrate the art of the latte. Whether you are a purist or a fan of a morning coffee jolt, today is your day!

Visit your local coffee shop and order your favorite latte. Challenge your barista to create their best "latte art" and be sure to tip them for the extra effort!

Try your hand at making a latte at home.

Try a new Latte flavor! Lavender Honey, Salted Caramel, or a spicy Mocha are a few ideas for you to try!

Spend some time watching "latte art" tutorials online to learn how to make those pretty patterns for your homebrew.. Even a simple heart or a "rosetta" pattern can turn a mundane morning into a creative experience.

Take a photo of your beautiful brew and post it on social media using the hashtag #NationalLatteDay.

CREATOR OF NATIONAL LATTE DAY

We have found some information indicating National Latte Day was created in 2019 by a place called Jefferson Coffee (New Jersey). We are hoping to find more information to indeed verify this discovery!