latte

American  

[lah-tey, laht-te] / ˈlɑ teɪ, ˈlɑt tɛ /

noun

1. Also called caffè latte.  hot espresso with steamed milk, usually topped with foamed milk.

2. tea made with steamed milk, usually topped with foamed milk.

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latte British  

/ ˈlɑːteɪ, ˈlæteɪ /

noun

1. coffee made with hot milk

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Etymology

Origin of latte

First recorded in 1990–95; from Italian (caffè) latte “(coffee with) milk,” from Latin lac (stem lact- ); cognate with French lait, Portuguese leite, Spanish leche

Compare meaning

How does latte compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cappuccino vs. latte

Explanation

A latte is a milky espresso drink you can order at most American cafes. Many lattes have delicate patterns or pictures drawn in the creamy foam on top. The full name of a latte is "caffe latte," which means "milk coffee" in Italian. Other countries have variations on this idea, from France's "café au lait" to Germany's "Milchkaffee." While Caffè latte was used in Italy for milky coffee drinks made in people's homes, it wasn't found until very recently on cafe menus — the latte is more of an American invention. If you order a latte in Italy, in fact, what you'll get is a glass of milk.

Example Sentences

With my half-caf almond milk latte, I complete the problem behaviors deck.

From Slate • May 10, 2026

At matcha chain Jenki, iced hojicha latte sales were 55% higher across its six London cafes between January and April than during the same time period the previous year.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Raspberry danish latte — a Minneapolis coffee shop’s gift to the world.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

I order a latte and a whole grain pastry twisted with ham and cheese.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

But now that she’s up, showered, dressed, walking down the street, a latte from the deli on their block in one hand, she’s invigorated.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri