I believe it is safe to say that the majority of people are familiar with the terms cappuccino and latte. And if you’re reading this, odds are good that you’re already an expert at regular brews and that your coffee repertoire knows no bounds. A Breve is a beverage, however, that not many of us have ever heard of.
A breve coffee is a beverage that combines strong espresso and decadent half and half. The harmony results in a deliciously silky sip!
There’s a lot of punch in this little cup of coffee: strong, bold espresso paired with rich half and half. It’s a real treat and well worth ordering at your neighborhood coffee shop.
Here is more information about this beverage and instructions for making Breve coffee at home.
What Is A Breve Coffee?
Steamed half-and-half, espresso, and foam are combined to make this coffee drink. The majority of places will give you a latte made with half-and-half if you simply ask for a breve coffee. In other words, the ratios are the same as in a latte, with a lot more half-and-half than foam.
A Breve has a constant volume: one double shot of espresso and 2 ounces half and half. It’s frequently served in a 4.5-ounce glass cup, just like the Cortado and Gibraltar, making it simple to pour in the correct amounts.
In Starbucks, What Does Breve Mean?
Starbucks, the restaurant where ordering is so challenging that Kevin Hart has an entire 8-minute skit about it. What exactly is a breve in the shop famous for its takeaway cups covered in hieroglyphs?
If you ask for just “a breve” at Starbucks and the usually friendly barista isn’t in the mood that day, you’ll probably get a steamed cup of creamy milk instead. That’s it!
A cup with the letter “B” scrawled on it will probably be used to serve you this creamy foam. The drink’s name is abbreviated as B.
Almost any coffee beverage can be made a breve at Starbucks. Even an iced latte (espresso with ice-cold half-and-half) counts as a hot beverage. Because at Starbucks, Breve is half-and-half. Breve has been transformed into more of a modification than a drink in their language.
You can order a breve latte, a breve cafe latte, a breve cappuccino, or just one of these beverages with half-and-half. the same as the coffee drinks we’ve been discussing in this article.
If you ask for a breve in most other coffee shops, particularly third-wave specialty ones, they will understand what you mean.
Taste Of A Breve Coffee
Breve lattes have a rich, creamy consistency. The Breve is a strong beverage because it is made with espresso and half-and-half. Because of the sweet, creamy top layer that it contains, it has a high-fat content and doesn’t require additional sugar.
Due to the potential increase in daily cholesterol levels, I don’t drink it in the morning, but it is a nice treat nonetheless!
Breve Vs Latte
What distinguishes a latte from a breve coffee? What are the main variations between a breve and a latte?
- The difference between a latte and a Breve is that the Breve is made with half and half.
- A latte is made with two times as much dairy as espresso as a Breve.
- A latte is typically 6 ounces and can be served in a mug, cup, or glass. A Breve coffee is 4 ounces and is served in a small glass.
- For a latte, the milk is texturized to create microfoam, which has the appearance of wet paint. While not being textured, the milk used in Cafe Breve is steamed.
The smaller Breve is comparable to a richer, more potent latte. It has a delectable ratio of espresso to dairy, which results in an incredibly smooth sip.
How To Make A Breve Coffee?
A Breve latte: what is it made of? The following two steps are similar to those in other well-known espresso drinks: the latte, cappuccino, flat white, and more. Here are some instructions:
- Make two espresso shots.
- Steam or froth ¼ cup half and half using the instructions below.
- Pour the espresso into a small glass, then top with the frothed half and half.
Making The Espresso
The espresso for a Breve can be made with a conventional countertop espresso machine or using one of the alternative espresso-making techniques listed below! Pick up a fantastic espresso roast bean: we recommend Illy, Starbucks, or Intelligentsia. then use one of these strategies:
- Espresso machine: For instructions, visit How to Make Espresso. It’s expensive, but this is our preferred espresso machine. Or you can make it using one of the following techniques, either with or without a machine:
- Convenient espresso maker: Try this manual espresso maker: it’s much cheaper and portable and makes great coffee.
- French press: If you already own this coffee-making apparatus, the French press espresso also functions very well.
- Moka pot: A Moka Pot’s robust espresso-like coffee is perfect for a Breve.
Steaming Or Frothing The Half And Half
What comes next in a Breve latte? Frothing the milk and cream! To steam milk using the higher fat half and half, follow the same steps you would for steaming milk. Following are some instructions:
- Froth the half and half with a hand-held frother, a whisk, or a french press. If you have a frother, that is the best tool, but a French press also works well. Click How to Froth Milk to learn how.
- A coffee maker is used to steam the half and half. Of course, espresso machine-steamed half and half is the best ingredient that Cafe Breve uses. Visit How to Steam Milk and follow the directions there to stretch the milk to a height of 20 to 25%.
Serve In A Small Glass
Just combine espresso and half and a half to create the Breve, and you’re done! Usually, a 4.5-ounce glass is used, which is the ideal size for the 2 ounces of espresso and steamed milk. Since it’s easiest to steam double the amount of milk, we advise it because it’s nice to know when to stop pouring the half and half. A few glass choices are as follows:
- Cortado glass: Try this small tumbler glass
- Gibraltar glass: Opt for a Gibraltar glass, which narrows at the bottom
Important Things To Consider When Making A Breve Latte
The Bean
A high-quality base of beans is perhaps the most crucial step in producing the best coffee beverage. You should buy them as soon as possible after roasting if you didn’t do it yourself. Additionally, you should use it right away after grinding. You can be sure that the drink won’t be good if you don’t.
The Espresso
the espresso, then. There are numerous variations of home espresso machines. A good choice will fit both your needs and your budget.
The Steam
Start with extremely cold half-and-half when steaming. Half-and-half will not foam as well at room temperature. Also, steaming the liquid in a metal milk jug will yield the best results. Avoid filling the jug to the top. Due to steaming, the half-and-half will expand somewhat.
With a steaming wand, you can steam dairy products quickly and easily. A built-in steaming wand is a feature found on many espresso machines. A stand-alone frothing wand can be used, but the texture won’t be the same as it would be with a genuine steam wand.
There shouldn’t be a lot of foam in a latte. The steaming tip should be at or very near the surface to produce the most foam. Therefore, keep the tip about 1/4-inch below the surface for steaming half-and-half without too much foam. Tilt the milk jug so that the liquid swirls around to achieve the best consistency. This will give the finished product a lovely texture. to be reluctant to try new things in order to find the right spot.
The Pour
Pour the half-and-half in after the espresso has been added to the serving mug. While you’re pouring, keep the foam in check with a spoon. You can add one or two dollops of the foam to the drink after you’ve poured the desired amount.
