QUESTION: On my recent road trip, I had Breve coffee after a Barista recommended I try it. The coffee looks like a latte but tastes so much richer and more satisfying. I have since left the town, so I cannot talk to the Barista again. Can you explain what Breve coffee is and why it tastes so rich?
NIGEL ONG FROM CLEARLY COFFEE ANSWERS: You can consider Breve coffee (or Caffe Breve) as a variation of many coffee-with-milk recipes, such as Latte, Cappuccino, Cortado, and more.
The difference with Breve is that it is made using a half-and-half. Half-and-half means the Barista will mix equal ratios of milk and cream and then steam them. The warm and foamed half-and-half is then poured into your espresso.
As a result, a Breve coffee may look like a Latte, but they taste much richer, thanks to the cream. Steaming the half-and-half also helps to enhance its creaminess and sweetness as well.
In this post, I will try to discuss more about Breve coffee and how it differs from your regular Latte and Cappuccino. Finally, suppose your Barista is unsure how to prepare a Breve. In that case, I will also discuss how you can instruct your Barista to make your Breve.
What is Breve Coffee?
As a start, Breve coffee does not refer to any specific type of coffee beans, nor does it point to any geographical region. This means Breve coffee is not the same as Arabica or Robusta, nor is it similar to Colombian or Ethiopian coffee.
‘Breve’ refers to a specific way to prepare a coffee drink. The word Breve itself means ‘short’ or ‘brief’ in Italian and likely refers to the smaller coffee-to-milk ratio in a Breve coffee.
However, unlike Cortado (which also has a short coffee-to-milk ratio), Breve coffee is commonly prepared using espresso and a half-and-half. The latter refers to mixing equal portions of milk and cream together.
The half-and-half is then steamed, foamed, and poured on the espresso. This makes Breve coffee look similar to Latte or Cappuccino.
However, in some cafes, the term Breve may simply refer to the milk-and-cream preparation without coffee. If you order simply a ‘Breve,’ you may end up with a milky, creamy drink with no coffee inside.
As a result, some drinkers prefer to order their drink by mentioning the type of coffee they want and then adding the word ‘Breve’ behind it. This includes Latte Breve, Cappuccino Breve, and so on.
Breve coffee is popular as a dessert drink, especially after a meal. However, they can also be popular as an indulgent morning coffee for many, especially in Europe.
How Is Breve Different From Latte And Cappuccino?
| Aspects | Breve Coffee | Latte | Cappuccino |
| Uses Cream | Yes | No | No |
| Milk-To-Coffee Ratio | Depends on the coffee recipe | 2:1 | 1:1 |
| Serving Size | Depends on the coffee recipe | 11 to 15 oz | 5 to 5.5 oz |
| Popularity | Europe, less in the US and other parts of the world. | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Sweetener | Usually unsweetened | May have syrup | May have syrup |
| Taste & Flavor | Rich and creamy, with strong coffee taste, and slight sweetness. | Milky, sweeter than Breve. Milder coffee taste. | Stronger coffee taste, with mild sweetness. Less creamy. |
Breve coffee, Latte, or Cappuccino are variants of coffee-with-milk drinks. The differences lie in the finer details.
A Latte (left) and a Latte Breve (right), side-by-side. Can you tell the difference?
Cream
Of all the three drinks on the list, only Breve coffee uses cream. Latte and Cappuccino use only milk, with no cream inside.
With Breve coffee, the amount of milk and cream is 1:1, which explains the term ‘half-and-half.’ Once mixed together, they are treated as if they are milk. The mixture is steamed and foamed before being added to the coffee.
The cream also helps to make Breve coffee taste richer and slightly sweeter due to its higher fat content.
Milk-To-Coffee Ratio
When it comes to the milk-to-coffee ratio, things are more straightforward with Latte and Cappuccino. A typical Latte works in a 1:2 ratio, meaning there are two parts milk for every part of espresso.
With Cappuccino, there is less milk in the drink. The common formula uses a 1:1 ratio, with equal parts of espresso and milk added together.
With Breve coffee, however, things are less straightforward. Breve Coffee takes the underlying coffee formula and changes the milk ratio into half-and-half.
For example, suppose you order a Cappuccino Breve. In this case, the Barista keeps the 1-part coffee to 1-part milk ratio but replaces the milk with a half-and-half. You can apply the same concept to other drinks, like Latte, Cortado, or more.
As a result, there is no set ratio in a Breve coffee. It all depends on the coffee recipe you order.
Serving Size
Similar to the ratio, serving sizes for Cappuccino and Latte are also straightforward. Generally, Latte is served with a larger serving size, around 11 to 15 fl oz (325 to 443ml). Because Latte uses more milk, a larger serving size is required.
Cappuccino is served in smaller sizes, usually 5 to 5.5 fl oz (147 to 162ml). The drink uses less milk, meaning a small serving size and cup.
With Breve coffee, this again depends on the coffee recipe ordered. If you order a Latte Breve, the serving size will be similar to a regular Latte. If you order a Cappuccino Breve, the serving size will be the same as a regular Cappuccino.
Popularity
Lattes and Cappuccinos are popular coffee drinks and are regularly ordered worldwide. You can enter any Western-style coffee shop worldwide and get your regular fix of Latte and Cappuccino.
Breve is less popular compared to the two. Breve may be a common thing to order in Europe, but less so in America. Breve is less popular in many parts of the world too.
Breve may not be served in all Western-style cafes. If you are unlucky enough, you may get some wide-eyed stares back from some of your baristas if you order them here in the US.
Be prepared to explain further, as some Baristas may not get the term Breve but understand it as ‘half-and-half’ instead.
Sweetener
All three drinks are generally enjoyed unsweetened. This is because the milk in these drinks contains lactose, a form of sugar. It helps to slightly sweeten the drink too.
However, you may see some latte and Cappuccino drinks sweetener with syrup, honey, or sugar. Chocolate and caramel is also a popular sweetener with these drinks.
This is less common with Breve coffee, as the drink is already rich with cream. However, some Breve drinkers still sweeten the drink to make it very decadent.
Taste And Flavor
Latte is espresso with a lot of milk and a thin layer of foam. As a result, it tends to have less coffee taste but a stronger milky flavor. There is also less foam, which means the coffee is silkier and has less texture.
Cappuccino has less milk, which means you taste more of the espresso. The coffee is stronger but has some milk to cut into, making it more enjoyable to sip.
With Breve coffee, the cream usually makes the coffee a more indulgent drink. It is richer, creamier, and slightly sweet too. Breve coffee usually also mows the espresso much, making it less bitter.
How To Properly Order A Breve Coffee?
Breve is not very popular in America, which may mean ordering it is less straightforward. You may not want to expect every Barista in every coffee shop to understand what Breve means and for them to make the drink exactly the way you want it.
As a start, you may not want to just march into a coffee shop and simply order a ‘Breve.’ You may get a confused look from your Barista or end up with a steamed cup of half-and-half with no coffee.
Start by looking at the coffee shop’s menu, and see if they offer Caffe Breve or Breve coffee on the menu. If they do, it usually refers to a Latte Breve. If you order one, your Barista will prepare a Latte but switch the milk into a half-and-half.
If there is no mention of the word Breve on the menu, check with your Barista if they serve Breve coffee. If they do, then you are in luck.
Simply go ahead and order a coffee of your choice, and then add the Breve behind. For example, Latte Breve, Cappuccino Breve, or more.
If your Barista is unsure about Breve, you may check if they can help make you a cup of Latte or Cappuccino with a half-and-half instead of milk. Most baristas should understand this and be able to take over from here.
However, in some rare cases, you may meet a Barista or coffee server that does not understand what a ‘half-and-half’ or Breve means. This may happen if you are outside Europe or North America.
In this case, simply mention directly that you want a Latte or Cappuccino but with the milk changed into half-milk and half-cream. This should be explicit enough for almost all Baristas or coffee servers to know what to do.
If the Barista does not have light cream around, you can ask them to steam the milk with whipped cream. This makes a variation of Breve known as American Breve, which can be even creamier and richer than regular breve.