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Breve coffee is a drink that pairs bold espresso and rich half and half. The balance makes a deliciously smooth sip!
Want a creamy coffee that’s all about decadence? Try Breve coffee! This tiny coffee drink packs a big punch: strong, bold espresso paired with rich half and half. It’s a total treat and absolutely worth ordering up at your local coffeeshop.
It’s also easy to make at home, using your favorite espresso and frothing method. Here’s more about this drink, and how to make Breve coffee at home!
What’s breve coffee?
Breve coffee, aka cafe breve or breve latte, is a drink of equal parts espresso and half and half. It’s an Americanized version of a latte that’s even richer and creamier. It’s closest to the Cortado, a drink of Spanish origin that’s made with espresso and whole milk.
A Breve is always the same volume: one doubleshot of espresso and 2 ounces half and half. Like the Cortado and Gibraltar, it’s often served in a 4.5 ounce glass cup, making it easy to pour in the exact quantities.
Breve vs latte
What makes breve coffee different from a latte? The smaller Breve is like a more concentrated and richer latte. It has an equal balance of espresso to dairy, making an intensely smooth sip. Here are the key differences of a breve vs latte:
- A Breve is made with half and half, whereas a latte uses whole milk.
- A Breve is 1:1 dairy to espresso; a latte is 2:1 dairy to espresso.
- A Breve coffee is 4 ounces and served in a small glass; a latte is typically 6 ounces and can be served in a mug, cup or glass.
- The milk for a latte is textured to become microfoam, a wet paint-like texture. The milk for Cafe Breve is steamed, but not textured.
How to make a Breve coffee: basic steps
How to make a Breve latte? There are two main steps that are similar to other popular espresso drinks: the latte, cappuccino, flat white, and more. Here’s what to do:
- Make a double shot of espresso.
- 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
You can make the espresso for Breve coffee using a traditional countertop espresso machine, or one of a few other espresso-making methods. Make sure to use an espresso roast coffee bean: we recommend Illy, Starbucks or Intelligentsia. Here are the methods we recommend:
- Espresso machine: Our favorite espresso machine is this one, though it’s pricey. Go to How to Make Espresso for instructions.
- Portable espresso maker: Try this manual espresso maker: it’s much cheaper and portable, and makes great coffee.
- French press: French press espresso also works very well—it’s perfect if you already have this coffee making tool,
- Moka pot: The strong espresso-like coffee you can get from a Moka Pot works great for a Breve.
Steaming or frothing the half and half
The second step for a Breve latte is steaming or frothing the half and half. You can use the same processes you’d use for milk in a latte or cappuccino. Here’s what to do:
- Steam the half and half with an espresso machine. The best Cafe Breve has half and half steamed with an espresso machine! Go to How to Steam Milk and follow the instructions for stretching the milk to 20 to 25% in height.
- Froth the half and half with a hand-held frother, French press, or whisk. The best tool is a frother if you have it, but a French press also works well. Go to How to Froth Milk.
Serve in a small glass
Mix the espresso and steamed half and half together, and you’ve got the Breve! It’s typically served in a 4.5 ounce glass, which is the perfect size for the 2 ounces each of espresso and steamed dairy. We recommend it because it’s nice to know when to stop pouring the half and half (since it’s easiest to steam a double quantity of milk). Here are a few glass options:
- Cortado glass: Try this small tumbler glass
- Gibraltar glass: Opt for a Gibraltar glass, which narrows at the bottom
Breve Coffee
Breve coffee is a drink that pairs bold espresso and rich half and half. The balance makes a deliciously smooth sip!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Espresso
- Cuisine: Coffee
- Diet: Vegetarian
Instructions
- Make the espresso: Go to How to Make Espresso.
- Steam the half and half: Steam the half and half with an espresso machine (stretching the milk to 20 to 25% in height), or froth the half and half with a frother, French press or whisk. Use ½ cup milk for this process: discard the leftovers or make two drinks.
- Serve: Pour 2 ounces espresso into a small glass, then top with the steamed half and half. Drink immediately.
More coffee drinks
Our Barista Series shows you how to make all your favorite coffee drinks or espresso drinks. Here are more you might enjoy:
- Try classic pour over or French press coffee.
- Go cold with cold brew coffee, iced coffee, vanilla iced coffee, an iced latte, iced vanilla latte or iced espresso.
- Try Spanish cafe con leche or French cafe au lait.
- Grab an espresso drink like an Americano, macchiato, cappuccino, flat white, mocha, ristretto or lungo.
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