Not many people know how much caffeine in a latte is. But because of the milk mixture, most people would think of the caffeine level to be quite low while the calories would be a bit higher. Well, that’s not necessarily true, in reality. If you think that a latte is all about a coffee and a milk mix, then you need to do your research more and dig deeper for the topic. We also have a how-to article on How to Make a Latte without Any Machine, be sure to check it out.
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About Coffee Latte
Also known as caffe latte or simply a latte, this beverage has become of the most popular icon of modern life. It is one among other espresso-based drinks and yet it has its own hardcore and loyal fan base of its own.
When we are talking about latte, we are talking about a shot of espresso with steamed milk. If you want the stronger one, you can choose the double shots. Although rare, it is also possible to have three shots. But in most cases, a double shot is considered potent and strong enough for the punchy coffee effect that you want.
In general, you may get a double espresso shot for the 16 fl.oz of latte. For the smaller size, the espresso is only one shot – and it generally contains caffeine up to 77 mg. If you want to be sure, ask the barista whenever you visit any coffee shop in town.
Caffe Latte Anatomy
If you want to know about how much caffeine in a latte is, then it would be wise to know about the anatomy. So, how is the beverage created?
- It always starts with a perfect espresso shot. It means that you need to choose the premium coffee beans quality that should be finely grounded and then packed correctly. Then the shot should be introduced but stopped before the crema becomes white
- The steamed milk is crucial. It should be velvety and smooth and has tiny air bubbles
- The milk is poured to the espresso carefully and slowly. It should be done in a way so that the crema rises to the surface
Different Caffeine Contents in Different Coffee Variant
You should know by now that there are different kinds of coffee variants out here. People have their own preference and personal like. Some like it plain and strong and punchy, while some like it smooth and velvety and somewhat milky. Depending on the types of coffee used, there are also different caffeine contents within each different coffee variant.
In general, based on the info from Kicking Horse Coffee, a single shot of espresso generally has 40 mg of caffeine, so if you choose the double shot, it would be 80 mg of caffeine. What about a drip coffee? Generally, 1 oz of drip coffee has 10 mg of caffeine, so if you have 12 oz of drip coffee, you already have 120 mg of caffeine in your mug. If you buy from the regular coffee shops, the small size (8 oz) and the medium one (12 oz) usually has 2 espresso shots. If you choose the biggest one (16 oz), it consists of 3 shots.
How Much Caffeine in a Latte
Here is the basic calculation of how much caffeine in a latte, along with other coffee variants.
- Believe it or not, some people do like their espresso plain and straight, so they can enjoy the strong and punchy sensation. They dislike the other additions such as milk or foam. If you like one shot of espresso, the caffeine is 40 mg. The double shot has 80 mg of caffeine.
- It is basically espresso with hot water. Unlike the Europeans who like the espresso direct and plain, the Americans want to dilute the espresso with the hot water. The small and medium cup has 80 mg of caffeine while the bigger one has around 120 mg of caffeine.
- It consists of espresso, a tad bit of steamed milk, and a lot of milk foam. The caffeine content is similar to the Americano.
- It is the contrary to the cappuccino. It consists of espresso, a lot of steamed milk, and a tad bit of milk foam. The caffeine content is similar to the Americano and Cappuccino. So, if you want to know how much caffeine in a latte, here is the fact – depending on the size of your cup too.
- It consists of espresso, a little choco syrup, a lot of steamed milk, and a little milk foam. The caffeine content is similar to Americano.
- Caffee con Leche. This is basically a Spanish beverage, consisting of half coffee drip and half of steamed milk. The small one has 40 mg of caffeine. The medium one 60 mg while the bigger one has 80 mg.
- Red eye. It consists of espresso and a lot of drip coffee. It is often consumed by college students because of the extra energy boost. The small one has 160 mg of caffeine while the medium has 200 mg of caffeine.
Now that you already know your facts about the different types of coffee and their caffeine, including how much caffeine in a latte, you’d see that the caffeine level is quite moderate and mild.