The Perfect Milk Temperature for a Hot Latte: Why 55–65°C Makes All the Difference
Among all espresso-based drinks, if someone asks which one contains the most milk, most of us would instantly answer: the latte. And lattes come in two main forms—iced (or cold) lattes and hot lattes. Even though the recipe is technically the same, the methods differ to bring out the best flavor in each version, which leads to many detailed variations in preparation. For iced lattes, the ratio between espresso and milk directly determines the overall strength of the drink. But when it comes to hot lattes, flavor isn’t only affected by ratios—milk temperature also plays a crucial role. What Temperature Should the Milk Be for a Hot Latte? The end point of steaming milk is mainly based on whether the temperature is high enough. Generally, in a specialty coffee shop, milk for a hot latte is steamed to around 55–65°C (or at least kept under 70°C). Many people may wonder: why this specific range? Next, we’ll walk through two sets of experiments to understand the reasons behind it. ...