“Breve coffee,” a delight for coffee enthusiasts, brings together the rich essence of espresso and the velvety luxury of steamed half-and-half.
In this article, we’ll delve into the world of breve coffee, exploring its origins, variations, and the art of making this delectable drink in the comfort of your home.
What is Breve Coffee?
Breve coffee also known as Breve Latte is a specialty coffee drink that originated in the United States. The word “breve” means “short” in Italian and refers to the drink’s small size.
Breve coffee is an espresso-based drink similar to lattes and cappuccinos and is made with steamed half-and-half or cream instead of regular milk, resulting in a richer, creamier texture and flavor than a traditional latte.
The strong espresso and creamy half-and-half create a perfect balance, making it a popular choice among coffee enthusiasts. Breve coffee can be enjoyed hot or cold, often topped with foam or a sprinkle of cocoa powder for a luxurious appearance.
In the 1980s, San Francisco baristas came up with the idea of Cafe Breve, aiming to enhance the traditional latte with a creamier, richer base.
Since then, this delicious coffee has gained popularity, and it is now a popular menu item at coffee shops and cafes worldwide.
Breve is served in a small glass similar to Cortado coffee and prepared with a double shot of Espresso and 2 ounces of Half and half milk.
The Ingredient of Cafe Breve
Your Favorite coffee beans: It is typically recommended to use darker roasted beans, as the stronger flavor of these beans helps to balance out the sweetness of the cream, resulting in a delicious and well-rounded drink.
Half and Half Milk: Half-and-half is a dairy product made by combining equal parts of whole milk and light cream.
It’s what you use when you need something richer than milk, but not quite as thick as cream.
Allrecipes
Breve Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- Espresso machine
- Steaming pitcher
Ingredients
- 14-16 Grams Coffee Grounds
- 2 ounces half and half milk
- Sugar or sweeteners
Instructions
- Prepare a double shot of Espresso using your Espresso machine
- Steam half-and-half milk in a steaming pitcher until it reaches a thick and velvety consistency.While steaming the half-and-half, aim for a temperature range of 160 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.If you don't have a steaming wand you can froth the half and half in a Milk frother or heat it in a saucepan and froth it with a blender or whisk.
- Pour the steamed half-and-half on the top of the espresso shot, filling the cup about 2/3. And use a spoon to scoop some of the foam from the pitcher on top of the drink.
- Sprinkle the cocoa powder or cinnamon on the foam (optional) and serve it in a small glass.
Notes
Also read: 30 different varieties of Espresso drinks
The taste and flavors of Breve
Breve, oh breve, the indulgent coffee drink that tantalizes your taste buds with its rich and creamy flavor!
The bold and robust flavor of espresso pairs perfectly with the smooth and creamy texture of the half-and-half or cream, creating a truly unique taste experience.
The higher fat content in the half-and-half gives the drink a richer and heavier mouthfeel, making it the perfect treat for coffee lovers who enjoy a little bit of luxury in their lives.
It’s important to keep in mind that half-and-half, packs a significant caloric punch. Just one ounce of this creamy addition contains around 37 calories – that’s three times the amount of calories found in an ounce of whole milk.
There’s something about a breve coffee that always draws me in, even though I don’t have it often. But once a month, I make sure to treat myself to this delicious and indulgent coffee drink.
How’s Breve different from Latte
The main difference between a breve and a latte is the type of milk used.
A latte is made with steamed milk, typically whole milk. On the other hand, a breve coffee is made with half-and-half, which is a blend of whole milk and heavy cream.
Breve is sweeter than Latte as it uses half-and-half, which is sweeter and creamier than the whole milk typically used in lattes.
Breves are usually served without foam, in small glasses. In contrast, lattes are typically served in taller glasses or wider mugs and topped with a layer of foam.
Both lattes and breves can be personalized with various flavored syrups or non-dairy milk alternatives. For instance, vanilla or chocolate syrup can be added to both drinks.
Let’s talk about the variations of Breve
Iced breve
Iced Breve coffee offers a rich and indulgent taste, with a creamy and smooth texture that is perfect for a hot summer day.
The drink typically starts with a shot or two of espresso, which is then poured over ice and topped with cold frothed half-and-half milk.
If you want to prepare an Iced Breve smoothie, Simply blend together espresso, half-and-half, and ice cubes until smooth and creamy. This blending technique provides a thicker and more uniform texture.
Flavored Breves
Breve Coffee can be served with a number of different syrups or flavorings according to your taste.
Some of the most popular flavored syrups for Breve include vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, peppermint, and cinnamon.
Breve is also often topped with whipped cream, crushed cookies, or chocolate shavings. These toppings not only enhance the visual appeal of the drink but also provide an extra layer of flavor and texture.
MOCHA BREVE
It’s made by adding chocolate syrup or cocoa powder to the Espresso shot before topping it with half and half milk.
Mocha Breve can be enjoyed hot or iced and is often topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce for an extra decadent treat.
If you’re a fan of both chocolate and Breve Latte, then Mocha Breve is definitely worth a try!
Also Read about Cafe Mocha
What is Breve at Starbucks
At Starbucks, Breve Coffee isn’t actually a unique type of drink. Rather, it’s simply a reference to using half-and-half milk in place of regular milk in any beverage.
Don’t order just breve at Starbucks unless you want plain half-and-half milk.
Instead, you can order any espresso-based drink and substitute the regular milk with half-and-half to make it a “Breve” version. Therefore, you can enjoy a Breve Latte, Breve Cappuccino, Breve Mocha, or any other espresso-based drink.
Final Thoughts
After reading this article, I hope you can now prepare Cafe Breve in the comfort of your own home. Give it a try and thank yourself later for mastering the art of making this delicious and indulgent drink.
Whether you’re enjoying it hot or iced, with a variety of flavored syrups or just plain, Breve coffee is a treat for the taste buds.
Happy brewing!
Read about delicious Espresso based coffee drink
FAQs
How unhealthy is a Breve latte?
Due to its significant fat and cholesterol content, a Breve is not as healthy as a latte for coffee lovers.
Half-and-half, which is the primary ingredient in Breve, is a rich and creamy dairy product that contains a high amount of fat and calories almost three times more than regular milk.
While you don’t have to avoid Breve coffee completely, you shouldn’t make it your daily drinking habit.
Is breve strong coffee?
Breve coffee is not necessarily stronger in terms of coffee flavor, however, the higher fat content of the half-and-half gives breve coffee a thicker, more indulgent mouthfeel.
