Latte, pronounced as “lah-tay,” is short for caffe latte. It is a hot coffee drink invented by the Italians by combining shots of espresso and steamed milk.
An Americano is made with either one or two shots of espresso and is often called a Caffe Americano. It typically has a 2 to 1 ratio of water to espresso (so 2 parts water to 1 part espresso) however every coffee shop and every barista is different, making drinks in their own ways.
SIMILARITIES
An Americano and latte both have espresso coffee as their basis. A latte is made with 1/4 espresso and 3/4 milk, and the milk is steamed and frothed. On the other hand, an Americano is made with espresso and double the amount of hot water.
DIFFERENCES
The main difference between lattes and americanos is the fact that lattes include dairy while americanos just have hot water!
CAFFEINE
Americanos typically have less caffeine than lattes because they contain less espresso. So if you’re looking for an extra energy boost, a latte might be the better choice.