You may have previously assumed that lattes are a hot beverage. There has recently been an increase in the number of customers requesting iced lattes. So, which one is it? Are lattes served hot or cold? Customers are often confused after being asked by their barista whether they want their drink hot or cold. If this has occurred to you, know that you are not alone!

This is a guide to help you understand the difference between the two, as well as alternative ways to enjoy your hot or cold coffee depending on the syrups and flavors you choose!

What Actually is a Latte?

To begin, I’ll go through what exactly makes a latte a latte.

A latte was originally a hot beverage. This is due to the fact that it was a morning drink served at about 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius). It’s created with a double shot of espresso and heated milk. A small coating of micro-foam should be applied on top.

Espresso is typically made at temperatures ranging from 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit (90-96 degrees Celsius). Typically, the milk is steamed to a temperature of 140-165 degrees Fahrenheit (60-73 degrees Celsius).

The froth will rise to the top of a conventional latte. Experienced baristas may utilize this to create unusual and unique latte art.

Apart from foam, you may also personalize your latte by adding your favorite syrups, such as vanilla, caramel, or chocolate. You may also customize your order by selecting your preferred milk, such as oat, soy, almond, or coconut.

The beautiful thing about lattes is that they are quite smooth. On top, you may achieve a good smooth coating. They have a silky smooth texture when they are properly brewed.

It is vital not to overdo the foaming, since it may occasionally overpower the taste of the drink. This is true of both hot and cold lattes.

Let’s look at the distinctions between an iced coffee and an iced latte!

Iced Latte Vs. Iced Coffee

Iced lattes are all iced coffees, but not all iced coffees are iced lattes.

A shot of coffee and chilled milk to produce the body of the coffee are required to make an iced latte. Since the hot coffee shot will enhance the temperature of the drink, you may add some ice cubes to keep it cool.

An iced coffee, on the other hand, will have the majority of the coffee made up of cooled water, with just a dash of milk, if any, added.

If you love a strong brewed coffee, I suggest branching out into various varieties of coffee. Lattes are a moderate form of coffee that may be served hot or cold. If you enjoy the flavor of a strong coffee, a flat white may be more to your liking.

Iced Lattes at Home

Iced lattes are quite simple to prepare and may even be made using instant coffee. In comparison, making an iced coffee, such as an iced americano, may not taste as wonderful as using instant coffee. As opposed to milk, it is more difficult to dissolve instant coffee in water, which may result in a grainy, gritty texture in your coffee.

If you’re creating an iced coffee at home, you’ll need to mix the instant coffee with some boiling water first to extract the flavor out of the coffee before adding it to the cold milk.

Why Do Cold Lattes Usually Cost More?

If you generally get your lattes from local coffee shops or Starbucks, you could believe that a hot and cold latte are the same price. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong.

Cold lattes are often more costly than hot lattes. There are really many causes for this. It is mostly due to the high cost of the components required to prepare a cold latte. This results in an increase in the price of iced lattes.

Hot coffee is often provided in a single-use paper cup. Cold lattes are usually served in a plastic cup rather than a paper cup. The expense of this, as well as the straw, adds up. That may wind up raising the price of your coffee.

The coffee must also be cooked in order for the taste to be released, and then ice is added (another cost to create), raising the price.

Coffee makers are now starting to create coffee that is brewed cold from the start. In this manner, the coffee beans are roughly ground and kept in a jar with room temperature water overnight. The coffee is subsequently filtered, yielding a brew suitable for making iced lattes.

Although this procedure is quicker and simpler, there is a chance that the brew may be diluted. If you use this approach to prepare an iced latte, be sure to pour out a concentration that is strong enough for your palate. This may be mitigated by adding syrups or sugar (or Starbucks sauce or syrup) to your coffee to customize the flavor.

Other Latte Types

Are Pumpkin Spiced Lattes A Hot or Cold Drink?

The pumpkin spiced latte swept the globe and has since become a seasonal classic. You’d think that given the time of year, a hot pumpkin spiced latte would be the logical option.

Iced pumpkin spiced lattes have lately gained popularity. You’ll understand why once you try one. It is really as wonderful as its heated counterpart. Both the hot and cold pumpkin spiced lattes are made with espresso, milk, and a blend of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove tastes.

It is a delicious method to either warm up or chill down. Depends on whatever option you choose. For an additional delicious boost, it’s topped with whipped cream and dusted with pumpkin pie spice!

The pumpkin spiced latte is a wonderfully adaptable beverage. Not only is it available as an iced latte, but it can also be ordered as a frappuccino. Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Blended Crème does not include caffeine. If you’re attempting to limit your caffeine consumption, this is an excellent alternative.

The Pumpkin Spice Frappucino Blended Crème, like the other PSL selections, is topped with with sweet whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice.

Are Matcha Lattes Better Hot or Cold?

Matcha is a Japanese tea that may be either hot or chilled. It is entirely up to you whether you want to consume it hot or cold. Whether you consume it hot or cold, it has varied flavors.

When served cold, matcha actually tastes smoother and might be more refreshing.

Hot matcha is said to be sweeter, nuttier, and creamier. Some individuals find the flavor to be more bitter. If you believe it’s too bitter for you, you may always sweeten it with sugar.

Your matcha may have a fishy flavour from time to time. If this happens, it is possible that you are using low-quality matcha that has been destroyed by dampness or heat.

The Health Benefits of Making Hot Vs. Cold Lattes

There are also several health advantages to enjoying your latte in various ways. If you like your latte hot, research have shown that it contains more antioxidants than if you drink it cold.

Iced lattes are also less prone to cause stomach issues, heartburn, or, yes, accidently burning your tongue on that initial slurp of too-hot coffee!

Cold lattes, on the other hand, have less caffeine. This may not seem to be a positive thing. This will benefit you in the long term if you consume a lot of coffee. Caffeine use throughout the day helps you sleep better at night and lowers your blood pressure.

This may be quite useful if you are a heavy coffee consumer who enjoys numerous coffees in a single day. This is because you can have a couple coffees without becoming nervous from too much caffeine.

As previously stated, cold lattes are less prone to cause stomach issues or heartburn. Coffee has been shown to promote gastrointestinal motility. It stimulates muscular contraction, which causes the food bolus to travel through the gastrointestinal system.

Those with a weakened digestive system may have loose stools or diarrhea, which may lead to dehydration.

How Does Temperature Impact Espresso?

Espresso (not expresso!) is a strong, short coffee in which all of the liquid has been filtered through crushed coffee beans under high heat and pressure. The temperature of the water has an effect on the flavor of the coffee.

In general, the hotter the water, the more flavor extracted from the coffee beans. But, if the water is too hot, the coffee will burn, resulting in a burnt-tasting coffee with a bitter taste palate.

On the other hand, if the water is excessively cold, no taste will be extracted from the coffee. The ideal temperature for extracting flavor from crushed coffee beans is around 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).

Why Do Some Coffees Taste More Bitter Than Others?

Heated lattes might taste a little bitterer than cold coffees. This occurs because the longer coffee is heated, the more the bitter undertone of coffee is removed from the drink. It also relies on where the coffee beans were cultivated, since various climates influence the flavor of the coffee.

Iced lattes, on the other hand, have a less bitter flavor. Hot lattes include a greater concentration of acids in the coffee. Some health advantages are addressed in this post.

FAQs

Hot or Cold: The Coffee is Still Good!

Lattes are a beverage that may be consumed hot or cold. The coffee will almost always need to be cooked in order for the coffee taste to be extracted correctly from the bean. Unless if you’re making cold brew nitro coffee.

You can also read about the difference between an iced latte and an iced coffee in a previous blog article I wrote!