Does a latte have coffee in it? (healths aspects of latte)

In this article, we are going to answer the question “Does a latte have coffee in it?” and discuss whether or not a latte has coffee in its composition, the nutritional profile, the nutritional aspects and the caffeine content of the latte, and some other examples of coffee-containing beverages will be discussed.

Does a latte have coffee in it?

Yes, the latte does have coffee in it. Latte is a type of coffee-based Italian beverage traditionally made with espresso coffee and heated milk with a proportion of half coffee and half milk (1).

It gained popularity along with other Italian coffee beverages, such as cappuccino and espresso. The characteristic of Latte is that the beverage is prepared in a way that the milk stays on the upper top of the glass and above the coffee (2). 

Another characteristic is that the drink is served in glasses (approximately 240 mL or 8 fl oz) rather than in cups and may be added with syrups (1, 3). 

What is the nutritional profile of a latte?

The nutritional profile of a latte varies and depends, especially on the type of milk used to make the latte and the ingredients added to the beverage. With the popularisation of this type of coffee, variations were introduced, that contain added sugar, syrups and cream (4).

A traditional latte made with espresso coffee and 2% fat cow milk has the following nutritional properties (5):

Nutrient Amount Unit
water 217 g
energy 103 kcal
protein 6.74 g
total lipids 3.86 g
carbohydrates 10.4 g
fibres 0 g
sugars 9.74 g
calcium 252 mg
magnesium 55.2 mg
phosphorus 209 mg
potassium 365 mg
thiamin 0.106 mg
niacin 2.34 mg
choline 33.8 mg

What are the nutritional aspects of a latte?

The nutritional aspects of latte are both negative and positive. Negative aspects are the caloric intake of the drink, which can be high, especially when served in coffee shops, such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.

The positive nutritional aspects are the nutrients of the milk and the antioxidants in the coffee, both found in the Latte.

According to studies, the milk choice can make a significant difference in the caloric amount and the fat content of the coffee drink. When opting for a whole-fat milk Latte or Cappuccino, a serving can reach over 200 calories in a coffee shop.

Alternatively, choosing low-fat milk could reduce the caloric amount by 76 calories and choosing soy milk would reduce the caloric load by about 50 calories (4).

However, consuming a latte can contribute to the ingestion of calcium and proteins in the diet. Dietary and health agencies in many countries recommend the daily ingestion of milk and milk-containing beverages as part of a healthy diet (6).

Milk provides important nutrients, such as bioactive peptides, vitamins A, B2, B12 and D, along with calcium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. The ingestion of milk and dairy can help maintain healthy bones, muscles and heart functions.

Moreover, coffee contains antioxidants with improved health benefits, such as chlorogenic acid and other phenolics. The ingestion of coffee is related to lower risks of developing diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (7).

In addition, coffee contains caffeine, which is related to a positive effect on mood and acts as a physiological stimulant.

What is the caffeine content of the latte and other coffees?

According to studies, a latte contains 0.72 mg / mL of caffeine. This means that in a glass serving of 240 mL, the amount of caffeine is 172 mg (3).

The amount of caffeine and the characteristics of other caffeine-containing beverages are shown in the table below (3):

Coffee type characteristics Caffeine (mg / mL)
Instant coffee Concentrated brewed coffee granules or powder to be added to boiling water 0.33
espresso coffee pressurised water passing through finely ground coffee 3.11
filter coffee coffee and water passing through a paper filter 0.62
cappuccino espresso and heated milk and milk foam 0.72
decaffeinated coffee instant and powdered decaffeinated 0.01

  

Other FAQs about Coffee that you may be interested in.

What does butter in coffee taste like?

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Does a latte have coffee in it?” and discussed whether or not a latte has coffee in its composition, the nutritional profile, the nutritional aspects and the caffeine content of the latte and the differences between latte and other coffees.

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References

1.-

Morris J. Why espresso? Explaining changes in European coffee preferences from a production of culture perspective. European Review of History: Revue européenne d’histoire. 2013 Oct 1;20(5):881-901.

2.-

Morris J. Making Italian espresso, making espresso Italian. Food and History. 2010 Jan;8(2):155-83.

3.-

Poole R, Ewings S, Parkes J, Fallowfield JA, Roderick P. Misclassification of coffee consumption data and the development of a standardised coffee unit measure. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. 2019;2(1):11.

4.-

Huang C, Dumanovsky T, Silver LD, Nonas C, Bassett MT. Peer Reviewed: Calories From Beverages Purchased at 2 Major Coffee Chains in New York City, 2007. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2009 Oct;6(4).

5.-

FoodData central [Internet]. Usda.gov. [cited 2023 Sep 1]. Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/2345946/nutrients

6.-

Comerford KB, Miller GD, Boileau AC, Masiello Schuette SN, Giddens JC, Brown KA. Global review of dairy recommendations in food-based dietary guidelines. Frontiers in nutrition. 2021 May 25;8:671999.

7.-

Bae JH, Park JH, Im SS, Song DK. Coffee and health. Integrative medicine research. 2014 Dec 1;3(4):189-91.