How to Make a Latte: Standard Espresso Shot to Milk Ratio for Perfect Lattes

A few days ago, a coffee enthusiast asked FrontStreet Coffee: when using the same beans, the same grind size, and the same dose, would there be different requirements for the espresso's brew ratio when making milk coffee, Americano, and espresso? So FrontStreet Coffee's barista compared how espressos made with different brew ratios perform in milk coffee and Americanos. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will share the production ratios for latte coffee, as well as for Americano and espresso coffee.

Latte Coffee Preparation Ratios:

For this experiment, FrontStreet Coffee used their regular latte cup with a capacity of 180ml.

FrontStreet Coffee used their Frontsteet Premium Blend, which combines Colombian and Brazilian beans. The grind size was 1.9 on the Faema 900N. A single portafilter was used to make espresso with a 13-gram dose, testing three brew ratios: 1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:2.

Now let's test how espressos made with these three brew ratios taste, and what flavors they produce in milk coffee and Americanos.

Brew Ratio 1:1 — 13 grams of coffee extracted to 13 grams of liquid, extraction time: 19 seconds

[Espresso] Smooth entry with slightly high acidity, featuring cream and nut flavors with a lasting sugarcane aftertaste.

[Latte] Distinct nutty aroma, with flavors of nuts, chocolate, and cream, plus a subtle butter cookie feeling. The milk's sweetness is pronounced.

[Americano] Caramel aroma, smooth entry and silky texture, with red berry flavors.

Brew Ratio 1:1.5

13 grams of coffee extracted to 20 grams of liquid, extraction time: 27 seconds

[Espresso] Berry acidity at entry, with chocolate and hazelnut flavors in the middle, lasting aftertaste.

[Latte] Caramel aroma, with cream, milk chocolate, and slight nut flavors. The balance between milk and coffee flavors is quite harmonious.

[Americano] Slight berry-like acidity at entry, with noticeable sugarcane sweetness in the finish.

Brew Ratio 1:2 — 13 grams of coffee extracted to 26 grams of liquid, extraction time: 34 seconds

[Espresso] Cream-like sweetness at entry, clean aftertaste with some rock sugar sweetness, and a noticeable smoky finish.

[Latte] Although light at entry, it has toffee-like sweetness, with cinnamon and woody notes in the aftertaste.

[Americano] Some woody aroma, with cocoa and woody flavors.

Summary

Through this practical experiment, FrontStreet Coffee found that espresso with a smaller brew ratio tends to taste more acidic, but becomes quite sweet when milk is added, and also produces a very smooth Americano. FrontStreet Coffee believes this is mainly because the reduced brew ratio shortens extraction time, basically extracting only the early-stage compounds, making over-extraction less likely. Additionally, with less espresso liquid, the amount of milk increases for the same final volume, making the sweetness more pronounced.

The espresso with a larger brew ratio tastes rather light at entry, though the sweetness is quite apparent, but woody and smoky flavors quickly appear. The same applies when made into a latte—although light and sweet at entry, similar to the espresso, woody flavors quickly emerge. When made into an Americano, the distinct over-extracted woody flavor is immediately apparent.

The 1:1.5 brew ratio offers relatively richer flavor layers in both espresso and Americano. When made into a latte, the balance between milk and coffee flavors is quite harmonious—neither the coffee overpowering the milk nor the milk stealing the coffee's spotlight.

FrontStreet Coffee has mentioned in previous articles that espresso extracted at the beginning has higher acidity and concentration, while espresso extracted in the middle stage begins to show noticeable sweetness and the flavor starts to fade. Therefore, espresso with a larger brew ratio is more prone to over-extraction.

Using FrontStreet Coffee's Frontsteet Premium Blend beans and parameters as an example, without changing the grind size, if you want a latte with prominent sweetness or a smoother Americano, try using espresso with a 1:1 brew ratio. For a richly layered espresso or Americano, or a more balanced latte, you might want to try espresso with a 1:1.5 brew ratio.

What Coffee Beans to Use for Espresso?

Since all three coffee drinks mentioned above require espresso, what coffee beans produce better flavors when extracted for espresso?

First, coffee enthusiasts who understand espresso machines know they have a distinct characteristic of amplifying the original flavors of coffee beans. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee does not recommend using single-origin beans for espresso, but rather using espresso blend beans for extraction. Espresso blend beans are created by mixing coffee beans from different origins and varieties—typically two or three types. The purpose of blending is quite obvious: to gather the flavors of different beans together, presenting a completely new flavor profile to achieve a more balanced effect, while also serving as the shop's signature.

For example, if one coffee bean is smooth but lacks aroma, you can add another aromatic bean to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. Another purpose of espresso blends is cost reduction. Traditional espresso blends mix in Robusta variety beans because Robusta coffee beans have a mellow and rich flavor. Although cupping scores may not reach those of single-origin coffee, when paired with single-origin coffee, they can provide richer and thicker coffee crema for espresso, while also delivering a thick and smooth texture as the base for milk coffee.

This is also one of the reasons why espresso is so beloved by coffee enthusiasts. Coffee beans are essentially an agricultural product, and flavors can be inconsistent each year due to climate and environmental issues—perhaps sweeter this year, less so next year. Mixing several types of coffee beans together can solve this problem well, at least maintaining consistent coffee flavors year after year.

The above is FrontStreet Coffee's compilation of information regarding latte preparation ratios and espresso brew ratios in espresso coffee. FrontStreet Coffee also hopes this article can help answer questions and resolve doubts for fellow coffee enthusiasts.

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