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What are the characteristics of latte? Why is it so popular? Who invented latte art?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, To this day, espresso coffee has developed into a fairly large system. Just the milk coffee options within this system offer a very wide selection. Traditional options include latte, cappuccino, piccolo, while newer options include flat white, Dirty. However, no matter how it develops, latte still remains firmly seated in every coffee shop's

The Evolution of Espresso Coffee

Today, espresso coffee has developed into a considerable system. Within this system, milk coffee alone offers numerous options. Traditional options include latte, cappuccino, piccolo, while newer variations include flat white and Dirty.

However, despite all the developments, latte remains the bestselling drink in every coffee shop (mostly). So some friends might ask: with so many milk coffee options available, why is latte the most popular? What characteristics enable it to stand out among all coffee varieties? Today, let's share why latte is so popular!

What is a Latte?

Latte coffee (caffè latte) is a coffee beverage made with espresso as the base, mixed with large amounts of milk and steamed milk foam. Although the practice of adding milk to coffee can be traced back to 17th-century Europe, the true definition of latte coffee was established in the late 1860s, after the espresso machine had been invented for some time.

At that time, coffee bean quality was not only poor but also roasted very dark, resulting in extremely bitter extracted coffee. The milk ratio in cappuccinos could not completely dilute the intense coffee bitterness, which was undoubtedly a disaster for those who couldn't handle bitterness. Therefore, they simply added more milk to neutralize it. And to distinguish it from cappuccino, "latte coffee" was thus born.

Why is Latte the Most Popular?

Espresso machines spread worldwide with the Italian diaspora, and so did latte coffee. However, initially, latte didn't create much impact. Because when people outside Italy had little understanding of coffee, they couldn't possibly imagine what kind of drink latte was. They could only rely on packaging or billboard descriptions to form their imagination, which easily led them to believe it was no different from cappuccino - cappuccino's name even sounded better (a certain book suggests: names are truly important!). So at the beginning, latte didn't truly enter public awareness.

It wasn't until 1980 that latte suddenly began to gain popularity in the United States, and in the following years, it spread globally at an astonishing rate. This was largely thanks to the birth of "latte art."

Initially, hot milk coffee simply combined milk foam with coffee, or created a golden circle like cappuccino - simple and clear. It wasn't until 1980 when a Seattle barista named David Schomer happened to make milk foam float on the crema while making a latte, forming a heart shape. The appearance of this pattern opened his mind to new possibilities, and he began to conceive the idea of "painting" on coffee. Thus, "latte art" was born. And latte became the biggest beneficiary of latte art!

Because of the birth of latte art, latte coffee gained uniqueness. Compared to other traditional milk coffees, lattes with latte art are more visually appealing. So even when people didn't know what kind of coffee latte was, they would imagine its deliciousness from the exquisite latte art patterns on its surface, and driven by curiosity, order a cup.

But remember, appearance without substance cannot win people's hearts! So, the best-selling status of latte proves that it is not just a pretty face.

Begun by Appearance, Loyal to Taste

Because of the large amount of milk added, the coffee proportion is reduced, bitterness is diluted, and it doesn't give people the imagined burnt coffee taste. The entire coffee drink feels effortless and very smooth. It has coffee flavor, but because milk is sweet, it's not bitter - latte is precisely this kind of balanced existence. Therefore, it's clear that latte coffee appeals to a very wide audience, which is very friendly for first-time coffee drinkers. Many people, after trying latte for the first time, become deeply immersed in the coffee "quagmire" and unable to extricate themselves. It can be said that latte coffee is both the first step for most people to enter the world of coffee and their enabler.

Therefore, latte coffee can be so popular. It not only has excellent visual appeal but also very inclusive flavors. This perfectly validates the widely circulated phrase in fan circles (slightly modified): begun by appearance, loyal to taste.

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