What's the Authentic Ratio for Making Caffè Latte? How Much Milk Do Coffee Shops Add to Their Lattes?

FrontStreet Coffee is willing to bet that among all the coffee beverages made at home by friends who own coffee machines, milk coffee ranks among the top favorites. Among them, latte is particularly cherished as the "signature favorite." For this reason, FrontStreet Coffee frequently receives many questions about homemade lattes, such as "what milk to choose," "how to froth milk," "how to create latte art," and one of the most common doubts: what ratio makes a latte taste best?

What Makes a Delicious Latte?

Many customers say that compared to lattes they drink in coffee shops, their homemade versions are either too bitter or lack coffee aroma and body. In FrontStreet Coffee's view, making a latte like those from coffee shops isn't difficult at all—as long as we select fresh ingredients, find an appropriate espresso extraction ratio, and combine them properly, we can easily replicate the same quality.

First, the original name of latte coffee, "Caffè Latte," already tells us that this beverage features both coffee and milk as main characters. To present its best taste, both flavors must reach a state of balance in the cup—using milk to neutralize the stimulating bitterness of espresso, creating a gentler, more full-bodied, and smoother coffee experience through even integration. This is also why latte coffee consistently ranks among the most popular choices for consumers.

Espresso Ratios

Friends with brewing experience know that the taste of a latte largely depends on the coffee beans used, followed by the espresso extraction ratio, and then the milk (you can refer to the previous "Milk Review! How Big is the Difference Between Coffees Made with Different Fresh Milks?").

The reason coffee bean selection is important, ultimately, is because it directly determines the final flavor profile of a latte. To make coffee taste good, we must first ensure freshness, and then focus on the espresso extraction ratio, as it not only affects the concentration of the coffee base itself but also influences how "coffee-like" the entire latte tastes.

If you're using medium-to-dark roast coffee beans to make lattes, the flavor will typically lean toward rich, caramelized, with nutty characteristics. FrontStreet Coffee suggests first applying the basic formula mentioned in many of our articles: a 1:2 coffee-to-liquid ratio (20g of coffee grounds to extract 40g of coffee liquid, or 18g for 36g), with an extraction time of about 25-30 seconds, ensuring there's no splashing or unstable flow throughout the process. At this ratio, the coffee liquid has higher concentration and moderate aroma, making it well-suited for specialty coffees like lattes.

If you're using medium roast coffee beans for lattes, such as FrontStreet Coffee's flower-fruit flavored Huakui SOE, we tend to pursue a softer, more fragrant latte with less bitterness. To provide sufficient coffee aroma, we need to make corresponding adjustments in extraction.

Considering that lighter-roasted coffee beans require higher extraction rates, extending the extraction time is undoubtedly a good approach. When the coffee-to-liquid ratio remains at 1:2, we can adjust the grind finer to achieve a time of 30-35 seconds. The resulting espresso will allow the milk coffee to express richer floral and fruit flavors. (PS: For espresso extraction, lightly roasted (extremely light) coffee beans have lower compatibility and are prone to splashing and lack of aroma, so FrontStreet Coffee won't include them in this discussion.)

What Do Different Coffee and Milk Ratios Determine?

Whether hot or cold, the coffee-to-milk ratio is key to determining which flavor dominates in a latte. Simply put, too much milk will mask the coffee flavor, making the latte taste thin and lacking body; too little milk will make the coffee's bitterness more pronounced and even diminish its sweetness. Only when both are harmoniously balanced can the latte achieve its optimal taste. Therefore, the right ratio is essentially finding a balance point between milk and coffee liquid.

In many latte-making tutorials available online, there's typically a general ratio range for coffee to milk, sometimes 1:4-1:6, other times 1:4-1:8—nevertheless, there's no fixed standard. FrontStreet Coffee believes these figures are "vague" mainly because each store/brand uses different coffee beans, and their origins, processing methods, roast levels, and blending formulas vary to some extent. This results in extracted espressos with different flavor profiles, thereby altering the overall style of a latte.

What Ratio is Suitable for Homemade Lattes?

Here, FrontStreet Coffee will combine different roast levels with the distinctions between hot and cold lattes to briefly explain how to find your own "secret recipe" more quickly.

If you're using dark, shiny espresso beans for extraction, the coffee liquid typically has distinct caramelized flavors with heavier bitterness. To maintain a balanced latte taste, it's best to increase the milk proportion, keeping the coffee-to-milk ratio between 1:7-1:8. FrontStreet Coffee, for example, has tried using the darkest roasted Robusta to make hot lattes—extracting 36g of coffee liquid from 18g of grounds, then adding 288g of frothed hot milk, resulting in a rich, substantial texture. For iced lattes, thanks to the addition of ice cubes creating a refreshing mouthfeel, the ratio changes to 1:7, meaning 252g of fresh milk is added, making the coffee's bitterness much milder.

When using medium-dark roast coffee beans featuring flavors like roasted nuts, white chocolate, vanilla, cream, cookies, and toffee to make lattes, they typically emphasize sweet, smooth characteristics in taste. At this point, you might consider setting the ratio between 1:5-1:6. For instance, FrontStreet Coffee's store standard Sunflower Warm Sun blend produces hot lattes with a 1:5 ratio, creating dense milk flavor without sacrificing coffee's richness. For iced beverages, 40g of coffee liquid pairs with 180g of fresh milk for a ratio of 1:4.5, instantly making the vanilla and chocolate flavors refreshing.

Finally, for medium roast beans with floral and fruit notes, the espresso itself has milder aromas and less intense flavors, sometimes with higher acidity. To make it pair well with milk, you can reduce the milk proportion to highlight the coffee's "presence." When FrontStreet Coffee makes Huakui SOE lattes, to present its fragrant berry and citrus notes, they use a direct 1:4 ratio—adding 160g of milk to 40g of coffee liquid. Upon tasting, you'll first experience the milk's sweetness, followed by the refreshing aroma from the espresso, creating an overall gentle sensation.

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