What is a Breve?

A breve is a latte made with half-and-half instead of whole milk. The higher fat content makes it richer and thicker than a standard latte. It steams differently because fat affects how milk proteins form foam.

A breve is primarily an American drink. You will not find it listed on menus in Italy, Australia, or most of Europe. It is the most calorie-dense milk espresso drink on any menu.

A breve can have 400 to 500 calories. A regular latte has about 150 to 190.

Half-and-half is a mixture of whole milk and cream, about 10 to 18% fat compared to whole milk's 3.25%. That fat triples the calorie count of the milk portion. If you are watching calories, a breve once a week is a different category of drink than a daily latte.

If you are not watching calories, a breve from a good espresso at a specialty shop in Seattle or Portland is genuinely delicious. The richness makes the espresso taste smoother and the drink feels closer to dessert than coffee.

"A breve is a latte for when you want something that feels like a small celebration. High calorie, high reward."

How to order one

Say "breve" and most US baristas know what you mean. In some regions you might say "latte with half-and-half" to be clear. At specialty shops like Stumptown and Intelligentsia, "breve" is universally understood.

A breve is also excellent iced. The richness of the half-and-half holds up better over ice than regular milk, which can taste watery when diluted. Compare it to other milk options in oat milk vs almond milk.

Related: What is a latte?, 12 best espresso drinks, Oat milk vs almond milk.