Wondering what is breve coffee or caffe breve? It’s is an espresso-based coffee with half-and-half in it. Part of its appeal lies in its foamy, milky top layer.
Breve coffee is the American version of an Italian classic.
There seems to be some confusion about what a Breve Coffee is and is not. To make the process of preparing one for yourself at home faster and easier, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to explain where the hot beverage originates from and how to prepare it.
That way, you’re able to enjoy the flavors of the classic coffee drink in a way that feels right to you.
What is Breve Coffee? It’s a delicious drink made from espresso and half-and-half with foam on the top. It’s a drink enjoyed worldwide but is the Americanized version of an Italian classic.
As with any other guide we produce for our readers, it’s important to know more about the beverage’s origins, ingredients, and preparation process. By providing you with the information, you’re able to enjoy a delicious drink whenever you need a pick-me-up.
We love a good Breve Coffee and the simplicity in making the steaming hot beverage from the comfort of our own kitchens.
What Is Breve Coffee?
A good coffee can uplift your spirits, signaling the start of a positive and productive morning. Knowing how to create your own Breve Coffee from home ensures that you’ll always be able to enjoy a cup before dashing out the door for the day. To help you stock your kitchen with the ingredients needed to create the popular drink, we’re detailing the different things that make a coffee a Breve.
People often get confused between a Breve and a Latte. Both contain nearly identical ingredients and look similar in appearance. They are, however, different drinks, so it’s vital to know how you make each one.
We’ll start by explaining what Breve Coffee or Caffe Breve is.
Breve Coffee Or Caffe Breve
A Breve Coffee is also known as a Caffe Breve. It is made from espresso and contains steamed half-and-half in it. Half-and-half consists of half milk and half heavy cream.
There is a layer of milk foam on the top, which is why the Caffe Breve and Latte get confused.
A Latte doesn’t contain the cream part of the Caffe Breve. It’s assembled the same way and uses most of the same ingredients. It is, however, a different color and consistency despite the frothy milk on top.
Latte
A Latte consists of espresso, steamed milk, and a layer of foam on the top. The biggest difference between it and a Breve Coffee is that it lacks the heavy cream element of the drink. It looks like a darker version of the Caffe Breve, but the preparation is very similar.
What Does Breve Coffee Taste Like?
Breve coffee is high on flavor and indulgence. It contains a lot of half-and-half, so it isn’t for those who are intolerant to dairy.
But despite the heavy cream in this espresso drink, a cup of breve still packs a powerful coffee punch. You’re using strong espresso – about two ounces of it for a regular breve – so you’re getting a big dose of coffee power.
It’s important to use fresh, finely ground beans when making a breve. This fine ground espresso is what makes the coffee component of the breve stand out.
Ideally, your coffee grounds will be less than two weeks old – the fresher, the better.
Breve coffee is best served in a wider, bowl-shaped mug.
Keto-Friendly Version Of A Breve Coffee
People following a Keto diet will need to make substitutions because milk is on their ‘Do Not Allow’ list of items. There is a way around it. You can make a Breve Coffee without the half-and-half.
You can substitute the milk portion of the beverage with water. The heavy cream and water mixture is then steamed and added to the espresso. It, like a traditional Breve Coffee, has a foamy topping.
It is lighter and frothier with the absence of the milk.
Breve Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- Espresso machine
- Milk frother
- Mug
Ingredients
- Coffee
- 10 oz half-and-half
Instructions
- Heat the half-and-half to 150°F.
- Pour the mixture into a mug.
- Brew the espresso.
- Froth the half-and-half.
- Slowly pour the frothed half-and-half into the espresso.
The Types Of Coffee Beans To Shop For Today
The first step in all methods requires the skin, pulp, and mucilage to be removed.
Not every coffee bean works well for a Caffe Breve. Some are more robust than others. When trying to decide which beans to buy, consider their flavor, roast, and aroma.
Brazilian, Guatemalan, and Ethiopian beans are best because they enhance the taste of the half-and-half. You can choose any of the three varieties to create your espresso because the key is to grind it as finely as possible.
After some time, you’ll have a preference in what type of coffee you choose to make the espresso portion of your Breve Coffee. Each person has their preferences. You may even find that you like to blend two varieties of beans to make your signature base layer.
Again, it’s entirely up to you to determine which option is best for you and your household.
How To Shop For Coffee Beans
If you’ve never shopped for coffee beans before, it can be rather challenging to know what to buy. You may have enjoyed a Breve Coffee outside the house but never attempted to recreate the recipe on your own. The type of coffee you purchase makes a big difference in the final product you end up with.
The following tips help you select the highest quality products you can buy. When you focus on the flavor versus the price, you’re able to create a more authentic at-home coffeehouse experience. You’ll save money in the long run, too, because you won’t need to travel to get your caffeine fix.
Shop For Coffee Beans Like You Were Preparing A Gourmet Dinner
Buy the best quality beans you can afford. Consider how the manufacturer has packed them, too, because you’ll need to be able to store them a certain way to maintain their freshness. You can buy directly from the manufacturer or through a retailer that carries your favorite products.
Either way, be very selective in what you choose because it can make or break the flavor profile of the product.
Gourmet is a marketing term that gets tossed around a lot. You’ll be able to tell a quality product by its packaging, reviews, and product descriptions. You can also try the coffee beans out for the first time and formulate your own opinion.
Basing your decision on how easy they are to grind, store, and make espresso will determine whether or not you choose to buy them again.
Choose A Variety Of Beans That Work For Espresso
As mentioned above, some countries’ beans make a better espresso. Brazil, Guatemala, and Ethiopia are three such geographic locations that produce robust coffee beans. You’ll be able to get the desired color and flavor from the beans once you grind them down finely.
It also gives you reference as to which products to look for in the future because you already have experience using them to make a Breve Coffee.
Learn More About The Company’s Origin, Values, And Preparation Process
Getting to know the company that you buy beans from makes a difference, too. It helps you understand where the product comes from, how to prepare it, and whether the process is Fair Trade. You can choose the best quality products based on how they fit your values.
Every dollar you spend on the coffee you buy to make at home supports a company, its employees, and growers.
Use The Right Kind Of Water To Make Your Breve Coffee Drink
The quality of the water makes a big difference, too. Coffee of all types is 98 percent water. To prevent it from having an odd flavor and odor, you should have access to the clearest, cleanest filtered water possible. It will prevent any off-putting tastes and smells from ruining your hot beverage.
Choosing the freshest and most tasty coffee beans available will affect the level of satisfaction you achieve with your daily Caffe Breve. When you invest in high-quality ingredients, it’s hard to create a beverage that doesn’t taste amazing. You’ll be able to determine the cost per cup of coffee, too, once you have an idea of how much its ingredients cost individually.
How To Flavor A Caffe Breve
If you’re going to add flavoring or sweetener, you’ll want to add it directly to the espresso. You’re not disrupting the layering effect. You won’t lose the foam on the top by stirring the mixture to distribute the flavoring and sweetener evenly.
You don’t want all the sweetness to settle to the bottom, so mixing it well before adding the half-and-half is imperative.
If you like a sweeter beverage to drink, you can also use sugar or sugar substitute to make the drink more palatable for you. You can also flavor the foam with the addition of chocolate shavings or cinnamon.
It’s up to you how you decide to personalize your drink. A traditional Caffe Breve is as simple to make as possible. It’s just espresso and half-and-half.
Making A Breve Coffee Using Plant-Based Products In Place Of Dairy
Vegetarians and vegans who would prefer to have their Caffe Breve without milk and heavy cream are in luck. They can use full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream as substitutes. They can also use nut milk or soy milk because both contain no dairy.
The key to creating an authentic Breve Coffee is to make sure that the substance on top is nice and frothy.
You’ll still want to have a replacement for the half-and-half. If you substitute just the cream, you’ll have a Latte, not a Breve Coffee. You need the added fat from the coconut cream to replace the heavy cream. Without it, the flavor and color will be off.
Keeping coconut cream in the fridge keeps it solid. Vegetarians and vegans use it as a replacement for whipped topping. When it’s cold, it has the consistency of a thick pudding.
Once it is added to the nut, soy, or coconut milk and steamed, it will be somewhat runnier like dairy cream is when poured from its bottle or container.
Related Questions
What Are Good Foods To Eat Can A Breve Coffee Be Made Without Dairy?
Yes, it can. You can substitute the dairy with coconut milk, soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, and coconut cream. Experimenting with frothing the half milk, half cream substitutes helps you understand how well they’ll work to create a Caffe Breve.
What Are Good Foods To Eat With A Breve Coffee?
Sweets of all types help balance out the rich espresso flavors. Think coffee cakes, Danishes, pumpkin and banana bread, cinnamon rolls, and any other baked dessert. Many are for breakfast, but you can eat them at any time of day.
If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll find that a treat pairs well with a Caffe Breve.
How Do I Make A Breve Coffee From Home If I Don’t Have Fancy Equipment?
You can make espresso using a French Press coffee maker if you don’t have an espresso machine. You’re able to make the strong coffee and strain it in the same vessel. You’ll need to know how hot the glass can get, however, before pouring boiling water into it.
It prevents you from having the glass shatter.
Is Breve Coffee Keto?
It can be if you omit the half-and-half. You’ll need to substitute the milk portion of the beverage. The cream is fine. Using water or nut milk of choice can give you the desired consistency and flavor that you’d get with a traditional Breve Coffee.
Where Can You Order Breve Coffee Outside Your Home?
Starbucks is one establishment that serves Breve Coffee. If you need to make substitutions to make it vegan or keto, this is the place to do it. People use Starbucks for customized orders. It’s part of what makes it a popular place to order coffee.
What Is The Nutritional Value Of A Breve Coffee?
There are 430 calories in a Starbucks Breve Venti. There are 37 grams of fat, with 23 grams being saturated fat. Sixteen grams of total carbohydrate is in each serving. It also contains 35 percent of your RDA for calcium.
