Quote Originally Posted by CageyH View Post
HISTORY OF THE CAFFE LATTE
As early as 1847 the English term Caffe Latto was used and then the essay Italian Journeys by William Dean Howells in 1867 who used the term caffe latte.
Respected coffee author and reviewer Kenneth Davids has written that the Caffe Latte is basically an American invention and even in Italy it was first found in Italy only in places with predominantly American tourists.
Some say the Caffe Latte was developed for Americans because the traditional Cappuccino was too strong so more steamed milk was added.

A CAFFE LATTE IN THE ITALIAN TRADITION
The traditional Italian Caffe Latte is usually made in the person’s residence using a stovetop Moka Pot (Stovetop espresso maker). Unlike the American version, the milk is not steamed and frothed, but only heated. The hot milk is placed in a cup and the then the concentrated coffee from the Moka pot is poured into the milk.

So the drink internationally known as a Latte is an American creation which became popular in Seattle in the 80s (do some research and you will find I am correct), you were right about the Italian way of making the coffee at home. It is the same as a white coffee, cafe au lait and cafe con lèche. It is not the cafe latte that you can order in a coffee shop. You know, the one delivered with Latte Art.

It “pisses me off” that you think that you are always right. You are not.
If that gets me banned from here for being factually correct, then so be it. I don’t care either way.
Are you still going on, Kevin?

Banned? I don't think so! You've done nothing to be banned for, but your little strop yesterday did you no favours, and was rather immature.

I don't always think I'm right, but when I'm right about subjects I intrinsically know about (such as this), which are part of my culture, I don't appreciate someone who's not Italian, trying to tell me what a caffe latte (or espresso) is. And the problem is you don't know when to stop, because you want to try and 'win' the argument - at all costs!

There's nothing in your post above that I necessarily disagree with.

As you've now admitted, I quote: "the Italian way of making the coffee at home is the same as a white coffee, cafe au lait and cafe con lèche. It is not the cafe latte that you can order in a coffee shop", which *will* be made from espresso, because they won't be using a Moka pot, but rather a professional machine capable of generating the necessary pressure from which to make true espresso, there's no longer anything to argue about, unless you're still adamant that the white coffee Italians make at home is made from espresso, which was the key area where we differed.

The fact is, to be called true 'espresso', coffee must be pressurised up to a certain BAR level (around 9 BAR), by an appropriate machine, and as it's physically impossible for a Moka pot to generate that much pressure, which as you say is what Italians use, then you *cannot* say that the white coffee Italians drink at home is made from espresso. It might be made from strong black coffee, but it's not true espresso.

Now whether you choose to accept that (indisputable) fact or not, is up to you. I have nothing further to say to you on the matter.

Marco.