Caffe Mistos is a drink made with one part strained or French pressed coffee and one part steamed milk – and they offer many lovely qualities and flavors. This article will explain everything you need to know about Caffe Mistos.
What is a Mixed Coffee?
Caffe Misto or Café Misto is a coffee drink made with one part strained coffee and one part steamed milk. They are also commonly referred to as Cafe au Lait, or “coffee with milk”. While it may be a simple drink, there’s no shortage of things to enjoy in the flavorful coffee and sweet steamed milk.
So why is it worth ordering a Caffe Misto and why is Starbucks Caffe Misto so popular? When you consider that it’s made with regular milk and coffee, it almost seems like something you’d make at home. This drink is distinguished from a regular cup of coffee due to its high milk content and the fact that it is steamed before being added to the drink. Also, Café Misto, or Café au Lait, is often made with dark roast coffee. This results in a bolder flavor than most home brew coffees offer.
As a result of how they are made, Caffe Mistos are generally described as having a bold, smooth flavor. They are slightly more watery than espresso drinks, as brewed coffee has a higher water content. Steamed milk gives each cup of Caffe Misto a subtle caramel flavor. This decadent drink is sometimes sweetened with flavored syrups, adding an additional layer of flavor complexity. Unfortunately, this delicious coffee drink is not as well known as popular ones like macchiatos, lattes and cappuccinos. While it can’t compete in terms of popularity, it’s safe to say that Caffe Mistos are just as delicious. Better yet, making this drink at home is easy.
Are Caffe Mistos and Lattes the same drink?
While both are made with coffee and steamed milk, the Caffe Misto and latte couldn’t be more different. A Caffe Misto is made with brewed coffee, while a latte is made with espresso. And while Caffe Mistos are one part coffee and one part hot steamed milk, lattes are made with one part espresso and two parts steamed foamy milk.
Although the two drinks are made using extremely different processes and ingredient ratios, they are commonly confused with one another. Café au Lait and latte have similar flavor profiles, with lots of robust and sweet notes. Since Caffe Mistos are made with brewed coffee, they are usually a little thinner than lattes and don’t contain as much caffeine.
Are Caffe Mistos and Flat Whites the same drink?
Another beverage that Caffe Mistos are commonly confused with are flat whites. While both drinks are made with steamed milk, they use different ingredients and a different ratio of coffee to produce their signature flavor profiles. Caffe Mistos are made with strained coffee, but flat whites use a shot of espresso to produce a bolder flavor.
Flat whites also contain significantly more milk than Caffe Mistos. While Caffe Mistos is made with one part steamed milk and one part brewed coffee, flat whites actually use two parts steamed milk. As both drinks are made with steamed milk and coffee, they are commonly confused – but you can usually tell a flat white from a Caffe Misto due to its bolder espresso taste.
How to make a Caffe Misto at home
The only tools you need to make your own Caffe Misto at home are a trusty coffee machine and a steam wand or handheld milk frother to prepare your milk. Ideally, you’ll want to use a steam wand to heat and caramelize the milk, but you can heat the milk on the stove and use a hand whisk just as easily.
Once you have your tools, you’ll also need to gather your ingredients. Caffe Mistos are made with one part brewed coffee and one part milk, so you need to make sure you have your coffee of choice and your choice of milk or non-dairy milk on hand.
Start preparing your Caffe Misto by adding water and the powder of your choice to the coffee machine. Then turn on the coffee machine and let it start brewing. As it ferments, you should put a part of the milk in a pan on the stove and gently heat it. Do not let it boil.
When the milk begins to heat up, use the hand whisk to whip the milk to a light, frothy texture. Alternatively, if you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, you can use the steam wand’s froth and steam settings to heat and texture the milk.
Finally, it’s time to prepare your Caffe Misto when the milk is heated to a light, frothy texture and the coffee is ready. Pour one part of coffee into your chosen cup before adding an equivalent amount of hot milk froth. Stir to combine and add sweetener to taste.
Once you’ve finished brewing your Caffe Misto, the only thing left to do is enjoy your coffee-quality beverage. These drinks are incredibly easy to make at home, and they are also delicious. You’ll thank yourself for trying the recipe.
Enjoy your own Caffe Misto today
Whether you want to enjoy them at your favorite café or in the comfort of your own home, Café Mistos are an incredible treat. There’s no better way to enjoy a Café Misto than having the right tool at hand. As long as you have a reliable portable frother, making a perfect mixed coffee requires just a few common tools and appliances.