In Northern Europe and Scandinavia, the term café au lait has traditionally been used for the combination of espresso and milk.

A caffè latte consists of one or more shots of espresso, served in a glass (or sometimes a cup), into which hot steamed milk is added.

[7] The difference between a caffè latte and a cappuccino is that the cappuccino is served in a small 140 mL (5 US fl oz) cup with a layer of thick foam on top of the milk, and a caffè latte is served in a larger 230 mL (8 US fl oz) glass (or cup), without the layer of thick foam.

[citation needed] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term caffè e latte was first used in English in 1867 by William Dean Howells in his essay "Italian Journeys",[12] but as this preceded the spread of espresso machines, this drink would have been "nothing like the lattes found today at specialty coffee shops".

The popularity of espresso drinking in large cities, especially among more affluent urban populations, has caused some to consider it elitist behavior.

[25] The study states further that the overwhelming majority of people, whether they are liberal, conservative or moderate, express a preference for brewed coffee.