Look at a café menu and you will find several drinks that are all “espresso plus milk.” They are not the same drink with different names, though. The ratio of coffee to milk, the texture of the foam and whether anything sweet is added all change the cup completely. Here is a simple guide to three of the most-ordered drinks at Are Square Coffee.
Café Latte: smooth, mild and milky
A café latte is a shot of espresso topped with a generous amount of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam on top. Because there is so much milk, the coffee flavour is gentle and the texture is creamy. It is the easiest place to start if you are new to espresso drinks, and it is the perfect base for latte art.
Choose it if: you like a soft, comforting coffee that is not too strong.
Flat White: stronger and silkier
A flat white is usually served in a smaller cup with less milk than a latte, so the espresso comes through much more clearly. The milk is steamed into a very fine, velvety microfoam and poured so it blends into the coffee rather than sitting on top as a thick cap. The result is a stronger, rounder cup with a silky feel.
Choose it if: you want to taste the coffee, but still enjoy the smoothness of milk.
Spanish Latte: sweet and creamy
A Spanish latte is espresso and steamed milk sweetened with condensed milk. The condensed milk adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness and a thicker, creamier body. It has become one of the most popular coffee orders in Dubai and across the Gulf, and it is just as good iced as it is hot.
Choose it if: you have a sweet tooth or want a coffee that feels like a treat.
Quick comparison
- Coffee strength: Flat White (strongest) → Spanish Latte → Café Latte (mildest)
- Sweetness: Spanish Latte is naturally sweet. Café Latte and Flat White are unsweetened unless you add sugar or syrup.
- Texture: Café Latte is light and milky, Flat White is silky and dense, Spanish Latte is rich and creamy.
What about the cappuccino?
A cappuccino uses less milk than a latte and has a thicker, airier layer of foam on top, so it feels lighter and more “frothy” in the mouth.
Try them side by side
All of these are on our Hot Coffees menu, and most are available iced too. Not sure which to pick? Ask our baristas at Amaya Mall and they will point you in the right direction. You can also add a Selfie on Latte print to any of them. See today’s full list and prices on the menu.
