This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other brands, I get a small commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost from you.
Ever heard of the word Breve?
Breve is a word that some coffee drinkers may be familiar with and others will not.
Why not learn more about it! This article will teach you how to pronounce it, what it is, what’s in it, and its benefits.
Yeah, the coffee jargon is pretty crazy sometimes ha!
Breve is simply the Italian word for the English word “brief” or the french word “bref”. It means “brief” in English and “bref” in French.
The reason why this word is used to describe coffee is because Italian coffee is not like other countries in the world. It’s a dark bitter drink with a long, long tradition in Italy.
At some point it started being associated or called, “Caffè breve”, which means “coffee in a brief”.
This name was given because of the length of time it takes to prepare a cup of espresso from the moment when beans are rubbed until the moment they are brewed.
What Is Breve For Coffee Makers?
I think the best way to explain exactly what Breve is for coffee is to talk about what it isn’t.
Breve For Coffee Brews Are Not The Same As Espresso Brews
If you’re already familiar with the word Breve, then you may be thinking “I’ve heard of breve before. What makes it different than espresso?”
Well, it’s not exactly the same animal. Like with espresso, there are many different styles of brewing that include breve.
You can make really strong, thick and robust cups using breve in your coffee brews. Breve is probably most recognized in the Italian style of brewing.
It’s also quite popular in Latin American, Asian, and some African brews. Pretty much any countries that are already familiar with espresso, are also familiar with breve brewing.
Breve For Coffee Is Not The Same As Steamed Milk
Some coffee drinkers might be wondering, “What in the world is breve?
What does it mean when you say you want ‘breve’ in your coffee?” Well it’s not actually a word that describes milk.
You may have heard the word “steamed” when referring to the froth on the top of your coffee. That is actually what “breve” means. “Breve” is Italian for steamed.
But you can’t make a breve with steamed milk. It’s not the same thing at all!
Breve Isn’t A Brewing Technique Or A Coffee Flavor
Some people have said that breve is simply a way of saying “whole milk.” That’s not true at all.
Breve just means the diluted version of what you’d normally use to flavor your espresso brews. It doesn’t contain any of the coffee, so it’s considered another flavor altogether.
You may have heard some baristas refer to it as ‘flavored creme’. The difference between flavored creme and whole milk is that it contains additional sugar for sweetening purposes.
The ‘flavor’ is left out of the brew. In a brewed coffee, there is no need for sugar. What you’re left with is just the ‘strength’ of the breve.
Breve Has A Milder, But Still Distinct Flavor
If you were expecting the creme to take on all of the coffee’s flavor, then you might be a little disappointed.
The creme itself is going to taste a bit watered down in comparison to whole milk. It’s going to have a little bit of a watered-down powdery quality that doesn’t come from coffee or vanilla at all.
The actual flavor will be hard for some baristas and even customers to identify, but when you add it into your brews, it helps bring out other flavors in the coffee.
The body of the brew is going to be a little more “viscous” or ‘oily’ as well.
Breve Is Better For Keurig Brewers
As you might have already guessed, breve is also great for Keurig brewers.
It’s often used as the base for their specialty coffees that are made to taste just like hot chocolate or cocoa. This makes it extremely versatile for both coffee drinkers and baristas alike!
Breve is also the perfect way to create creme soda guys! Try it and you’ve won’t be disappointed!
We’ve seen what Breve is not, and I’m sure it sounded a bit weird the way I approached the explanation… But, now let me explain what it is in its simplest form.
What Is Breve…again???
Breve is a type of coffee creme that often gets used as a ‘diluting agent’ for espresso and other coffee brews.
Breve For Coffee Is Simply Another Way To Say “Diluted” Or “Light”.
Breve is a word that’s going to surprise a lot of people who have never heard it before. But, if you think about it, this makes sense.
If you were going to drink milk in your coffee, you’d ask for whole milk.
Or if you wanted to add sugar, you’d ask for ‘light’ or ‘diluted’ because the coffee and milk add all of the sugar you need.
You know what cream is and what it tastes like. The same goes for “breve.”
Breve Is Simply An Euphemism For Light, Non-Milk Drinkers
If you’ve ever heard that your friend drinks their coffee with just a little bit of breve, that means they’re drinking it “light” or “lite.”
If your buddy wants to try something new when he’s in for his morning brew, he’s going to ask for one with “an extra shot and a breve.
That’s what you want when you’re in the mood for a ‘kick,’ or when you’re in ‘the mood for something sweet.’
Just like all the other coffee concoctions that contain creme, it can also be paired with pancakes, waffles and other breakfast treats.
Use Your Breve For Coffee To Add “Creamy” Body To Other Beverages.
If you’ve ever heard that your pizza tasted better because of the creme they put on it, then this will make perfect sense.
The same applies to coffee! A lot of coffee fans are going to really enjoy using breve as a “diluting agent” for their coffee.
It really adds the right amount of flavor, strength and “lightness” to your drink. You can use breve to create a creamer that’s perfect for adding to all of your afternoon coffees.
When you’re getting ready for your morning brew, you can try using some for breakfast instead of milk. After all, it does have a sweetness that will help you get through the day!
Breve Is Used In Multicultural Cuisines For Coffee And Drinks
An Italian restaurant is going to offer creme as an option on the side for their espresso drinks or Americanos.
The Italians, Greeks and Spaniards all use this for their coffee and creme sodas.
If you ever hear “dulce de leche,” that’s also a good way to describe the flavor of breve. It tastes like condensed milk! If you haven’t added much sugar to it, it’ll be much lighter.
This means that it’s going to be a lot easier on your stomach too! Just like any other flavored creme, you’re going to enjoy a really easy-drinking experience.
What Are The Benefits of Breve?
Breve offers a lot of great benefits so let’s take a look at just a few of them:
👉 It’s not just for morning coffee. It can be made into all sorts of drinks and dessert items too.
It adds that extra kick that you’re looking for! You may even use it as a “diluting agent” for your espresso and other coffee brews.
This will really make those dark roasts stand out! Breve has a very sweet flavor to it, but you can also enjoy it as an after-dinner dessert. It can even be used to sweeten your morning oatmeal or porridge.
👉 Breve Is Great For Complementing Stronger Coffees.
If you’re having a coffee that is too strong, you can use this to ‘dilute’ the brew so it’s perfect for you.
You can also use it in place of milk in your lattes or cappuccinos. It’s also great for creating creamer for the afternoon coffee rush!
👉 The taste is much more subtle than whole milk, but it still has that classic espresso flavor that you’re looking for.
This means that the aroma is still there, but all of the intense flavors are softer and easier to drink because of the breve.
You can use it for a creme soda, hot chocolate and other coffee drinks, but it’s also great for baking.
You’ll find that a lot of your recipes will have a tendency to taste more like milkshakes with the addition of this product!
Breve is not just for making coffee special.
It can be used in a number of ways from creating dessert items to creating the perfect creme soda.
It’s a great way to add some sweetness and flavor without having too much sugar in your diet!
You can use it in all sorts of different ways in you’re going to become a breve expert before too long.
What’s The Difference Between A Latte and A Breve?
The main difference between the two is the way in which they are served.
The latte is served with foam on top of it, while the breve is served without any topping at all.
If you’ve ever had a cappuccino that looks like it has a wave of brown creme on top, that’s actually just the foamy part of an espresso.
There’s no additional flavor added to this type of drink.
How To Make A Breve?
You can make breve relatively easily…
Say the word “breve” out loud… Hear how it sounds?
That’s how your coffee is going to taste when you make it this way. Breve is very easy to use.
You just have to mix together some milk and water, boil them together with some sweetener, then mix in some instant coffee.
You don’t have to do anything else because the instant will dissolve right into the mixture!
This is something that you can do even if you’re making your coffee special for someone else. You don’t have to worry about them drinking any of it. You can just make a little batch and use the entire cup!
This is a great way to make creme and other dessert items because you can really personalize your recipe and make it perfect for you.
If you need to know how to make breve, then you need to check out this article on how to make breve!
I’ll show you the easiest way so that you can start making this amazing coffee creme today!
Use Your Breve To Create A Perfect Creme Style Creamer.
This is one of the best ways to use breve because it’s going to be so easy for you. You can make a perfect creme-style coffee creamer this way! The list below has some really simple ingredients…
Here’s what you need to do:
That’s it! You now have a perfect coffee creamer that you can use in place of regular milk, cream or creme.
It’ll be very easy to use on any of your favorite coffee drinks!
Final Thoughts
Breve adds an extra dimension of flavor to your coffee or creamer.
You can use it to create a great tasting cappuccino, latte, espresso or dulce de leche sauce. The taste is very similar to dulce de leche because it also has that caramelized sugar flavor that you love!
This is one of the easiest ways to create a creamy dessert or coffee drink because you don’t have to worry about measuring the creme level.
You just have to add it into your cup or pitcher and then top it off with some steamed milk. It’s also good in your coffee if you want to have a lighter flavor.
If you’re looking for a way to add some creamy texture, this is something that you need to consider using in the future.
