Breve Latte: The Not-So-Common Latte

I don’t consider myself a coffee connoisseur, but when somebody offers a not-so-common Espresso-based coffee, my curiosity piques… I mean, almost every coffee joint is offering Caffè Lattes. The only way to differentiate yourselves would be by introducing exotic beans, right?… Or so I thought… Until somebody introduced me to Breve Latte, and my curiosity got the best of me… I simply had to say “yes”.

Coffee Culture From Around The World

Let’s get one thing straight – I love coffee. Whilst I don’t fancy myself a coffee connoisseur, I love trying out various types of coffee. Short of flavoured or caramelised, Espresso-based coffee, the options are pretty standard across the board. There’s the base Espresso, and then there’re the Espresso derived coffee beverages.

So aside from the standard Americano, Cappuccino, Caffè Latte and Mocha, everything else are essentially secondary or tertiary derivatives. But as you can see from the chart above, Breve Latte doesn’t even appear there… Which got me even more curious… Especially when the menu (yes, a physical menu) boasts of “World Coffee”.

Prominently listed right at the top of “Specialty Coffee” is none other than Breve Latte. Hmm… Perhaps the light reflecting off the menu got the better of the image. Never mind, take a look at the close-up of the same menu below.

Alright, curiosity got the better of me. What exactly is Breve Latte? And how is it different from the “regular” Caffè Latte? I mean, I love Caffè Latte. Unlike the “tough-guy” stereotype, I don’t deny that I simply love my coffee milky and creamy. And what’s better than Caffè Latte when it comes to a milky and creamy coffee?

Breve Latte Vs Regular Caffè Latte

Breve Latte is essentially a tertiary derivative of the regular Caffè Latte. As described in this article, Caffè Latte is one-third Espresso, and two-thirds hot milk, topped with milk foam. Of course, different cafés may include other minor variations in ingredients, but the main ingredients are essentially identical. Breve Latte differs only in the latter portion. Instead of two-thirds hot milk, it calls for two-thirds of half-and-half milk-and-cream… And that’s the secret ingredient – cream… No wonder it tastes smoother… richer… creamier… Gosh, I don’t even know how to describe it… It’s simply delicious…

In short, there’s nothing visually different between Breve Latte and regular Caffè Latte. The only difference is in the taste. It’s a pretty divisive taste. Either you love it, or you hate it. As for me, well, like I mentioned earlier, I love my coffee milky and creamy. Hence I love Breve Latte. Your mileage may vary, but personally, I’d recommend that you try it at least once.

Where Exactly Did I Enjoy This Breve Latte?

Cafés generally fall into two broad categories. There are those who encourage high traffic turnover. And then there are those who encourage you to slow down, enjoy the ambience, and slowly savour your coffee. This one definitely falls in the latter category. But hang on just a moment… JDV Vivo Coffee & Comfort Dining is more than just a regular café. In fact, it’s a full-fledged restaurant, serving main meals. And they still have the capacity to offer, in their own words, world coffee. In case you’re wondering about the acronym, it’s Joie De Vivre, French for “Joy Of Living”, hence their tagline.

I suppose you’re wondering exactly how “slow” do they encourage you to enjoy the ambience and savour the coffee… Well, take a look at the image below. They’ve dedicated an area for lounging, with a mini-foosball table even, instead of using the space for another table.

And in case you’re wondering how I’m managing with my Breve Latte, well, I’m savouring it alright… Almost down to the very last sip of the coffee, and the foam art is still visibly intact. I bet the barista must be really proud of me…

Curious To Try Your Own Cup Of Breve Latte?

Okay, here’s the little “problem”… JDV Vivo Coffee & Comfort Dining is located in Vivo Seputeh 9, an integrated development in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It’s a mix of residential, offices and commercial suites. From the outside, it looks like a typical residential condominium. Hence, not instinctively easy to find your way there. Take a look at the map below.

But once you’ve entered Vivo Seputeh 9’s basement visitor carpark, just walk up to the ground level. Then look around for any one of the several ad-boards strategically placed to guide you there.

Just follow the ad-boards, and walk towards the rear-facing side of the building. When you see the familiar signboard right next to the glass doors and partitions, congratulations, you’ve arrived.

So What Exotic Coffee’s Next?…

Having tried JDV’s Breve Latte, I’m now itching to try the other exotic world coffees on their menu too. Who knows, I might even share something in the next episode too. Hmm… I wonder where in the world will my next cup of coffee bring me to… Coming back to Earth (and reality), do check out JDV Vivo Coffee & Comfort Dining’s Facebook and Instagram. What do you think? Interested to try Breve Latte for yourself too? Leave your comments and questions below. And if I still have your attention, do consider buying me a coffee at the link below. It takes long hours and hard work to compile all the raw facts, and turn them into an exciting story. And caffeine definitely helps fuel the entire process.