latte
 

Ok, in France I'm dying to finally have a good cafe creme again, but what about England? Is there a starbucks like chain there. I seem to recall from a zillion years ago that some cafes did a milky coffee, sounds like the same thing. I'm sure I'll find something in London, but I'll be in the countryside for the most part of my trip.

You'll find plenty of Starbucks in London, and there are some other chains such as Cafe Nero (think that's the name).

You can check websites for Starbucks, Cafe Nero, E.A.T. or Pret a Manger for locations around the UK. Just need a postcode to search.

Starbucks ,cafe Nero ,Costa Coffee plus numerous other outlets about every 100 yards in all the major towns and most of the minor ones as well,just about as common as Subways,McDonalds,Burger King and KFC's.
There are also lots of decent places to get coffee too.

If it's been a "zillion years"since you were in England, you'll be amazed by the difference and will hardly recognize it. I recall the "milky coffee" (often made with "Carnation milk" from when i first went in 1968, and lived there in the early 1970s. It is far more "European" now.

)In those days, when i ordered tea i got a pot made with leaves--NOT tea bags--and a little filter thing, even in the littlest small town cafes and tea shops. Now, what used to be the norm, is quaint, and you have to go in search of it.)

But if you like Splenda sweetener, bring it with you! Didn't always find that in Starbucks. (Don't recall if the same was true of Equal or "Sugar in the Raw.") Sweetener makes a big difference to me. Or, buying those instant Starbucks packets might be an idea for the rural areas.

I don't speak Italian. When we were in Tuscany a few years back, I orderd a "latte" at the local Bar Centrale. The server responded "caldo", and I responded with "si" - about the only word I know in Italian. I got a glass of warm milk.

Stu Dudley

Obviously, Stu, because "latte" is the Italian word for milk.

a french "cafe creme" is nothing like the "latte" served in UK coffee shops, in which decent coffee is [IMHO] drowned in hot milk.

to get a "cafe creme" you will need to order a double expresso with cold milk on the side. if you like it less strong [and this can be stronger than the french equivalent] you'll need to ask for an "americano".