My aim is to teach coffee lovers like you how to make delicious java drinks at the comfort of your own home. So, I put together this simple guide on how to make a latte at home!
Ready to become your own professional barista?! Then keep reading!
Most people already know what a latte is, but for those who don’t, a latte is made up of two main ingredients: 1/3 espresso and 2/3 frothed milk with about 1.5 inches of foam on top. Simple, right?!
So how do lattes differ from other espresso and milk beverages?
This guide is helpful for all coffee lovers who want to enjoy their favorite beverage at home. Don’t worry if you don’t have an espresso machine, you can make delicious lattes at home without one!
You’ll need the following tool and ingredients to make a latte at home:
Next, follow the steps below to make a delicious cup of Latte:
If you want to make the best tasting latte, then buy quality espresso beans. The taste of the drink is greatly dependent on how good the espresso beans are. You can buy espresso beans from:
It all depends on your taste! So, you might want to experiment with a few types until you find your favorite beans.
To keep your espresso beans fresh, make sure to store them in an airtight bag or container.
When you are ready to make your latte at home, use a burr grinder to finely grind the espresso beans before brewing. Some will have an espresso machine that does the grinding itself.
If you are a coffee lover and you see yourself making more and more coffee at home, then I recommend you invest in a nice burr grinder as it does the job right.
Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
If you are not sure this is for you yet, then try the following:
I know this sounds like a lot of work, but trust me, it’s not!
Once you have the right espresso beans that are finely ground to the right consistency, the next step is to brew the perfect espresso for the perfect homemade latte!
Having an espresso machine with a built-in steam wand in the kitchen is a blessing when you’re making a latte at home. If you're in the market for one, make sure to check out our article about the Top 7 Best Nespresso Machines or this one about the 7 Best Automatic Espresso Machines...
As mentioned earlier, you’re free to play with ingredients and proportions, but here we’ll prepare a standard latte with two shots of espresso and a cup of frothed milk.
While having an espresso machine is ideal for making a latte at home, many of us are unable to afford such luxury. Some espresso machines can cost thousands of dollars, but that doesn’t mean there’s no other way!
The good news is you can still enjoy the best-quality latte without investing in an espresso machine. It takes a little longer, but it’s worth it!
Follow these steps for the perfect homemade latte:
There you go, you just served yourself the tastiest coffee at home. Enjoy it, you deserve it!
Quick Note
Another cheap alternative to buying an espresso machine is to get an Aeropress. It is small, easy to use and a fraction of the cost. See below:
Aeropress Coffee & Espresso Maker
Making your own espresso beverage at home can be very rewarding. But sipping on a homemade latte with perfectly foamed milk is absolutely delightful. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to froth your own milk with or without a frother.
You can also use any type of milk but experts recommend using plain old 2 percent dairy milk which is the easiest to steam. Of course, you can use any kind of milk or milk alternative. I’m lactose intolerant and I use 2% lactose free milk and my lattes turn out delicious!
So here are a few ways you can froth milk at home and don’t forget to use about 6oz of milk and to warm it up before doing these:
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Using a mason jar to froth milk is probably the easiest method. You won’t face any difficulty while doing this.
First, heat the milk and then pour it into the mason jar. Then, tightly screw the lid and shake it forcefully for a minute or two until it doubles in volume. Make sure you cover your hands with a dishtowel to avoid burning your hands as the jar will get warm from the hot milk
If you don’t have a mason jar, you can still froth the milk easily. Just use a whisk or an electric mixer!
If you use a whisk, then whisk the milk vigorously in a circular motion and if you’re using an electric mixer, then put it on a low setting to avoid having an explosion of milk in your kitchen.
Truth be told, many items in your kitchen can help you create foam for your latte. Any traditional or aluminum blender on a low setting will do the job for you. Just pour the milk turn on your blender for a few seconds until the milk is frothed.
Coffee is a beverage you drink almost every day! Some might say, it’s a lifestyle. So why not invest in some tools that would make your life easier?
Knowing that the average American drinks two cups of coffee daily, it’s no surprise that there are many products out there that could help you make the perfect cup of coffee at home. A couple of these tools are:
Miroco Stainless Steel Automatic Milk Frother
The easiest way to realize if you’ve created the perfect latte foam is when milk gets almost double in volume and has tiny micro-foam bubbles. Make sure the milk temperature doesn’t exceed 139-145-degree Fahrenheit or 55-65 degree Celsius otherwise it will taste spoiled.
How do you customize your latte? Some like it strong and others like it sweet! If you’re one with a sweet-tooth then why not add some flavored syrup to it?
You will find dozens of flavors in the market including, but not limited to:
You can also make your own syrup at home as most recipes contain the same basic ingredients which are water, sugar and your flavor of choice.
A latte is usually served in a 6-8 oz cup with 180-240 ml of milk.
Each espresso shot should have about 30 ml of water.
This all depends on your preferences. Coffee shops usually have a single shot in smaller cups and a double shot in larger ones.
The main difference between a latte and a caffe misto is the type of coffee being used and the coffee to milk ratios. A latte is made of 1/4 espresso and 3/4 steamed milk, while a caffe misto is made of equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk.
See? Making a latte at home isn’t so hard after all!
Anyone can be their own professional barista just at home. There’s no need to buy an expensive latte from across the street when you can make the best tasting cup right at home and at a fraction of the cost.
Of course, the first latte you make at home will not taste the best, but with practice and some tweaking here and there, you will be able to make your favorite drink just the way you love it.
Not only that, but think about how impressed your guests will be when you make them a homemade latte from scratch. I’m speaking from experience; they will LOVE it!
I have even converted some of my friends into homemade-latte-lovers and I’m teaching them how to make their own lattes at home. Same way I’m showing you how to do it.
If you have any questions for Your Coffee & Tea Essentials or just want to let us know how your homemade latte turned out, then please leave your comments below!