How to Make the Perfect Latte
If you love coffee, but only drink it hot from your own coffee pot at home, you are missing out on an entire world of amazing cold coffee beverages. Espressos, Cappuccinos, and Lattes make up some of the best beverages that you can create from the tiny coffee bean. But what exactly is a latte and how do you make the perfect one at home?
What is a Latte?
The Café Latte is a popular drink all throughout the United States. Most people enjoy it because it has a sweet and mellow flavor. It could be considered the exact opposite of black coffee because of all the steamed milk that goes into it. To make a latte, you will need one shot of espresso and mix that with 8 ounces of steamed milk. Top that off with some frothy milk foam for the ideal latte. If you don’t want to add the froth, it is still technically considered a latte. It is just referred to as a Flat White in most coffee shops. Lattes are often sold in servings that are 12 oz. or more and it’s very common for latte lovers to get a double shot of espresso in their cups. Doing so will also increase your caffeine intake.
Lattes bring together coffee and milk in a magical way to create a smooth and creamy beverage that may be enjoyed at any time. The concept of mixing coffee with milk has been around for ages and the process of creating delicious lattes isn’t anything new. All over the world, people have enjoyed the taste and the magical flavor of lattes ever since the term was first mentioned in an 1867 essay written by W.D. Howells.
Making the Perfect Latte Step by Step
If you are wondering how to make a delicious mocha latte, here are some step by step instructions along with tips and tricks that you can use to help you create the ideal drink. Investing in a quality latte machine will help you achieve your gourmet coffee goals all in the comfort of your own home.
What You Will Need
- A coffee machine with a steam arm or wand
- Milk
- Thermometer
- Milk Jug
Remember, when creating the perfect latte, it’s important that you don’t add too much milk foam to your beverage. Instead, you should try to produce a thin layer of foam to go on top of the latte.
Step 1
The first thing you will need to do is fill up your filter basket with the precise amount of coffee. Then set the machine to brew into the latte glass. As this is taking place, it is time for you to heat up the milk. And because the milk makes up more than half of the actual drink, then it is important to get this step correct. If you are new to making lattes, you may want to keep these two tasks separate so that you don’t have to multi-task while learning.
Step 2
The next step is to fill up your milk jug. You will want to only fill it 1/3 of the way. This is also recommended for making cappuccinos and any other type of specialty coffee. The reason why this is important is because there should be enough space in the container for the milk to expand, yet at the same time, you also need enough space to obtain the right foaming motion.
Step 3
Once you have filled the milk jug, you will need to purge the milk. Then place the arm underneath the milk’s surface to introduce a small amount of air into the latte. After a couple of sharp chirps, raise the jug about an inch and relocate the steam arm or wand to the side. This will help create a fun swirling motion while the milk starts to expand. Before it has a chance to get too hot, which can cause it to lose its taste, turn off the steam wand and get ready to pour.
Step 4
Pour the heated milk into a glass, and start at a high position about an inch or two above it. Gradually work your way down until the jug is about to rest on the edge of the glass. You should also be steepening the angle of the jug as you do this.
Although they may be prepared in various forms all over the world, the concept of the creamy latte made with milk and coffee is basically the same. And even though the many different latte forms came from European counties, it is the Americans who receive the credit for commercializing the drink and making it so popular. Similar to the popular Seattle coffee scene that became trendy in the 1980s, the latte is easily the standard specialty coffee house drink for many of today’s young adults and it has remained that way for decades.
