Tuesday, February 26, 2013
How to Make an Easy Homemade Latte
Ahhh, lattes - the things dreams are made of! I readily admit to a fondness...okay, a downright obssession, with these delicious, milky espresso drinks. When your budget is stretched thin, however, it makes more sense to make a latte at home. Thankfully, making lattes at home isn't as hard as you might think. Here's my easy way to create delicious, creamy lattes with little effort. And they're cheap - hurrah!
What you'll need:
- I swear by my Aerolatte Milk Frother
. For under $20, you have this amazing little gizmo that creates delicious, copious amounts of frothy milk. If you don't have one - you can use a lidded jar (like a Mason jar) to shake the milk until you get froth. Not quite the same effect, but it'll do in a pinch.
- A large coffee mug
- Fresh milk - 1% is my favorite, but apparently skim makes more froth (you can also get a creamy latte by using homogenized milk, or even cream!)
- Freshly brewed coffee or espresso; brew it very strong
- Optional flavorings: vanilla extract, coffee syrups, caramel topping, etc.
STEP ONE - Making the Java
Make the coffee! I usually just brew extra-strong coffee (add more coffee grounds than you usually would), but of course the traditional way is to make espresso. You can make espresso using a nifty stovetop espresso maker
. This is how a lot of Italian families make their espresso - and the Bialetti one in the link is still made in Italy.
STEP TWO - Making the steamed, frothy milk
Pour about one third of the mug full of milk. Heat in the microwave until hot, but not boiling. In my microwave it takes around 40 seconds or so for that small quantity of milk. Tip your Aerolatte into the milk at an angle - you'll immediately see mounds of froth appearing! Froth the milk for about ten seconds or so.
STEP THREE - Combine the two...
Pour the coffee into the steamed, frothed milk until you reach the top of the mug. Add in a little flavoring if you like - I often add a few drops of good quality vanilla extract. But, you can let your imagination go wild - try any number of good flavoring extracts like almond or caramel, and then top the froth with a drizzle of caramel sauce. YUM!
Is this the traditional method of making a latte or cappuccino? Definitely not! Is it fun, easy, fast, and cheap? Yep. So, enjoy your homemade latte experiments, and please leave a comment if you have an additional tip to share.Labels: gourmet coffee, homemade latte, make your own, starbucks
Posted by HappySlob ::
6:07 AM ::
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