Latte is known for its velvety deliciousness and this popular coffee-infused beverage has always been the favorite of home baristas. However, if you’re new to brewing and looking for a perfect latte recipe, this is how to make Latte at home…
In the world of coffee, the latte is a well-loved name. Made with a fairly large amount of steamed milk, this espresso-based beverage has a separate fan base. In fact, there are a lot of aficionados who see latte as the best means to kick start their day.
So, latte lovers…here’s some good news!! You don’t need to visit those expensive coffee shops to enjoy the delectability of a perfect cuppa latte. If you are already done with a dozen unsuccessful trials of making a cafe-quality latte at home, here’s a ray of hope! Today, I’m going to share an authentic, convenient, and effective recipe for caffe latte – check it out and get ready to enjoy amazing latte experiences at home.
What is a Latte
Though latte is quite popular, and most of you may have a nearly clear idea about what a latte is, to understand the right method of crafting marvelous lattes, it’s essential to be pretty clear about its concept.
You can define a latte as an espresso forward drink combined with several ounces of steamed milk. It’s a rich, creamy beverage that has the typical espresso to steamed milk ratio of 1:2. The popularity of lattes has exploded in the last two decades, and due to this reason, it has passed through a lot of tweaks which brought the scope of creating its sweetened version by adding sugar, chocolate, hazelnut, or vanilla flavors.
You might like – Macchiato vs Latte Comparison
How to Make Latte at Home – The Recipe
Now when you are officially introduced to the definition of latte, let’s jump into the topic directly. So, here’s how you can make classic lattes at home.
What do you need to make a latte
Things that you need to brew latte are:
- Freshly ground coffee beans
- An espresso maker
- A latte cup
- Steamed and foamed milk
- Sugar, chocolate shavings/ chocolate syrup/ whipped vanilla cream (optional)
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Serving: 1
Calories: 47 | Total Fat: 2 grams | Carbs: 5 grams | Protein: 3 grams
Step-by-step recipe
Once you gather all the ingredients, you can start the brewing process. Here’s how the entire thing looks.
Step 1: Make the espresso
- Place water into the boiler of your espresso machine.
- Put ground coffee into the portafilter.
- Use a tamper to press the coffee down. Ensure that you have packed the grounds tightly.
- Press the portafilter into your espresso machine’s group head and lock it.
- Place the latte cup under the group head and start pulling the shots. You can pull the shots for the next 25-30 seconds.
Step 2: Steaming milk
- Take some milk in a small metal pitcher.
- Insert the steam wand of your espresso machine into the pitcher. You can also warm milk to 150° Fahrenheit on your stovetop and use a manual whisk to create foam.
- When the milk doubles its size, take a spoon to remove the large bubbles from the top and keep it aside.
Step 3: Assembling your latte
- Slowly pour the steamed milk into the espresso that you have kept in the latte cup.
- Once done, take the spoon with the large milk bubbles and top your latte with them. Spoon carefully so that the foamy bubbles don’t break.
- If you want to sweeten your cup, add a spoonful of sugar. For added flavors, use whipped vanilla cream, chocolate shavings, or chocolate syrup.
Your barista-like latte is ready to serve! You can take sides like a brownie or spinach sandwiches to add more to your home latte experience.
Here is a visual explanation –
Download the How to make Latte at home infographic in high resolution.
Exceptions and Variations – Latte is More Vibrant than your Imagination!
Latte has taken a world tour and passed through a lot of experiments and evolutions. Due to this reason, there are a lot of exceptions and variations in its recipe, making it a versatile and vibrant drink. Here’s what you need to know!
Lattes can be Vegan
If you are vegan, then also latte is for you. You can make a dairy-free latte by replacing the conventional milk with oat milk or soya milk. Oat milk is, however, recommended because it holds an incredible ability to create fantastic foam.
Lattes are Not Always served in Cups
Did you know, in Europe, especially in Scandinavia, a latte is served in a bowl, and they call it ‘cafe au lait.’
When Latte is not Stirred
When your latte is iced, it’s served unstirred in a glass. It allows the coffee to float on the top of the milk.
When Lattes are ‘Tea-Lattes’
A fact of surprise indeed! In North America and Asia, lattes are often blended with oriental teas. They are available in hot and iced versions of matcha, royal milk tea, and chai. In some parts of South Africa, rooibos tea is prepared with a red latte.
The Best Milk and Perfect Espresso creates World-Class Lattes
Crafting a latte is no less than an art, and since the art is milk-based, you need to be extra careful while picking up the milk for your latte. Whole milk is ideal for lattes as it makes the best quality microfoam because of its higher fat content.
For dairy-free lattes, again, try sticking to oat milk as it froths up far better than other non-dairy milk variants. Besides, pay full attention while steaming milk. You may need a few practices but make sure that you achieve the right microfoams as it’s 95% of the process.
For avant-garde espresso, always use dark roast coffee beans and make sure that you grind them at home. Pre-ground coffee typically scores less in flavors, robustness, and nuances.
Final word – Practice makes you Perfect
To master the art of making a latte, it’s vital to earn the confidence that reflects in your movements. While slow movements result in poor-quality latte art, it’s still drinkable. Thus, if you fail in your first few trials, don’t give up on hope. Keep practicing, and definitely, you will earn better control over making great latte designs.
Again, latte designs have nothing to do with the taste of your cup. They are just for the perfect finish. So, try out this recipe unhesitatingly and enjoy awesome homemade lattes.