How to Make a Latte

Posted on March 31st, 2009 by Elaine

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Nothing like a good cup of latte to get you started in the morning. Now, imagine having it in the comfort of your home, instead of having to stand in a long coffee shop queue. It’s easy to make a delicious cup of latte, as long as you know the right procedure.

What You’ll Need:

7 grams of coffee powder or ground espresso beans
200 ml of whole milk
5 grams of sugar
Espresso machine with a steam wand
Metal pitcher
Thermometer
Tamp
Shot glass
Nutmeg, cinnamon or ground chocolate

Procedure:

Assemble your ingredients on a clean countertop. It’s better to have everything at your reach while you’re preparing the drink, so you won’t have to rush off.

coffee latte

Get the metal pitcher and fill 3/5 of it with milk, or just until the pour spout’s base.
Put the thermometer inside the pitcher in a secure position.
Using the espresso machine’s steam wand, steam the milk until it reaches 155 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to make a hotter drink, raise the temperature a bit, but don’t go beyond 180 degrees Fahrenheit, or you’ll scorch the milk. Remember that the temperature also rises 5 degrees when it sits.
To create the foam or the froth, insert the steam wand at a diagonal position just below the milk’s surface. As you froth, create a rotational flow in the steam pitcher, and when the temperature reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit or if it’s warm to the touch, raise the pitcher to stop frothing. Keep heating until you reach the desired temperature.
Get your ground espresso beans and tamp it in the portafilter, giving it at least 40 pounds of pressure. Lock in into the espresso machine’s group head. Let the shots run immediately, or the gasket’s heat will scorch the coffee grinds, giving it an unpleasant burnt taste.
When ready, pour the espresso shots in a coffee cup. The perfect shot is made in 17 to 23 seconds, with minimum body. You’ll need two shots. Don’t let them sit longer than 10 seconds without milk.
Pour the steamed milk over the espresso shots. You can texture them first, by rolling around the pitcher until the surface becomes glossy. Smoothly pour the froth, allowing it to blend with the espresso.
To regulate the foam’s flow, use a spoon. Until you’re 3mm away from the top, don’t remove it. The end result must be a brown foamy top, with just a small white foam at the center.
Design your latte using the spoon or thermometer tip. Add sugar to sweeten. You can also add cinnamon, nutmeg or ground chocolate for a more flavorful brew.