Creamy Latte Perfection
A simple guide to crafting an irresistibly creamy latte at home, focusing on perfect milk steaming and frothing techniques for a cafe-quality beverage.
Ingredients
- 1 shot espresso
- 6 ounce milk or dairy-free alternative whole milk or barista-edition oat/almond milk recommended
- Optional to taste sweetener sugar or syrup
Instructions
- Brew your favorite espresso shot and pour it into your mug.
- Pour milk (dairy or dairy-free) into a steaming pitcher. Ensure it's cold.
- Steam the milk using an espresso machine's wand, or heat and froth using a handheld frother or French press. Aim for 140-150°F (60-65°C).
- When frothing, introduce air into the milk for a few seconds to create foam, then submerge the wand/frother to heat and integrate the foam until creamy and glossy.
- Tap the pitcher on the counter gently to remove any large bubbles, then swirl the milk to mix the foam and liquid.
- Slowly pour the frothed milk over your espresso, creating latte art if desired.
- Add optional sweetener if preferred and enjoy immediately.
Notes
For best results, use fresh, cold milk or barista-edition dairy-free alternatives. Don't overheat the milk; stop steaming when the pitcher is too hot to hold comfortably. Tap the milk pitcher on the counter and swirl before pouring to pop large bubbles and create a smooth microfoam. Adjust sweetness and coffee strength to your preference.