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We love our iced coffee in the summer, but fall and winter belong to the latte, which is usually made with espresso, steamed milk and milk foam. We love to sit inside on a chilly day with a hot, frothy latte or cappuccino, but a latte shouldn't just be a coffee shop treat. Even without an milk frother, or other toys of the trade, you can make a pretty decent latte at home — and yes, it will have a beautiful cap of foam.
Here's how we do it when we want a latte at home, to sip in the morning, or with a visiting friend.
Why you'll love it
- You don't need an espresso machine. All you need is an espresso or strongly brewed coffee and a frothy milk, which is easy to make in the microwave.
- We've perfected the foam. The key is to heat the milk before frothing for the most stable foam.
What's the difference between a latte and other coffee drinks?
Here are the differences, plus other coffee drinks.
- Cappuccino: A cappuccino is very similar to a latte, but it has a greater percentage of foamed milk to steamed milk. It's three equal parts steamed milk, milk foam, and espresso.
- Macchiato: A macchiato has no steamed milk added to the espresso, but a little cap of milk foam.
- Cafe au lait: A cafe au lait only has warm steamed milk added to coffee (sometimes espresso) and no foam.
All of these coffee shop drinks are actually on a continuum. A very “wet" cappuccino with a lot of steamed milk is sliding into latte territory, and what one coffee bar calls a cappuccino might actually be a macchiato elsewhere.
The point is, the ratio of espresso, warm milk, and milk foam can all be adjusted to your precise liking when you make a drink at home, and you can call it whatever you like in the privacy of your own kitchen.
What about the espresso?
The thing common to all the drinks above is espresso, which is coffee brewed under steam pressure that forces the water through coffee grounds. It's intense, oily and rich, and these qualities balance out the quantity of milk used in these drinks. Adding steamed milk to weaker American-style coffee doesn't quite give you the real flavor and experience of a latte or cappuccino.
Of course, if you have an espresso setup at home, great! And if you have a one-touch espresso machine, like a Nespresso, you can use that to create drinks like this too. But personally, I use extra-strong coffee from an AeroPress, which for me presents a good balance between cost and quality. It makes coffee strong enough to almost (not quite!) be called espresso, but it doesn't cost very much or require technical skill to use.
If you don't have an espresso maker, Nespresso, or Aeropress, then try this with strongly brewed coffee.
How to froth milk
It's true — you don't need a fancy foamer to make frothy milk at home! It's actually really easy to make it in the microwave. All you do is microwave 2% or nonfat milk in a jar for about 30 seconds, close the lid, then shake the jar as hard as you can until the milk is frothy and has roughly doubled in volume. You get spoonsful of foam, plus warm milk to pour in your latte.
How To Make a Latte
Makes 1 drink
Brewed espresso, or strongly brewed coffee from an Aeropress
2% or nonfat milk
Cocoa powder or ground cinnamon, for garnish (optional)
Equipment
Wide, shallow coffee cup
Jar with lid or frothing wand
Spoon
1. As indicated in the aforementioned notes, any strongly brewed espresso from a home espresso maker or a capsule machine like a Nespresso will do. Or use strongly brewed coffee from an AeroPress, not diluted with any water. I usually start with about 1/3 cup espresso, but this is up to you.
2. Pour milk into the jar, filling it no more than halfway (the bigger the jar, the better). Microwave uncovered until warm, about 30 seconds. You can also warm the milk on the stovetop instead, then pour it into a jar.
3. If using a jar, screw the lid on tightly, then shake the jar as hard as you can until the milk is frothy and has roughly doubled in volume, 30 to 60 seconds. You can also use a frothing wand instead to froth the milk.
4. Pour the espresso or coffee into a wide, shallow coffee cup. Use a large spoon to hold back the milk foam, and pour as much warm milk as you would like into the espresso.
5. Spoon as much milk foam as you would like onto your latte. Garnish, if desired, with a sprinkle of cocoa powder or ground cinnamon on top of the foam. Sip immediately.
Faith Durand is managing editor of TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking.