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Italy was the first country that started making milk-based coffee. Then, this delicious and delicate drink quickly won the hearts of tourists and spread throughout the world. Latte is a sophisticated beverage, and this is a reason why in most cases people choose it from the menu list. The amount of milk greatly outweighs the amount of espresso, making the drink delicate. It is still coffee-based but not so concentrated, soft, rich, and easy-drinking.
Can you make a latte without a coffee machine? Yes, you can, but it requires having some utensils at home. For example, you need a French press, a milk frother, or even a mixer because frothed milk is an integral part of the drink. This recipe is perfect for those people who adore latte and want to enjoy it without going out. It is quite easy and quick to make this beverage without a coffee machine!
You can brew coffee without an espresso machine in multiple ways. The coffee brewed in a cup, pour-over coffee, or even instant coffee will do. The most significant thing is to observe the ratio between milk and coffee. You should take 3 shots of milk (150 ml) to one espresso shot (50 ml). It is important to stick to this proportion to get a latte with a delicate taste without unnecessary bitterness. So, brew coffee using any method you like and take 50 ml of espresso. The taste of the finished drink depends heavily on the quality of the coffee beans. For making a latte, it is better to choose arabica or a blend of arabica and robusta.
Choose milk that you use regularly. Pay attention to the production date of the product. Use the freshest milk and calculate the total volume you need depending on the number of servings. You’ll need at least 150 ml for one serving of latte. Also, take into account the fat content. The milk with 3.2% fat content is suitable for making a latte at home. If the milk is too fat, it can affect the taste of the drink, resulting in dense and oily foam, and damage its texture. And the most important parameter is the milk temperature that should not exceed 60-70°C (140-158°F). Therefore, it should be heated carefully. It is more convenient to heat it in a microwave oven that won’t boil the liquid. However, if you’re going to heat it on the stove, stir it thoroughly and watch the process.
To froth milk, use a cappuccino maker, a French press, or a mixer.
- A frother or cappuccino maker is a small battery-operated device with a whisk that froths milk very well. The milk needs to be preheated to the required temperature. Of all the frothing methods described here, this is the fastest one.
- A French press. Fill the beaker with preheated milk to one-third and move the plunger up and down until the froth becomes stable and uniform. It takes up to 4-5 minutes.
- A mixer. Pour milk into a bowl and start frothing it using a mixer (a blender) until you see small bubbles. It takes about 3-5 minutes. You can froth milk using a manual whisk, but this process is laborious and can take 9 or more minutes. You should froth the milk vigorously because this is the only way to form stable foam.
When the milk is ready, add it to the coffee. There are two options for doing this. You can pour milk into a cup with coffee, slowly stirring the liquids with a stream as it is done in coffee shops. According to the second method, pour milk into the cup first and then add coffee. With this option, you’ll get a milder drink taste.
Latte is probably the most suitable drink to be made at home, and, I would say, it’s not arty-crafty. You can brew your regular coffee that is not necessarily of the barista level because, in a latte, the taste of milk is more prevalent than that of coffee. It is hard to froth milk in a bad way; the main thing is not to overheat it. This is a reason why lots of people prefer latte.
