The cappuccino is a quintessential Italian coffee drink that ironically came to prominence in Vienna during the 19th century. It was there that locals attached the name ‘kapuziner’ to the coffee, comparing it to the robes of Capuchin monks.
A couple of centuries later you can find the cappuccino everywhere and with the advancement of technology, we even have the ability to create this foamy coffee in the comfort of our own homes.
But how do you make the best cappuccino at home I hear you ask? Read on to find out!
[lwptoc]Step 1: Gather your core ingredients
For the perfect cappuccino, there’s some core ingredients that you’ll need including:
- The best coffee beans
- Cold milk
- Filtered water
Side note: fill your mug with hot water to ensure you’re not pouring your coffee into a cold mug.
Step 2: Prepare your coffee beans
If you haven’t bought pre-ground coffee you’ll want to grind your beans down to something that’s a little finer than granulated sugar.
Once you have your ground coffee, weigh it (about 25g is perfect), put it in your portafilter and make sure the surface on top is even.
Compress the coffee using a tamper using slight pressure.
Step 3: Pour an espresso shot
Empty your mug of water and lock in your tamper. On your espresso machine you’ll want to specify a pour time of around 30 – 35 seconds to ensure you avoid a sour and unbalanced shot.
Step 4: Steam your milk
Steaming your milk is something that is done in a blink of an eye. For home coffee machines, it’ll be done in around 8-10 seconds so make sure you keep tabs on it.
Have the steam wand tip meet the surface of the milk to allow it to whip the air into the milk which should give you the perfect cappuccino texture you’re looking for.
Once you’ve achieved your desired texture, lift your pitcher of milk up higher. This will stop the milk becoming too frothy whilst allowing the steam to continue heating it.
Step 5: Combine your steamed milk with the espresso shot
Now you have your perfect espresso shot and steamed milk, it’s time to pour the milk into your mug.
This is where expert level baristas excel with their latte art but we’ll forgive you if you end up with a white blob on top!
Cappuccinos are really fun to make at home and you’ll always be rewarded by a fantastic taste so go ahead and give it a go!