In the middle of the last century, passionate coffee lovers - Italians came up with a way to reduce the strength of an aromatic drink using milk foam. They solved the problem of consuming coffee in large quantities with the least harm to health. Thus began the triumphal procession of a new way of making coffee - latte.
The name was easily invented: in Italian, the word "latte" refers to milk. We’ll show you how to make real latte coffee in a coffee machine.
Features of making latte
Milk is just as important an ingredient for latte as coffee. But do not think that latte and coffee with milk are one and the same. Indeed, milk is not easy to add to espresso, but milk foam. To get it, milk needs to be whipped properly.
Latte coffee is unique:
- The basis of latte is a good, strong espresso, prepared according to all the rules.
Reference! You can use any coffee brand to make a latte. It is preferable to use a mixture of arabica (up to 80%) and robusta (up to 20%). Latte made from a mixture of two varieties is richer and tastier.
- The right choice of milk is equally important. Even while on a diet, do not use skim milk for latte coffee. In this case, milk with a fat content of 3.2% or more is suitable for you. Otherwise, you will not be able to whip the product properly and get foam.
Important!If the coffee machine does not have a function for whipping milk, you can do this using other household appliances. To get the right froth, you should whip the fat milk in a mixer or blender for 3 to 5 minutes.
- The traditional proportions of espresso and whipped milk are 1: 1.
- Latte requires special feed - in a glass goblet so that layers of coffee and milk are visible. Do not forget also the tube and spoon, many latte fans like to eat milk froth first.
- As decoration, you can use finely grated chocolate or fragrant cinnamon.
Coffeemen and professional barista know many ways to make delicious latte coffee. Getting to know them will help you make your own coffee.
Classic Latte Recipe
Let's start with the basic, classic way.
If you have a capsule coffee machine at your disposal, it will do almost everything for you! All that is required of you is the timely purchase of coffee and milk capsules.
We'll talk more about preparing latte in other coffee machines.
First of all, you will need to clarify the method of making espresso in the coffee machine that you use. At the same time, check to see if your coffee machine has a pitcher or a cappuccino machine that has the function of “frothing milk”.
Follow these steps:
- Brew a strong espresso as recommended by the instructions.
- In a coffee machine or using a blender, mixer, beat the milk into a strong foam. If you often beat milk for a cappuccino, keep in mind that the latte foam should be cooler.
Attention!Before whipping, milk must be warmed up. Do not boil milk! The optimum temperature is 50-60 ° C.
- To make a latte, fill a tall transparent glass. Use one of the traditional options for filling the glass:
2 layers
First, freshly brewed espresso is poured into the glass. Carefully pour whipped milk into classic coffee. Try to get a thin milk stream into the glass. It is desirable that the layers are preserved, for this you need to pour coffee on the glass wall of the glass. But if at the first attempts they mix, do not worry, the taste of the drink will not change.
3 layers
To obtain a three-layer coffee cocktail, first, the whipped milk is poured into the glass, then the coffee is poured, and then the third layer is finished with milk foam.
Important!If you like sweetened coffee, add sugar in latte correctly, not in a glass with a ready-made drink, but in espresso! Then combine sweet espresso with whipped milk.
- Garnish a latte with grated chocolate chips or ground cinnamon, if desired.
Cooking Latte Non-Standard
Avoiding monotony by preparing latte coffee is easy. Your loved ones will be surprised by the variations of your favorite drink. To do this, you need to use not only the usual recipe. Latte also allows unconventional approaches.
Latte Macchiato
Macchiato (or Machiato) is an Italian-made coffee for children. It is characterized by an increase in the volume of milk. The proportions of espresso and milk in macchiato - 1: 3. Coffee is poured into hot whipped milk, and brown coffee spots appear on the snow-white surface.
That is why the drink received such a name, "macchiato" in translation from Italian - "stain". Originally, macchiato was not decorated on top with a froth, coffee stains were a peculiarity of this coffee. But now, more and more, macchiato is served with milk whipped in foam, like regular latte.
Ice latte
And in this case, the name indicates a peculiarity: ice latte - an ice drink, which many prefer the usual recipe in the hot summer. To make ice latte you will need ice cubes, which are laid in the glass first. Milk for ice coffee is not heated, but rather cooled. Brewed espresso is added to a glass with ice and ice-cream in a thin stream.
A variation of ice latte is coffee, which is prepared with ice cream instead of ice. In this case, replace the ice with a ball (50 g) of ice cream. Usually, professionals prefer ice cream, but they also like to experiment with creme brulee, chocolate, vanilla and other types of ice cream.
Interesting additives for making an interesting latte
Even a latte made according to the classic recipe can be made unusual with the help of some kind of additive.
Syrups
The use of a syrup: vanilla, cherry, blueberry, mint, etc., will help add a new flavor to the usual latte.
Important!In latte, you can add any syrups, except citrus, which will make milk sour.
A glass of latte will require 50 ml of syrup. 1/3 is cooled and poured into an empty glass. 2/3 are mixed with warmed milk before whipping.
Homemade caramel
Unusual taste of latte will give the addition of homemade caramel, boiled from sugar with water. The order of filling the glass: milk, espresso, caramel, milk foam.
Alcohol
Guests at your party will appreciate the original latte coffee you have proposed. To do this, you do not have to invent a new recipe. After brewing a classic latte, add a little alcohol, such as rum, cream or caramel liqueur, etc.
Halva
Oriental sweetness gives latte a special originality and zest. Milk for latte needs to be divided.
70 g halva are crushed into crumbs, mixed with most (3/4) of warmed milk. The resulting mixture is properly beaten with a mixer or blender. Cooked espresso is poured into a glass, then a whipped mixture of milk with halva. The remaining part (1/4) of the milk is spread on top, which is also thoroughly whipped to a state of foam. You can decorate milk froth with grated chocolate.
With cinnamon and honey
To give the latte a sweet taste with a hint of cinnamon, you need to add them to the brewed espresso. For 120 ml of classic coffee you will need 2 dessert spoons of honey and a third of a teaspoon of cinnamon. Additional ingredients are added to warmed milk before whipping. In a glass goblet, pour coffee with honey and cinnamon, then carefully pour whipped milk and decorate everything with milk foam.
Chocolate and cream cheese, grated ginger and nutmeg, even a softened banana become additives that give your latte coffee an unusual flavor. Become a real creator by making latte coffee in a coffee machine!
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