The Coffee Poet

This discussion needs to start with clarification. There are really two types of café latte. Most Americans will be familiar with the espresso drink that features a lightly foamed portion of milk. There is another form, principally French, that is quite simply coffee with milk. A strong cup of drip coffee is served with warmed milk and the drinker chooses their own proportions. This, of course, is very similar to the cup of Joe that is so popular in the US. Most people, however, when they ask for a latte, are expecting a shot of espresso to be involved.

First and foremost, don't be put off by people who tell you there's only one way to make a latte. Some latte drinkers prefer a relatively milk-heavy blend, with about 2 parts milk to one part latte. Others prefer double or triple shots in their lattes, making the drink more of a cup of espresso with some token milk, for all practical purposes. The principal differentiation between this drink and cappuccino, to which it is very much related, is the nature of the milk and, most importantly, the amount of foam on the head of the beverage.

Most often, a café latte has minimal foam. Some drinkers prefer more and some will request that there is no foam at all. All of these drinkers are enjoying a latte, however. Oftentimes, this drink is flavored with a shot of vanilla, which adds a delightful sweetness to the brew. No matter how you want your latte, remember that it is, indeed, your latte and you can mix it however you like. If you're making your own at home, there are a few basic things that will make it turn out good every single time you make it.

An espresso shot is traditionally 1 oz in size. Many latte drinkers will prefer the double or triple shot simply because it makes the drink taste less "milky". The milk can be steamed, if you have a machine for it, or it can be heated up and frothed with a whisk or a milk-frother. You don't need a lot of foam to make a latte, however, and what foam you have should not be stiff, as it would in a cappuccino. Your espresso shot should be added first, the milk second and what foam you have spooned onto the top last.

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Check out this cool video about cappuccino coffee - have a look:

nescafe dolce gusto coffee machine demonstration..this demo explains how to make a cappuccino and also i give a bit of info about the machine..there are now 8 different types of capsules for the machine including...lungo/cappuccino/espresso/latte/chocolate/iced coffee/classic and mocha... this is a really great machine for everyone who loves a perfect cup of coffee everytime as the quality is consistent.. a great feature is that you can also vary the strength of coffee as you control the output of coffee yourself.i give this great machine 10 out of 10... and for me and lots of others it is the machine of choice...

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I buy coffee from a stall every morning on my way to work so have decided that it's worth investing in a decent coffee machine to make my own instead! Which home machine is good for lattes? Is there anything specfic I should look out for?

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If you don't mind instant coffee granules or powder, it isn't that difficult to make a cup of coffee. You just put a teaspoonful of coffee in a cup or mug, boil some water, pour it on, stir and then serve. However, if you want "proper" coffee, not instant, the process isn't quite so easy unless you have a coffee machine.

There are many different types of coffee machine available and which one you choose will depend on the features and the price of the appliance. In a domestic environment, you don't necessarily need all the "bells and whistles" that a commercial enterprise would require, but if you want to make different types of coffee, you'll want something a little fancy.

First of all, you can choose the look and size of the coffee machine. If you only have a small space available, there's no point buying a huge machine and this may restrict the facilities that it has. For example, it will affect the number of cups of coffee which can be produced before the water reservoir must be refilled. In terms of appearance, there is either plastic or stainless steel to choose from and plastic may come in a variety of colours depending of the make of the machine.

Another early decision will be whether you want a filter machine with a jug or whether you want an espresso machine. The latter is usually more versatile but may well cost more to buy and you'll also need to buy more coffee as by it's nature espresso is usually stronger than filter coffee.

Filter coffee machines usually have a jug which sits on a hotplate to keep the coffee warm. This is useful if you have a lot of people drinking coffee, for example in an office, but although you can vary the number of cups you make, it isn't really practical for a lone coffee drinker (unless you drink far too much) because the hotplate doesn't really keep the coffee that warm over time and the flavour becomes a bit "stewed" if not drunk within an hour or so.

Espresso coffee machines, particularly really do come in all different shapes and sizes, from the tiny little one cup machines to the large (and expensive) types which have a large reservoir, grind the coffee, dispense and tamp it down then discards the spent coffee when the water has run through. All you have to do with one of these is make sure that there is enough water and beans then froth the milk if you want it.

Medium priced espresso machines will usually have a reasonably large water reservoir and a milk frothing system. Cheaper ones will probably only hold enough water for a couple of cups and won't have a frother. It's really horses for courses depending on how much and what sort of coffee you like to drink.

Many brands have similar models of coffee machine, so you may want to visit a few different electrical shops and compare prices, brand facilities and warranty conditions, before you make your decision.

Whichever type you buy, don't forget that there is different ready ground coffee for filter machines than for espresso machines so make sure that you pick up the right sort in the supermarket. Either way, once water has run through the coffee, don't even think about trying to use the coffee again or it will look and taste like dishwater!

If you choose the right coffee machine for the job, then you should have good tasty coffee whenever you want it.

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Cappuccino coffee, which originated in Italy, can now be enjoyed by anybody, not just Italians. People all over the globe now enjoy sipping this exciting beverage. The main ingredient is espresso and it is prepared with hot milk. Cappuccino is typically served in a porcelain cup because porcelain has much higher heat retention capabilities in comparison to glass and paper cups. Good cappuccino has a foamy head and this creamy top also helps to keep your drink warmer for longer.

Besides espresso being the most important component of a great cup of cappuccino coffee, the temperature and texture of the milk contributes a great deal to mix. While preparing the cappuccino the milk is added to the espresso. The milk should be warm and frothed to make it foamy. Different cappuccino varieties can be made using different thickness of milk. These varieties have names like white cappuccino, cappuccino scuro and dark cappuccino. So you can see that the milk is an important consideration.

Because the milk has to be prepared in a very specific way, making a really good cup of cappuccino can be tricky. An experienced barista can make some interesting blends by the way he adds the milk to the espresso coffee.

In Italy, and the rest of western Europe, cappuccino coffee used to be a traditional part of breakfast in the morning, enjoyed with some pastries. In the past few years though, things have changed and you can see people having their cappuccino drinks at any time of the day. Coffee shops and cafes are popular gathering places for friends and even business people, and for people after dinner.

Lately it is even possible to make your own espresso and cappuccino at home by buying a home espresso maker. Grinders, espresso machines, milk frothers at all price points are available to the cappuccino enthusiast.

The world of coffee, as you will see, consist of a huge marketplace where your choices are virtually unlimited. As cappuccino can be prepared in a variety of ways, the equipment you choose to get should suit your taste in espresso. For example, a milk frother is essential for a cafe au lait blend.

The art of making cappuccino coffee is truly an art.

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I just bought a 4-cup coffee maker to replace my broken Krups. The directions mentioned that, before making the first cup of coffee, I should run water through the system first. I did this, but even after a month of using the coffee maker every day, the coffee tastes like plastic. I've been using the same filters, water, and coffee as I did in my old machine, so it has to be the new coffee maker. How do I get the plastic taste out of my coffee?

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Making Your Own Gourmet Coffee Drinks: Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes, Mochas, and More!
Price: $1.84

• ISBN13: 9780517588246
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Making Your Own Gourmet Coffee Drinks: Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes, Mochas, and More!
Product Description
Mathew Tekulsky chronicles the history of coffee drinking, surveys the types of beans and blends available, reviews coffee-making accessories and their uses, and dispenses tips for brewing a perfect cup of smooth, flavorful coffee. An appendix lists sources for gourmet coffee beans and flavorings and coffee-making equipment. 10 line drawings.
Making Your Own Gourmet Coffee Drinks: Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes, Mochas, and More!

Making Your Own Gourmet Coffee Drinks: Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes, Mochas, and More!

Disclaimer: This site is a paid affiliate of Amazon.com and eBay.com