Tuesday, September 30, 2008

How to make a perfect latte

Knowing how to make a latte will stop you from spending so much money. You know those frothy beverages are well worth large sums of money, but it would be even more fulfilling if you could make one on your own, right? All you really need to become an independent latte drinker are the basic steps on how to make a latte. You should learn how to make the best latte.

Grinding espresso beans

Begin creating a latte by creating a great espresso. And the first step to this is grinding your espresso beans properly. If you don't grind them enough, your grounds will be too coarse. The end result will be espresso that is thin and weak. On the other hand, if you grind your espresso beans too much, your grinds will be too fine. Your espresso will then be bitter. Why even bother with a grinder, you ask? Grinding your own espresso beans, using a special espresso grinder or burr grinder, is recommended by all the espresso experts in the know! It might take you a few tries to get it right, but once you know how coarse of fine you like your coffee beans, then you're good to go.

Start your machine

Start your machine after you have sufficient espresso beans. It should take 15 to 20 seconds to brew if you have a good pump. When it comes out, the espresso should have darkish-brown foam on top, that is called crema by people who know how to make a latte. (You want to become like these people, remember?) Make sure to stop the whole process once the liquid flowing out of the machine becomes whitish-brown. This stuff will ruin your latte. Forcing more water through the grounds at this point will only give your drink a bitter taste.

Prepare milk

Froth and heat your milk when you are ready to. You could heat the milk in a microwave or by stirring it in a pan on top of your stove. Of course, if you really want to learn how to make a latte, then you must do it as the pros do it. This means using the steam heating tools on an espresso machine. These are highly efficient, fast, and tasteful but expensive to buy, so you must really love your lattes!

Add some flavor

You can get some great flavor syrups that you can add to your latte. Flavors like vanilla and different kinds of nuts will add a unique flavor to your latte. Be sure to try them out!

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