How I Make Lattes at Home
Photo by Jessica Furniss
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“How I make coffee shop style lattes at home” was one of my most popular TikTok videos of all time, so I decided to break it down further into a blog for you!
Making better than Starbucks lattes at home doesn’t have to be complicated. It does however require investing in some type of machine that makes real espresso. You can make really good drinks at home with other preparations like strongly brewed coffee and moka pot, but that’s a blog post for another day.
A latte is simply espresso and steamed milk. You can add flavors like vanilla bean, pumpkin spice latte syrups, or just regular simple syrup for a sweeter latte.
What is espresso? How is espresso different from coffee?
Espresso and coffee differ just by how they are brewed. Espresso is finely ground coffee beans brewed at very high pressure. While coffee is courser ground coffee beans brewed at much lower pressure. The high pressure brewing creates the creamy top on espresso called the crema. That’s the good stuff!
Photo by Jessica Furniss
What type of espresso machine makes lattes?
I use a semi-automatic espresso machine and milk frother called the Cafe Bellissimo. If you’re new to making lattes at home I highly recommend getting a semi automatic machine. It does so much of the work for you, but still gives you the space to be an at home barista.
How Do You Make a Latte?
How are lattes made? With a semi automatic espresso machine you have a grinder, espresso maker, and milk brother in one. I find the ratio for lattes is best with a double shot. So I always pull a double shot of espresso. Then I steam my milk, soy is my go-to plant milk, but my partner prefers whole cow’s milk. I pull the double shot of espresso into my latte mug then slowly pour the steamed milk over the espresso. You can see this process is more detail in the video in this blog post.
Photo by Jessica Furniss
What are the Ingredients in a Latte?
I make my latte with a double shot of espresso and about 4-5 ounces of steamed soy milk. Is a latte just coffee and milk? Ultimately, yes. A latte is just espresso and milk. But, you can dress it up too. Sometimes I make a vanilla bean latte by adding a couple of teaspoons of vanilla bean syrup or a pumpkin spice latte syrup for a pumpkin spice latte. I love to add chocolate syrup for a homemade mocha latte and even sometimes get fancy with adding rose syrup or raspberry syrup to the mocha too.
Can You Make a Latte Recipe Iced?
It is so easy to make an iced latte at home. Simply follow the instructions on your semi automatic espresso machine to pull a double shot of espresso into a tall glass. Then add 4-6 ounces of whatever milk you like. And lastly fill the glass with ice. The order you make an iced latte in matters a lot in my opinion. If you pull the espresso and then add the ice the espresso will melt the ice and the latte will taste watered down. But, if you add the milk to the espresso first it cools down the drink so the ice stays frozen. If you want to add syrups to your drink, add those right after you pull the espresso. My favorite is strawberry iced lattes!
Tips for Making Lattes at Home:
Know Your Machine
Always follow the directions on your semi automatic machine to get the best quality latte at home.
Order matters
Make your drink in the right order. It goes espresso, syrup, milk. Every time. Whether hot or iced. And if it’s iced, the ice goes last.
Practice
It took me years as a barista to get really good at making latte art and drinks that taste exactly how I want them. But, if you practice I bet you’ll be making drinks you love within just a couple of weeks.
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Find my mocktail recipes in my e-book Hydrating Mocktails: 31 drink recipes to leave you hydrated instead of hungover.
All photos & recipes Ⓒ Jessica Furniss
Homemade Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz espresso (a double shot)
- 4-6 oz milk of choice
- 2 tsp vanilla syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Pull a double shot of espresso from a semi automatic espresso machine into a mug, following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Add the syrup to the espresso, if using.
- Steam the milk.
- Pour the steamed milk over the espresso gently.
- Enjoy!
