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A Perfect Latte at Home | Make Latte Photo Tutorial

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Step By Step Photos Show You How To Make A Perfect Latte

I used to buy a latte every morning on my way to work, now I know how to make a perfect latte at home. I enjoy a spectacular cup of coffee every day. Two shots of espresso, steamed milk, foam what more could a girl want to start the day with a smile.

I am one of the lucky ones, as my husband is the one who to actually will make latte for me every morning. He loves to read about coffee making and more specifically - how to make the perfect latte. He does a bit of experimentation and now he has mastered his craft. I enjoyed being the guinea pig, especially now that the result is his perfect latte is even better. And lucky for you, he shares his secret with you.

The photo is today's perfect cup. © Rhonda Albom 2010

When Is Your First Coffee of the Day?

Mine is a perfect latte after breakfast

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Always Start with Freshly Roasted Beans For the Best Tasting Coffee,

Click Here For an Easy Method to Roast Coffee Beans at Home

If You Don't Want to Roast Your Own Beans, Or Even if You Do, We Often Get our Beans From Coffees of Hawaii

You can too, simple click here for more information

When we can't brew our own, I prefer Coffees of Hawaii as their coffee beans are great and they are socially responsible, treating their employees well. In Nicaragua they provide fair pay, housing, a school, a church, and even a soccer team for their employees.

You can BUY A READY TO BREW COFFEE BEANS NOW at:

Coffees of Hawaii - 200x200 banner

Grind and Measure Coffee Beans Carefully to Get the Perfect Latte

It already smells yummy at this point

Grind coffee beans to an "espresso grind." If your grinder doesn't have this setting, grind until very fine. Some say this is the most important step.

For our perfect cup of coffee, we make each cup individually. We start with two tablespoons of ground coffee, which would give the equivalent of a double shot at a coffee house. The scoop that came with our machine is exactly 1 tablespoon, making our measuring quite simple.

Coffee Grinders Make a Big Difference

Some professionals say the coffee grinder is more important than the coffee maker. Most are either burr mill or blade grinders. Burr mill grinders are more consistent in grind size, but are more expensive. You can get good grind with a blade grinder as long as you keep a close eye on the grind time, and want a finer grind. For a coarse grind, burr mill makes a big difference.

Coffee grinders can be used to grind spices, however we recommend that you use a dedicated grinder for coffee. Otherwise your coffee will pick up the flavors of the spices or your spices will be coffee flavored.

Currently we own two coffee grinders, our primary is a Delonghi Burr Mill Grinder which is no longer available. Our travel coffee grinder is a Krupps blade grinder. Here are a variety of grinders for your review.
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I Love My Latte!

Two of my original designs, available at Zazzle, just click on either for more informations

Latte Lover shirtCoffee shirt


If You Don't Love It - Zazzle Will Take it Back
See their webpage for details
or visit my store, Albom Design on Zazzle

Press the Ground Coffee into Your Filter Holder

(I can almost taste my perfect latte!)

Important!

Do Not Skip this Step!

Next you want to press the coffee down firmly and evenly with the tamper which came with your machine. See the pictures above to see what our filter holder looks like just prior to attaching to the machine.

This Is The Espresso Machine at the Top of Our Wish List



This Breville Barista Express machine is at the top of my wish list. It has a 15 Bar pump (which my hubby says makes the best coffee). Plus has the grinder build in. The best part is it is programmable, so I can have a hot espresso waiting for me when I get out of the shower.

Breville Barista Express BES860XL machine with grinder

Prepare Your Machine

Next you need to add the water into your machine's water reservoir. Our water reservoir is the clear strip on the right hand side of the machine. The trap door opens on top and the reservoir pulls out.

Be sure that the top of the filter holder is free of loose coffee grounds. Then, attach and lock the filter holder in place with a twist.

Now Is A Good Time to Pre-Heat Your Mug!

Another secret to the perfect latte

We like our coffee hot. Our secret is to pre-heat the cup. This simple task is accomplished by filling the cup with boiling water and leaving it sit until we are ready to fill it with our coffee. You could pre-heat the cup by putting it on the warming plate on top of the espresso machine, but that takes too long for us. Once we can smell the beans, we want our coffee!

Some Supplies You Shoud Have

If you don't have these items, they are quite useful. You can order them here and Amazon will deliver them straight to your door.
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Let's Make The Perfect Latte!

Or any espresso drink

Important!

Let the coffee continue to pump for 20 seconds

Start or activate your coffee pump. As soon as the coffee starts to drip out of the filter holder and into the cup, note the time. Let the coffee continue to pump for 20 seconds (using a 15 bar pump machine).
  • Too much time will extract off-flavors and the coffee will not be as good.
  • Too little time and you don't get enough coffee.
  • Ideally 20 seconds will yield 80 - 100 ml (3-4 oz).

Steaming the Milk

Pour 8 ounces of cold milk into a stainless steel frothing pitcher. A traditional latte is three parts steamed milk to one part espresso coffee with froth milk optional on top. We like ours a bit stronger, so we use 8 oz milk. A cappuccino uses even less milk and is defined as one part espresso coffee, one part steamed milk and one part froth milk. Lift the frothing pitcher onto the frothing wand until the head of the frothing wand is completely submerged in milk. Activate the frothing switch and support the pitcher with your hand. We use our fingers to feel the temperature. We know the milk is done when the froth rises like in the photo and the pitcher is just reaching the "too hot for my fingers" stage.

Dump the Pre-heat Boiling Water and Add Your Sugar First (if you use Sugar)

Add the Coffee (Stir until Sugar Dissolves)

Next It's Time to Add the Milk and Froth

Use a spoon to hold the froth back while you pour the milk. Then use the spoon to push the froth on top.

Finally, Sit Back and Enjoy the Perfect Latte

Hungry Squidz Choice Award

Home or Coffee Shop, Who Does it Better?

Take your side and let us know what you think. Can a great cup of coffee at home be better than the coffee shop experience. I think so, what about you?

Where do you have your best cup of coffee?

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A perfect homemade latte is best (like the one on this page)

BlountyBoy says:

I prefer at home, that way i can change how strong it is.. preferstrong coffee!

Posted September 29, 2011

Papier says:

I have the $400 Breville, but never seem to get as good a latte as in my old $50 Krups.

Posted August 23, 2011

KokoTravel says:

I enjoy my coffee at home most, so that I can simply relax and savor the flavor.

Posted February 17, 2011

CR2000 says:

coffe is my favorite topic and drink :)

Posted November 16, 2010

sandyspider says:

The coffee shop doesn't always know how to make it just right.

Posted September 27, 2010

callinsky says:

I used to buy espressos and lattes a lot because I grew up in the Seattle area. Since moving to the middle of nowhere I make my own. I have switched to organic milk and sugar, and it's made a world of difference in the taste. I make four shotters and occasionally drink two a day when I do not work. I would prefer a homemade one to even a Starbucks. There's still something about the Starbucks experience every so often. (O;

Posted April 02, 2010

JA says:

At home, good and the way I like it.

Posted December 31, 2009

DAnnieB says:

I make homemade chai tea -- homemade is just as good...

Posted July 28, 2009

Nothing beats a good coffee shop

SLHamilton says:

I have never been able to get the same sweet, frothy foam that Starbucks puts on my Misto :-(

Posted July 27, 2011

Joie says:

I have yet to achieve the delicious flavor of a good coffee shop. But I keep trying, and your lens gives me hope and inspiration!

Posted June 13, 2011

pheonix76 says:

I have never had a homemade latte, so coffee shop for me! I have a favorite little coffee shop that makes such a delicious coffee....

Posted May 11, 2011

Bella_Stella says:

Actually I have not a coffee machine at home so I buy it every morning from specific coffee shops. I do not risk buying a bad coffee from a place I have never been before. My mornig coffee has to be perfect... What is more, I am not sure If I would make it similar to the one a professional would do...

Posted April 15, 2011

sagebrush_mama says:

Coffee at a shop is a treat!

Posted March 24, 2011

kohuether says:

In Europe! I didn't even like coffee until I moved to Germany. When I moved back to the states I wandered around like a lost puppy looking for coffee that compared. I found it a handful of times in random mom and pop coffee shops, usually owned up Italians. But I love the European coffee culture more.

Posted August 12, 2010

CherylK says:

I haven't an espresso machine so I'm going to have to choose the coffee shop latte. Besides, it's a treat for me. I might change my mind if/when I get an espresso maker, though :-)

Posted October 23, 2009

 

How About A New Coffee Mug To Drink Your Perfect Latte?

These are all available at Zazzle, just click on your favorite

My Coffee mug Sunset at Kawau Island mug Latte Lover mug I Lost the Game mug


Designs and Photos by Rhonda Albom, copyrighted and protected
Available on mugs as shown or on T-shirts, or novelty items.
Click on the item above for purchase info or Click here to see my store

Prefer Chai Tea? - Don't Miss These Pages:

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