Each morning I make a pot of coffee and pour it from the French press into my waiting mug. I drink it black, savoring the rich, deep flavors and appreciating the caffeine more with every sip. Every now and then on weekends, though, I crave a beautifully crafted latte from the café down the street. Unwilling to leave the house in my Saturday-morning pajamas, I stick with my standard cup, dreaming of that creamy, delicious drink.
If you have ever been in this position, you know that craving for a fresh latte. The good news: making a great latte at home is surprisingly simple, even without an espresso machine.
What you need
- Coffee beans, such as Mocha Yemeni
- Milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- A coffee grinder
- A moka pot
- A small saucepan and a French press or a jar with a lid
- A thermometer (optional)
If you already drink coffee at home, you probably have most of these in your kitchen. The rest is technique.
Step 1: Brew strong coffee in the moka pot
Grind the beans fine, a little coarser than espresso. Fill the bottom chamber of the moka pot with water up to the valve, fill the filter basket with coffee and level it without pressing hard, then screw on the top. Place the pot on medium heat and watch the rich, espresso-style coffee rise into the top chamber.
Step 2: Heat the milk
Pour milk into a small saucepan over medium heat. For cow's milk, about 150°F (65°C) is ideal. Do not let it boil, since that changes the taste; stir occasionally so it heats evenly.
Step 3: Froth the milk
Heated milk without foam makes something closer to a café au lait. For a true latte, you need a layer of foam. Pour the warm milk into a French press and pump the plunger several times until the milk doubles in volume. No French press? Shake the milk in a sealed jar for 30 seconds, then remove the lid and microwave it for about 30 seconds to stabilize the foam (handle the jar with care, since it will be hot).
Step 4: Combine
Pour the moka pot coffee into a mug, add the hot milk, and spoon the foam on top. Now that is a latte. Enjoy!
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