Making the Perfect Latte

Latte comes from the Italian words café latte which means coffee and milk. The American version of a latte is somewhat different from the Italian version; however both are scrumptious.

The Original and the Variation of Latte

In Italy café latte is a breakfast drink only. It is made using a stovetop pot called a Moka. The coffee is brewed very strong in the Moka and then poured into a serving cup which contains the warmed milk. The Italian version does not have a frothy top layer.
In other places, including America, the latte is made using espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk. A latte is usually smaller in size than a cappuccino and has a smaller froth layer than a cappuccino.

Making Latte

Making a latte doesn't require an espresso machine, although having one will make a better espresso to start the latte with; however, a French press or very strongly brewed coffee can be substituted. Regardless of whether an espresso is used or a strong coffee is used, the coffee beans should be high quality, otherwise the latte will be of poor quality.

First, prepare the coffee beans. Only grind enough to use for the task at hand, ground beans lose their freshness quickly. Keeping coffee beans in the freezer has been shown to help keep them at their peak as well, although there are opponents of this idea.
Using either an espresso machine, a French press or coffee maker, prepares the base for the latte. If using French press or coffee maker is sure to make the coffee extra strong to get a taste close to an espresso.
Skim milk is a great choice due to the lower calories and it will foam nicely. If using an espresso machine with a steaming wand, prepare the milk with a foamy top. Remember that the foam top is not as thick on a latte as it is on a cappuccino so don't over froth. If there isn't a steaming wand, warm the milk in a saucepan and use a whisk to make a delicate froth.
Once the milk is ready and the coffee or espresso is ready, assemble the latte. A proper latte is one third espresso, two-thirds steamed milk and a small layer of froth. If flavorings are desired these should be added before the froth layer to keep from being disturbed prior to drinking.
Lattes are often served in a glass on a saucer with a napkin for holding the hot cup or in a bowl-type mug. These resemble bowls but are large mugs with handles. This type mug is also used for serving cappuccino.

Lattes and cappuccino's are quite similar in their creation, the only difference being the amount of foam and milk. Lattes have approximately 1/3 more milk than cappuccinos and so the espresso is more diluted than in a cappuccino.A tall, piping hot latte and fresh biscotti are the perfect morning break and very simple to make.

Learn to Master Easy Latte Art

If you have a home espresso machine, or even if you are a semi professional barista, one of the most impressive things that you can do is learn the ins and outs of expert latte art! If you are interested in learning this process, then all you need is your own home espresso machine, a frothing pitcher, a frothing thermometer, whole milk, and a large mug. Latte art is a beautiful skill that is done by many espresso professionals worldwide, and you can even see this displayed in many expert competitions.
The key to a beautiful piece of latte art is in the wrist. You can create many different shapes and images, and they will become more detailed the more practice that you get. The latte art itself comes from a free pour, and you will be able to create a shape in your foam through the movement of your wrist in pouring your latte. This is something that many baristas specialize in, and it is something that you will be proud of when you learn how to master this technique within your own home.
It is always best to start with fresh and cold milk, and many professionals do recommend using whole milk because it creates a fuller and denser foam for the latte. It is important to start out with cold milk and a cold metal pitcher so that you can heat it for longer, which will create the perfect steaming process.
Start out by pouring cold milk into your metal steaming pitcher, and use an amount that will fill up the latte cup that you are pouring into. When you steam, it will reduce the volume of your milk by up to 20%, so you may need to compensate for that. Start out your steaming process by using your steam wand in the bottom of your pitcher. Steam your milk until it reaches 100°F, and then start to bring the wand to the surface of the milk as it is steaming. Continue to steam, and keep the wand tip submerged just below the surface of the milk itself. It is important for the wand not to break the surface once you begin steaming. Continue this process until your milk reaches 160°. Turn off the steam wand, and then remove it from the milk after the steam has stopped.
This process will allow you to create a very dense foam without any bubbles, and you can begin to pour this over your fresh espresso in your latte cup. Begin by pouring the steamed milk gently into this cup. To create the leaf pattern, tilt your cup at an angle, and pour the milk towards the bottom of the cup itself. Fill the cup up two thirds of the way, and began to pour by swaying your wrist back and forth. This will create a delicate leaf pattern in the top of your latte, and you can finish by pouring the rest of your milk directly through the pattern without disturbing it!