A latte might be one of the most popular coffee based drinks today. The combination of the creamy foam and the bold flavor of the espresso create a delicious beverage that many people just can’t get enough of.

What is a latte?

A latte is a coffee based drink that includes espresso and steamed, frothed milk. You can order them hot, iced, and with tons of fun flavors.

If you’ve ever made a cappuccino before, you will notice that lattes have the same exact components. The key difference between a latte and a cappuccino is the ratio of the frothed milk to espresso. Cappuccinos are made with a 1:1 ratio, whereas lattes contain more milk than espresso. The ratio of espresso to milk is 1:2, making it a very creamy drink. The espresso has a very powerful flavor, which makes up for the fact that there is less coffee added to this beverage.

Unfortunately, it can be expensive to fall into the habit of buying a latte every morning. Those five dollar drinks will slowly add up, especially if you drink multiple cups of coffee every day. Luckily, you don’t need to be a barista to learn how to create this drink at home. All you need is a few key ingredients and an espresso machine!

To make a delicious latte at home you’ll need:

Brew the Espresso

The first step to making a great latte is brewing the espresso. If you choose to grind your own coffee beans at home you will start with about 15 grams of coffee beans. This will make about two shots of espresso. You can opt to only make one shot if you prefer your latte to be less strong, and if you are making more than one latte you will need to grind more beans.

Use your coffee grinder to grind the beans on a fine grind setting. This is essential so you can tightly pack the coffee grounds into the espresso maker. Using coarse coffee grounds to make espresso will not be effective because the grounds will be under extracted and the flavor of the espresso will be more acidic.

You also have the option to use store bought espresso if you do not choose to grind the beans yourself.

Once you have brewed your espresso you will place that in the cup you want to serve the latte in.

Froth the Milk

Heat up your milk in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds in a microwave safe mug. After you have heated up your milk, use your milk frother to create a nice foam.

You can also use a small whisk if you do not own a milk frother. Vigorously whisk back and forth for about 30 seconds to achieve the same result.

Certain espresso machines include a frothing wand, which will make frothing your milk even easier, but any of these frothing options will work fine for this recipe.

Combine

Once you have your frothed milk it is time to pour it into the espresso. Gently pour the liquid portion of the milk into the espresso so it combines. Do this slowly so the most frothed part of the milk remains in the cup you are pouring out of.

Next, you can pour the leftover frothed milk on top of the drink. You can also choose to use a spoon to gently place the froth on top. This will give your latte the signature look.

Enjoy!

At this point you have successfully made a latte! But the best part about using a recipe as simple as this one, you can add any flavors you want to spice up your drink. There are plenty of latte variations that only require a few tweaks to the recipe.

Sweetened Latte

If you want a sweeter drink, try adding sugar to the milk before it is heated and frothed. This will allow the sugar to melt and disperse throughout the drink.

Vanilla Latte

Add a two or three drops of vanilla extract to your milk after you have heated it, but before it has been frothed.

Iced latte

If you are craving a refreshing cold version of this beverage, you can easily make an iced latte at home. Start with a glass of ice and pour your espresso shots into the glass (once they have cooled down.) Start with cold milk before you froth. Top off your iced beverage with the frothed milk and you are all set!

Toppings

You have the option to add toppings to your drink once it has been made. Some people like to use cinnamon, cocoa powder, coconut shavings or even chocolate syrup or caramel. The options are really infinite for this one.