☕️ Detailed café latte recipe

Discover how to make a delicious homemade café latte with ease, worthy of the best baristas! This simple, quick and detailed recipe guides you step by step to make your favourite hot drink successfully every time. Ideal for breakfast or an indulgent break, a café latte harmoniously combines a richly flavoured espresso with creamy milk foam. Whether you have an espresso machine or just a moka pot, discover all the tips for achieving perfect foam and even creating beautiful latte art at home. Follow our homemade café latte recipe and make every cup a real moment of pleasure!

Ingredients:

(for 1 cup of approximately 250 ml)

• 1 espresso (approximately 30 ml, freshly brewed)
• 200 ml of fresh whole milk (or plant-based milk such as oat or soya)
• Optional: sugar, flavoured syrup (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut…)

Equipment needed:

• Espresso machine (or stovetop coffee maker/moka pot)
• Stainless steel jug (for frothing milk)
• Steam wand, electric milk frother or small hand whisk
• Latte cup or tall cup (approximately 250 to 300 ml)

Detailed steps:

1. Preparing the espresso

• Preheat your cup by pouring in a little hot water (this will keep your coffee warm for longer). Discard the water just before pouring in the espresso.
• Prepare a good-quality espresso (around 30 ml), ideally using a correctly adjusted espresso machine. Alternatively, use a moka pot.

2. Preparing the milk foam

• Pour cold fresh milk into the stainless steel jug, filling it to 2/3 of its capacity (do not overfill, as you need to leave room for the foam).
• Use your espresso machine’s steam wand or an electric milk frother:
  • With a steam wand:
    • Position the wand just below the surface of the milk.
    • Turn on the steam, tilting the jug slightly to create a gentle whirlpool. You should hear a soft hissing sound, indicating that air is being incorporated into the milk.
    • When the milk reaches around 60 to 65°C (hot to the touch but not scalding), turn off the steam.
    • Tap the jug against the table to remove large bubbles and swirl it gently to make the foam uniform.
  • With an electric frother or a hand whisk:
    • Heat the milk to around 60–65°C in a saucepan or microwave.
    • Then immerse your frother or whisk in the hot milk and froth until you have a smooth, creamy foam.