Trying to make a hot latte - help!?!
Trying to make a hot latte - help!?
I have a good cappuccino/espresso machine with 15 bars of pressure, and when I make an espresso the coffee itself is very hot. But once I steam the milk and add it to make a latte, it is just lukewarm and cools very quickly. What am I doing wrong? Should I be steaming the milk until it's piping hot? I was told to steam it until the metal pitcher felt warm on the outside.
I suppose I could just nuke it when I'm done, but any other suggestions would be appreicated. Thanks! I can't pay for Starbucks anymore and need this to work :)
Answers:
You should use a thermometer in your milk pitcher and steam the milk until the needle hits 130 degrees farenheight. The actual milk will be hotter than that, but if you steam it until the needle hits 130 degrees, your drink will probably be the perfect temperature--145 degrees. If you just steam the milk until the pitcher is warm, you may not have good results. For example, the position of your steam wand may be heating the metal faster than the milk, or you may be very sensitive to the heat. Thermometers that are good for helping steam milk can be found in just about any grocery store, and will clip on the pitcher usually. Any of the quick-read meat thermometers will work too, and they only cost about $2.00.
The best way to make a latte:
Steam and lightly froth milk (till needle hits 130 degrees). Set milk aside as you pull the espresso shot (espresso should always be brewed after milk has been steamed to avoid it going stale) to allow the milk to briefly "rest" while the foam separates from the liquid. Add espresso to cup, then pour in steamed milk, holding back milk foam with a spoon. When cup is almost full, spoon on a small layer of milk foam to top. Cappuccinos have much more foam and less liquid milk than a latte.
sorry
You need to get a thermometer for you milk jug firstly!! then you can tell how hot it is without having to guess.
You should steam your milk first, pour it into your cup/mug, whilst you are pouring that you can make the coffee itself. By the time your coffee is made you can pour it strait into your mug with your frothed milk.
With latte's you pour the milk first, then add the coffee. With a cappuchino you put the coffee first and then the milk. Dont ask why, i dont know, i do what im told!! (I work in a coffee shop!)
xXx
I may help, but not sure work for you or not..
Last time when i work under 'Nescafe' client, i used to present 4 type of drink using Nescafe. One of it is latte.
First you have to prepare a cup, filled in 1 teaspoon Nescafe,2 teaspoon sugar in the cup and put aside.
Then started to boil milk, any will do. But the best is 'Full cream milk'. Once heat or boiling pour to the cup that already filled in Nescafe & sugar.
Tips: To make your drinks better,especially coffee. Before add in any coffee powder heat your cup by adding hot water for a while and then through out and add coffee and so on....
im a barista at starbucks and when we make our latte's we add the espresso and then we steam the milk to 160 degrees. You could try warming the steel pitcher before you pour the milk in, a cold pitcher could drop the temperature also. hope everything works out and feel free to ask anymore coffee questions, i'd be glad to answer them! HAPPY NEW YEAR !