easy Homemade Latte –skip the coffe shop!

Skip the coffee shop and make your own latte at home with these easy instructions. You’ll get perfect results that are coffee shop quality without spending the money!

Y’all, my girl has been (at the time of updating this) a barista for over 5 years. She knows her coffee and has helped me perfect the latte at home. I’ve given tips for how to use your microwave to get the frothed milk and, frankly, you could skip making espresso and opt for really, really strong coffee. However, if you are a coffee snob and looking for that perfect cup follow these instructions and you’ll be impressed!

Try making your own syrups with my homemade coffee syrup recipe. A reader favorite with only a few pantry ingredients!

What is a latte, really?

• If you are familiar with a traditional cappuccino has an even distribution of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk and is obviously layered. But a latte has way more steamed milk blended together with the espresso and a light layer of foam. A latte uses espresso and not coffee although sometimes a really, really strong coffee can give you a good latte.

Key Ingredients:

• Espresso. Latte’s are made with espresso BUT you can use a really strong coffee if you have it on hand.
• Water. Water is water but there are strong feelings in the coffee world that for a good latte you should be using filtered water. eh.
• Milk. Any type of milk works fine including almond or oat milk. However, you will get the most frothing and richness from a 2% or whole milk.

Tools Needed:

• Stovetop espresso maker. They are easy to find at any Target or Walmart or HERE. Mine looks like this…

Tip:
If you don’t want/don’t have the ability to make espresso with a stove-top espresso maker brew a really strong cup of coffee. You’ll still get a delicious latte!

How to make a latte at home:

• Fill the bottom with cold water about to the little valve.
• Add espresso to the top of the espresso maker and press down firmly. I use about 3-4 tablespoons of espresso (this is the kind I use) and then press it down with the back of a spoon.
• Screw the top onto the bottom and put it on med-high heat. Here’s the important part… when the pot starts to percolate TAKE IT OFF THE HEAT!
• Heat and froth your milk. Heat the milk to just under 150degrees. I use a candy thermometer to make sure I watch it. Also, keeping the heat at medium guarantees it won’t burn. –see the tips below if you want an easier hack for frothing milk!
• Putting it together. You want about 1 part espresso to 2 parts milk and foam. Pour in the espresso. Then use a spatula to hold back the foam and pour half of the milk. The add foam. (for the PERFECTEST PERFECT latte put 1 tsp vanilla, and 3 tsp sugar into your mug before the espresso)

Tips:

• If you don’t have/don’t want the ability to froth the milk on the stove you can try warming a bit of nonfat or 2% milk in the microwave, remove it and put a lid on it, shake it vigorously for a couple of minutes OR if you don’t have a lid, use a small whisk or fork to whip it. You’ll get a few spoonfuls of foam, and a bit of warm milk to pour into your latte.
• If you don’t have a candy thermometer (or don’t want to pull it out) try to bring the heat to hot but NOT scalded. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, you’ll still love it!

If you would like to make coffee at home but not quite sure where to start Here’s a great resource for understanding which coffee making method might be right for you.

And, and… try making your own coffee syrups! Control the ingredients for yourself.

Homemade Latte

| 1 latte

Prep Time | 3 minutes mins

Cook Time | 8 minutes mins

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Making a homemade latte with your stovetop maker is delicious and easy! Skip the coffee shop and make it at home.

Equipment

Stovetop Espresso Maker (see recipe for alternate option if you don't have one)

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 3 tbsp espresso. (or about 2 oz of really strong coffee) your stovetop maker may be different and require a different amount, follow the instructions
• Water.
• 1 cup milk. For the best flavor use 2% or whole milk. Almond or oat milk work just fine if dairy-free is needed.

Check out our Kitchen Reference Guide for help with unfamiliar terms.

Instructions

• Add espresso to the top of the espresso maker and press down firmly.
• Screw the top onto the bottom and put it on med-high heat. Here’s the important part… when the pot starts to percolate TAKE IT OFF THE HEAT!
• Heat the milk to just under 150 degrees. I use a candy thermometer to make sure I watch it. Also, keeping the heat at medium guarantees it won’t burn. –see the tips below if you want an easier hack for frothing milk!
• Putting it together. You want about 1 part espresso to 2 parts milk and foam. Pour in the espresso. Then use a spatula to hold back the foam and pour half of the milk. The add foam. (for the PERFECTEST PERFECT latte put 1 tsp vanilla, and 3 tsp sugar into your mug before the espresso)

Notes

Nutrition facts are for 2% milk being used.

Nutrition

Calories: 119kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 8gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 113mgPotassium: 344mgSugar: 12gVitamin A: 241IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 283mgIron: 1mg

Try some delicious homemade latte recipes:

• Cinnamon Roll Coffee Latte (no espresso machine)
• Cinnamon & Maple Latte
• Cardamom Caramel Latte Recipe
• Chocolate Chai Tea Latte