There is nothing more enjoyable than starting a day with a cup of hot piping cappuccino or watching the rain through your window with a freshly made cappuccino in your hand or snuggled in bed with a good book and steaming cup by side? A shot of espresso, a bit of milk and some froth goes a long way. Pair it with some biscuits and its bliss. Impress your friends with a hot cuppa when you have them over and let the compliments flow. The list is endless when you know how to make a good cappuccino. Although there are numerous ways to go about it, the steps listed below will give you an outline of the simplest ways to make one.
Complexity level: Basic
Time required: 2 – 3 minutes
Estimated cost: Depends largely on the cost of the espresso machine. Anything from $40 upwards plus cost of ingredients.
Resources required:
1. Espresso beans
2. Espresso machine
3. Cold milk
4. Flavourings like cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate etc.
5. Coffee cups
6. Milk jug
7. Grinder
Instructions:
1. Heat up the water: Pour enough water into the tank till you notice the pump pipes fully submerged. Turn on the power and wait for the water to reach the correct temperature. The light indication will tell you when the water has reached the temperature point.
2. Grind the beans: Put the espresso beans into a grinder and grind till you get a sugar-like consistency. Make sure you do this step just minutes before making the Cappuccino since the flavours would be lost if you keep them longer.
3. Fill the filter with crushed beans: Using the measuring spoon provided along with the machine, scoop out the required amounts and fill the filter basket. Tap it well to level it out. Otherwise it compacts the coffee and prevent the water from flowing through it too fast.
4. Fill the Mug: Lock the handle and place the coffee cup under the nozzle. Turn on the dosage button and wait for the coffee to flow, which should take any time between 14 and 18 seconds. Turn off the dosage button after that and once the coffee has all flown through remove the cup.
5. Steam the Coffee: Using the steam arm on the espresso machine, steam the milk. Turn the steam arm on and insert it into a jug filled with milk so that the tip is just below the surface. This will ensure your milk frothy. Increase it to the maximum heat and wait for the milk to get warm. When the jug gets heated enough, turn off the power and remove the jug away.
6. Add flavor into it: The air bubbles tapped in the milk jug can be removed by lightly tapping it. Also swirl the milk around to create deep and smooth foam. Keep the cup with the espresso shots ready and pour the milk over it to remove out the froth. Then after, sprinkle any flavoring of choice- chocolate, cinnamon nutmeg etc., over the froth and enjoy the drink.
Frequently asked questions:
Q. How can I get the perfect consistency for the froth in a cappuccino?
A. Make sure the jug and the milk are ice cold and the froth wand is clean. Placing the tip in the correct position also largely influences the froth. If you have a thermometer to measure the temperature, that would be ideal. When the temperature of the milk reaches a 70°C, you should stop the steaming. Do not overdo it, which would result in a thick froth which can harness the taste of the cappuccino. If your foam is right, it will flow out smoothly.
Q. What should i do if my espresso is filtering too fast?
A. If you find that the coffee is filtering too fast, then add a bit more ground coffee and compact it more firmly. Make sure your coffee beans are ground to a fine consistency.
Quick tips:
1. While pouring the foam out, move it around a bit to create fancy patterns in the cup.
2. If you prefer a dry cappuccino, then use less milk or just the froth alone.
3. Use a porcelain cup to serve your cappuccino in, as it retains the heat better.
4. For a stronger shot, double the amount of ground coffee while making the espresso.
Things to watch out for:
1. Be extremely careful while handling an espresso machine, as it would still be hot even after it is turned off. Wait for it to cool and then remove its parts and wash.
2. Steam can cause severe burns, so be careful while opening the valve on the steam tube.
3. Never fill a milk jug meant for frothing more than 1/3rd full as the milk volume doubles once frothed.
