Most of those who like milk in their coffee, appreciate the craft of a silky smooth latte or the beauty of a perfect leaf design on their cappuccino. However, to indulge in such pleasures, you have to visit a coffee shop right?
No, you don’t! You can make perfect milk froth at home and get as creative as you want to impress your guests! If you’re going to recreate the foamy coffee shop experience at home, you can opt for a milk frother.
What is a Milk Frother?
A milk frother is a utensil for making foam with milk. It is easy to use without making a mess in the kitchen
There are three types of milk frothers which come in various brands, different sizes, shapes, and technical characteristics. For example, one can opt for a manual milk frother, a handheld electrical one or an automatic milk frother.
With a handheld milk frother you can easily prepare milk foam by pressing a single button. These handy little gadgets are indispensable and have a working mechanism based on aerating (adding air to) your milk products into a creamy foam within minutes.
Mix It Up! Various Ways To Prepare Your Coffee With Milk!
When visiting a coffee shop, the choices can be overwhelming, as a lot of changes have happened in the classical coffee methods. However, the main ingredients are still coffee and milk, and many times there is just a slight difference between some of these famous coffee drinks.
If you take a latte, cappuccino, and a flat white, for example, you will find that the way the milk is prepared and added makes all the difference. The base of all three of these coffee drinks starts with a strong shot of espresso. To give each one its uniqueness, different amounts of steamed and frothed milk are added.
With a milk frother, you can easily make these coffee drinks at home. Keep in mind that if you are using a manual or handheld-electric milk frother, you will have to heat the milk beforehand while an automatic frother can do that for you. Let’s take a look at how the magic happens!
How to Make a Latte at Home?
The latte, also known as “caffè latte,” originated in America and might be named differently depending on the county where it is being served.
It is essential to get the texture right of a latte, as that is what gives it its beautiful appearance. A latte can be made with a single or double shot of espresso. It usually consists of ⅓ espresso (double shot), ⅔ frothed milk of about 170-225ml, and 1 cm of foam. The best way to serve it is in a cup or glass that can take 240ml.
If you are preparing a latte at home, all you need is a layer of espresso, followed by a layer of frothed milk. The milk foam is only a small layer that gets added at the end. Once you have prepared your milk with the milk frother, you pour the steamed milk on the espresso while using a spoon to prevent the foam from being mixed. After this, add around 1cm of foam to the top of the drink.
For a latte macchiato, you need the same ratio of milk and coffee. However, for this coffee beverage, you will first layer your milk (the steamed milk, followed by the foam) in the cup or glass and then add the espresso to the milk.
How to make a Cappuccino at Home?
If you like a lot of foam in your coffee, then the cappuccino is for you! This hot coffee beverage was initially invented in Italy, and it is densely textured with foam.
When making a cappuccino, you need to keep balance in mind as it consists of ⅓ espresso, ⅓ milk froth (steamed), and ⅓ foamy milk, which is best served in a cup of 150 – 180ml.
So as you can see by the ratio of the coffee, milk, and foam, a cappuccino contains equal amounts of yummy liquids. One can either make a cappuccino to be dry (airy bubbles and lots of volume) or velvety (barely visible bubbles), the choice is yours!
First, you start with pouring the espresso in the cup, followed by the steamed milk, and then topped off with milk foam. Remember: Each layer should consist of equal amounts!
A milk frother will give you gentle foam for your cappuccino. When using a handheld electric milk frother, you will have to heat your milk on the stove first and then immerse your milk frother in the milk. After turning the frother on, you will have to whisk the milk to create a beautiful swirl of milk. When the foam is to your liking, you can stop and layer your cup, as mentioned above.
How to Make a Flat White at Home?
Whether the flat white originated from New Zealand or Australia, no one knows for sure. Either way, it’s the perfect coffee beverage for those who prefer a more robust espresso flavor with milk.
The flat white is similar to a latte, but it is smaller with less milk. For a flat white, you use a double shot of espresso, just like in a caffe latte. However, the milk in a flat white is less than in a latte, which gives it that dominant espresso taste.
You can either serve your flat white with very little foam or a lot of foam as long as it is velvety with tiny bubbles. For making a flat white, you will need to fill your cup with ⅓ espresso, which follows with ⅔ of milk.
Other than in a cappuccino, a flat white consists of microfoam, meaning that the milk foam is finely textured, which improves the taste of the drink.
Tips for Getting the Froth Right!
As you saw with each of these beverages, the milk has a slightly different texture. However, creating various textures with a handheld frother can be tricky and might take some experimentation to get it right.
It is important to understand that the perfect foam for lattes and flat whites is microfoam that is finely textured, while dry foam (macrofoam) is most commonly used for cappuccinos. Dry foam consists of larger bubbles.
When making foam with a handheld milk frother, the first step is to heat the milk but make sure it does not reach boiling point. Remember, when frothing, the milk level will rise in the pitcher, so make sure not to pour it to the top. Always insert your milk frother into the milk before you turn on the device to avoid splashing. In slow motion, move the rod gently up and down when turned on. For a perfect foam layer, bring the rod to the top of the pitcher to absorb air from the environment.
While it is probably best to stick with the milk you usually drink to avoid complications, keep in mind that the type of milk you use will also impact the froth in the milk. For example, with whole milk, you will be able to create a thicker, creamier foam, while low-fat dairy will obtain larger air bubbles, resulting in a larger foam quantity. When using non-dairy alternatives, you are most likely to end up with thinner results.
Making Milk Foam at Home is Easy!
With the right tools, you can easily make the perfect milk for your coffee at home!
Handheld milk frothers are compact, inexpensive, and very easy to use. Nevertheless, if you want to make things even more effortless, you can opt for a fully automatic electric milk frother, which only requires you to press a button once the milk is inside. And of course, if you want to foam like a real barista, you can buy a mini espresso machine with a steam wand.
Alternative ways to froth milk at home is by using a pump frother, french press or by merely shaking warm milk in a closed jar. Whichever tool you choose, keep in mind that not even baristas get frothy milk right the first time, so practice is key to a perfect foamy-coffee treat! Once you have mastered the froth, you can move on to latte art to impress your guests!
