Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Status
The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.

SandboxGeneral

Moderator emeritus
Sep 8, 2010
26,482
10,051
Detroit
Made a nice latte this morning. My layering technique is coming along nicely I think. I'm still using whole milk (lactose free) for the frothing, but I will be getting either 2% or fat free just for making latte's as I understand they froth much better.

IMG_0372.JPG
 
Last edited:

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
Made a nice latte this morning. My layering technique is coming along nicely I think. I'm still using whole milk (lactose free) for the frothing, but I will be getting either 2% or fat free just for making latte's as I understand they froth much better.

Image

By Jove, I think he's got it!!!:D

I know diddley about making cappuccino or latte, but the one thing I have read, as SandboxGeneral said, is that 2% or fat free foams better than whole milk. I also recall reading that chilling the foaming pitcher in the fridge (or freezer?) also improves foaming.

Nice going, Mate!
 

SandboxGeneral

Moderator emeritus
Sep 8, 2010
26,482
10,051
Detroit
  • Like
Reactions: 960design

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
This was done with an $80 espresso machine. Well, really $200, but with Amazon Prime I got it at $120 off. Plus a few accessories, 10oz frothing pitcher, latte specific thermometer, stainless steel canister, and double-wall insulated glass cafe latte.

So my total espresso cost to date is $182.09 not including the cost of the coffee itself.

I did some looking, and it is recommended that the pitcher be chilled in the fridge. I also found the link below for an in depth discussion.:p
http://www.gimmecoffee.com/Assets/pdf/gimme_learn_milk_prep.pdf
 

SandboxGeneral

Moderator emeritus
Sep 8, 2010
26,482
10,051
Detroit
I did some looking, and it is recommended that the pitcher be chilled in the fridge. I also found the link below for an in depth discussion.:p
http://www.gimmecoffee.com/Assets/pdf/gimme_learn_milk_prep.pdf

Cool (pun intended)! I'll check it out. That makes sense since I am a bit of a weirdo and put ice cubes in a glass of milk because I like milk really cold.

Kind of odd putting the two extremes together, hot and cold. We pre-heat the mug with hot water to keep the espresso hot longer, then want to pre-chill the milk to keep it colder and then mix them both in the same mug.
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
Cool (pun intended)! I'll check it out. That makes sense since I am a bit of a weirdo and put ice cubes in a glass of milk because I like milk really cold.

Kind of odd putting the two extremes together, hot and cold. We pre-heat the mug with hot water to keep the espresso hot longer, then want to pre-chill the milk to keep it colder and then mix them both in the same mug.

In the article linked, which I quickly skimmed (pun intended) it said something about chilling the pitcher means the only heat entering the milk is from the steam wand, and it allows a slightly longer steaming time, which I guess is good.

Also, by the time the milk is steamed and put in the cup, it is then hot.
 

Don't panic

macrumors 603
Jan 30, 2004
5,541
697
having a drink at Milliways
for cappuccinos, i find that parmalat's works best, by a surprisingly large margin
416GVEM12DL._SY445_.jpg

we usually keep two kind in the fridge, regular for the kids and parmalat for cappuccino. it helps that it is ultra-pasteurazed so it has a long shelf life at room temperature when unopened

and i recently moved to the Aeroccino (by nespresso) to froth.
consistently froths to perfection, with no mess

also, some of you might be interested in this article from a scientific american about a decade ago

the complexity of coffee
 

Macky-Mac

macrumors 68040
May 18, 2004
3,488
2,531
some people think an espresso addiction is worse than getting involved with heroin :p
 

Macky-Mac

macrumors 68040
May 18, 2004
3,488
2,531
I really want to make lattes and stuff more than just straight espresso

maybe you don't need espresso? maybe steamed milk and coffee, brewed, or french press, would do the trick for you.......a cafe au lait
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
I really want to make lattes and stuff more than just straight espresso

Just remember that lattes, cappuccinos, and other drinks of that kind START with straight espresso. All those other drinks are espresso with other things added. So first you must learn to makes espresso, and then how to steam milk, or foam milk,or add flavors, or whatever.

You just can't get away from learning to make good espresso!:D ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 960design

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Jul 29, 2008
63,832
46,278
In a coffee shop.
Just remember that lattes, cappuccinos, and other drinks of that kind START with straight espresso. All those other drinks are espresso with other things added. So first you must learn to makes espresso, and then how to steam milk, or foam milk,or add flavors, or whatever.

You just can't get away from learning to make good espresso!:D ;)

Oh, yes, indeed. A profound, heartfelt amen to that observation.
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
maybe you don't need espresso? maybe steamed milk and coffee, brewed, or french press, would do the trick for you.......a cafe au lait

That's certainly an good alternative. A different drink from what sandboxgeneral pictured starting this round of comments, but terrific coffee drinks nonetheless.

And a lot simpler, less messy, and less expensive, too.
 

eric/

Guest
Original poster
Sep 19, 2011
1,681
20
Ohio, United States
Just remember that lattes, cappuccinos, and other drinks of that kind START with straight espresso. All those other drinks are espresso with other things added. So first you must learn to makes espresso, and then how to steam milk, or foam milk,or add flavors, or whatever.

You just can't get away from learning to make good espresso!:D ;)

Yeah that's correct, I want to learn to how to make straight espresso, when I'm good at that I'll be making lattes and stuff more than straight espresso. That's all I wanted to say.
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
Yeah that's correct, I want to learn to how to make straight espresso, when I'm good at that I'll be making lattes and stuff more than straight espresso. That's all I wanted to say.

I'm sorry if I gave offense in any way.:eek:

I undoubtedly wrote my post poorly...nothing new there!:eek: :D
 

Macky-Mac

macrumors 68040
May 18, 2004
3,488
2,531
That's certainly an good alternative. A different drink from what sandboxgeneral pictured starting this round of comments, but terrific coffee drinks nonetheless.

And a lot simpler, less messy, and less expensive, too.

one of my favorite coffee moments involves a café com leite (well, a series of them actually) that I had while staying at a hotel in Rio. At breakfast a waiter would come around carrying two pots, one with hot milk and the other with some of the finest coffee.
 

Giuly

macrumors 68040
Made a nice latte this morning. My layering technique is coming along nicely I think. I'm still using whole milk (lactose free) for the frothing, but I will be getting either 2% or fat free just for making latte's as I understand they froth much better.

Image

Nice job, but that's an Espresso Macchiato. :) If you fill the cup completely up with milk and have it dilute the coffee, it's a Cappuccino. Then you pour it into a larger glass and fill that one to the top with warm frothed milk, and you have a Latte (Macchiato). If you were then to add another shot of Espresso, you'd have a Caffe Latte.

The whole milk thing an it's associated nomenclature is so complicated that I prefer double-shots without sugar or Splenda.

I can recommend Zicaffè Crema in Tazza Superiore btw, I'd prefer it over Illy anytime. You can order it online directly from Zicaffè, they ship only recently roasted coffee and it arrives within 3 days in the US.
 
Last edited:

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
Nice job, but that's an Espresso Macchiato. :) If you fill the cup completely up with milk and have it dilute the coffee, it's a Cappuccino. Then you pour it into a larger glass and fill that one to the top with warm frothed milk, and you have a Latte (Macchiato). If you were then to add another shot of Espresso, you'd have a Caffe Latte.

The whole milk thing an it's associated nomenclature is so complicated that I prefer double-shots without sugar or Splenda.

I can recommend Zicaffè Crema in Tazza Superiore btw, I'd prefer it over Illy anytime. You can order it online directly from Zicaffè, they ship only recently roasted coffee and it arrives within 3 days in the US.

Very interesting distinctions on milk drinks.

But sugar/Splenda!!!:eek:

OMG!!!:eek:

Blasphemy!!!:eek:

:rolleyes: :D
 

SandboxGeneral

Moderator emeritus
Sep 8, 2010
26,482
10,051
Detroit
Nice job, but that's an Espresso Macchiato. :) If you fill the cup completely up with milk and have it dilute the coffee, it's a Cappuccino. Then you pour it into a larger glass and fill that one to the top with warm frothed milk, and you have a Latte (Macchiato). If you were then to add another shot of Espresso, you'd have a Caffe Latte.

The whole milk thing an it's associated nomenclature is so complicated that I prefer double-shots without sugar or Splenda.

I can recommend Zicaffè Crema in Tazza Superiore btw, I'd prefer it over Illy anytime. You can order it online directly from Zicaffè, they ship only recently roasted coffee and it arrives within 3 days in the US.

Hmmm.... well here is the process of what I did and you tell me what it's called.

  • Pre-heat mug with hot water
  • Froth milk
  • Dump out hot water from mug
  • Pour in milk, keeping the froth back with a spoon until the milk is all in.
  • Then allow the froth to top off the milk
  • Pull a double-shot of espresso into the mug with milk and milk froth
  • Enjoy

That's what I've been doing. Is that a latte or something else?
 
Last edited:

Don't panic

macrumors 603
Jan 30, 2004
5,541
697
having a drink at Milliways
traditionally
espresso macchiato = espresso with a little bit of milk (macchia=spot), milk can be cold or warm. usually not frothed
cappuccino = espresso and ~ 1-3 times amount of frothed milk, with a little actual milk
'latte' = this has come to indicate a larger version of a cappuccino with a higher milk-to-coffee ratio
caffe latte = larger portion of coffee with milk (typically warm or steamed, not frothed, in a large cup. same as cafe au lait
latte macchiato = milk (warm or steamed or frothed) with some coffee added to it. mostly milk.

then there are all sorts of in between and it is pretty much up to the barista how to prepare any of them. in many cases the only difference between a latte and a cappuccino is the size
 

Kissaragi

macrumors 68020
Nov 16, 2006
2,340
370
You really should sign up to somewhere like coffee geek for detailed advice on equipment.

Also I'm not sure if you know quite what your getting yourself into or not. If your happy with making drinks like most cafes do (frothy, overly milky, average espresso) then you'll be able to mange that easily with a $500 budget and a few weeks practice. If your aiming for high quality drinks with silky smooth micro foam and rich tasty espresso then you have to be prepared for this to be a hobby, not just a way to make drinks. Good espresso and espresso based drinks are not easy to make at all. Not trying to put you off, just a warning that it takes time and effort.

The Gaggia classic is a good machine. I'm not sure if theres something better at the same price now tho as I haven't shopped for a machine for a few years.

I have no experience with the grinder you posted but it looks more suitable for brewed coffee than espresso. Id recommend looking at something like the Iberital MC2 or the Ascaso I/2 instead.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.