To make a cappuccino, you need espresso and steamed milk with foam. Here's a step-by-step guide:
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Brew the Espresso:
- Use a coffee machine to make approximately 35ml of espresso.
- Pour the espresso into the base of your cappuccino cup.
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Steam the Milk:
- Pour cold milk into a steaming pitcher. The amount of milk will depend on the size of your cup, but aim for about twice the volume of the espresso.
- Use the steam wand on your espresso machine to steam the milk.
- Introduce air at the beginning to create microfoam by holding the wand near the surface. You should hear a hissing sound.
- Once the milk has expanded and the hissing subsides, submerge the wand deeper to heat the milk evenly and swirl it in a vortex.
- Aim for a final milk temperature of around 140-160°F (60-70°C).
- Ideally, you want 4-6cm of foam on top of the steamed milk.
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Pour the Milk:
- Gently swirl the steamed milk in the pitcher to integrate the foam.
- Hold the jug so that the spout is approximately 3-4 cm above the cup.
- Pour the milk steadily into the center of the espresso.
- As the cup fills, lower the pitcher to allow the foam to settle on top, creating the signature cappuccino look.
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Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve immediately. You can optionally dust the top with cocoa powder or cinnamon.
In summary, a cappuccino involves brewing espresso, steaming milk to create foam, and then carefully pouring the milk and foam over the espresso. The ratio is generally 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 milk foam.
