How to Make the Perfect Cappuccino in Just 3 Steps

Everybody loves cappuccino. At least we do. But many think that it can only be enjoyed in a café or dining. Well, not really!

Today you’ll learn how to make a perfectly tasty and frothy cappuccino. Of course, you will need an espresso machine, a hydro-pressure coffee maker, or at least a milk frother. But don’t worry, let us help you…

What is cappuccino?

A cappuccino is a coffee beverage made of espresso, steamed milk and milk froth. Its history goes back to the mid 20th century in Italy. That is why cappuccino is especially famous there.

For having the perfect cappuccino, all ingredients must be added in equal parts. Remember that espresso is the base of most coffee recipes. Therefore, having a good quality espresso will result in a great cappuccino.

You will need:

  • One cup of espresso.
  • 120 milliliters (4.05 fl oz) of milk.
  • Pitcher
  • Cappuccino cup.
  • Espresso machine or hydro-pressure coffee maker or milk frother.

How to make the perfect cappuccino – Step by step

1. Brewing the espresso

As said before, this is one of the most important steps since it is the base of the recipe. Generally, making an espresso is really simple. To have the authentic flavor and body you need an espresso machine. However, you could use other simpler brewing methods to make a drink as much similar to the espresso as possible.

Know how to brew an espresso in different types of coffee makers by reading our post on How to make espresso like a pro?

2. Steaming the milk

Reminder: For this step, you will need an espresso machine, a hydro-pressure coffee maker, or a milk frother.

If you have one of these coffee machines, you should activate the steamer. We recommend you first purge the steam wand to allow the moisture to escape. Two seconds will be enough for some water residue to come out.

Add the 120 milliliters (4.05 fl oz) of milk to the metal pitcher and put it just on the tip of the steam wand. The secret to perfect foam is that the milk should reach between 55 °C and 65 °C (131 °F – 149 °F) at the end of the steaming process.

Remember that the tip or nozzle of the wand should be inside the pitcher, just below the surface of the milk. You should hear a constant sound very similar to the sound coming out of the whipped cream dispenser. That means the steam wand tip is in the correct position. 

Once the milk reaches the right temperature, don’t let the froth die! Lightly tap the jug against a table to break up any remaining bubbles and continue to swirl the jug gently to keep the foam in place.

3. Blend!

Now that you have the espresso brewed and the milk steamed, it’s time for magic. Pour the espresso into the cappuccino cup. Then pour the milk into the cup leaned at 45° starting from the center and as it fills up you should straighten the cup. You can play with some latte art shapes if you want.

Remember that the cappuccino proportions are: 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 foam.

Toppings: Now is the time to add some type of sweetener if you prefer. You can also add chocolate sauce on top to make figures and sweeten. You can add the flavors you prefer chocolate, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, among others.

Tips to make the best cappuccino

  • Use cold whole milk. Why? Because whole milk has the most fat, this will help to have the best foam. And cold because it will take more time to heat and steam while creating more foam.
  • If you opt for plant-based milk, make sure it is very cold in order to leave it longer in the steamer and get the most cream and foam possible. Remember that you will not get the same foam and creaminess with vegetable or semi-skim milk as you would with whole cow’s milk.
  • Tilt the pitcher. For best results in frothing, you should slightly tilt the metal pitcher with respect to the steam nozzle. If you notice very large bubbles, stop. Gently tilt the pitcher to one side to remove those large bubbles and continue the process.
  • Mix the milk and foam with light movements. Once the milk is steamed, it is best to swirl the pitcher for a few seconds to integrate the milk and all the foam. To know that the milk is well frothed, it should have very small bubbles.  

It’s time to make the best cappuccino! Don’t miss out on enjoying an excellent quality cappuccino at home. 

Make sure you make a good espresso, get a good foam and that’s it! Have fun creating shapes in your cappuccino. Try different toppings and enjoy a different cup each time.