How to make (good) homemade cappuccino (with and without a machine)

Do you know how to make the perfect cappuccino at home? Don't worry, you don't need to be an Italian coffee expert, as you surely have the ingredients within reach and the process is very simple. You just need to know the secrets of coffee lovers (like us), and you'll see that your cappuccino will be the best!

The important thing is, don't forget, the essence of its origin. No, it's not Italy, but Vienna. Everything seems to indicate that it was when the Viennese won the Battle of Vienna and the Ottomans were forced to abandon the city, leaving behind their sacks of coffee. The Viennese prepared coffee, but found its flavor too strong and softened it with a mixture of cream and honey. Well, it’s not exactly the current cappuccino recipe which, like our tastes and fashions, has changed over time, perfecting the recipe, which is what we present here.

Let's get to it! Step by step to make homemade cappuccino

Don't worry about the ingredients, we're going to give you a couple of tricks if you don't have them all on hand.

Ingredients

- Regular or decaffeinated espresso coffee.

- Milk.

- Optional: powdered or grated chocolate, cinnamon, or unsweetened cocoa.

- Sugar to taste.

- Milk frother, blender, or handheld frother.

Step by step: Let's make a cappuccino!

1. Froth the milk. If you don't have a frother, blender, or frother, don't worry. You can use cold milk from the fridge, put it in a glass jar with a lid or a shaker, and shake vigorously for about half a minute.
2. Put the milk in the microwave for about 20 seconds at maximum power, and you'll see the foam stays on top and the milk below. You can also do this on the stove, but, of course, the temperature is more difficult to control.
3. While you have the milk ready, prepare your espresso. For this, we recommend using a special espresso machine, as this coffee can only be made with machines that work at 15-20 bars of pressure. This way, you get that foam on top that so characterizes this type of coffee.
4. Pour the milk preparation slowly into the cup, and then the coffee. You'll see it sinks by its own weight. You can also do it the other way around, coffee first and then milk, but it won't look as good, as you'll have too much coffee at the bottom, and it won't mix as much with the milk. In any case, the important thing is to pour it slowly.
5. Sprinkle the top layer as you have decided, with chocolate, cocoa, or cinnamon.
6. If you like sweet coffee, add sugar, stevia, or sweetener... or do you want to try it "the old-fashioned way," with honey? It's very good for the throat.
7. Finally, you can sprinkle it with cocoa powder or ground cinnamon, it adds aroma and visually will look super professional.

How to make cappuccino without a machine: the secret!

Shhh... don't tell anyone our trick to make cappuccino without a machine. You save on the bar and the coffee maker. Keep in mind that the secret to a good cappuccino lies in the quality of the espresso. Achieving it without the machine is a challenge, but here are the rest of the keys:

- Water. We recommend that it has the lowest possible mineralization. It is likely that your tap water is too alkaline (very "hard"). So it's worth buying a bottle of weakly mineralized water, even if it's just for the coffee.

- Quality coffee. It doesn't have to be the typical barista type. Experiment with different varieties of coffee and discover which one has the aroma you like the most.

- Freshly ground coffee. Something all coffee lovers agree on is that freshly ground coffee tastes better. Consider getting a coffee grinder (it can also be used to grind other things, like sugar or nuts) and buying coffee beans. Remember to grind them when you're ready to prepare the coffee.

Option A: filter coffee

Don't have any type of coffee machine? Get some paper filters for a drip coffee maker and a strainer. Gradually pour the water over the filter with coffee. Remember that it's important for the coffee to be hot at 90 degrees. Cooler will make it too weak and hotter... you know, boiled coffee, lost coffee.

Option B: instant coffee

Yes, we know... after talking so much about types of coffee, freshly ground coffee, we give you this last option. There is also a wide variety of instant coffees, discover the one you like the most. The label "strong" or "intense" doesn't always mean this coffee is better for making an espresso, because you can also simply use more of it. Remember that the water temperature should also be around 90 degrees.

Our ultimate tricks for a perfect cappuccino

Whether with a machine or without one, to achieve a divine cappuccino, follow these tips:

- Pour the milk slowly. This way, you'll get the foam at the end. It won't change the taste, but the appearance will be irresistible. And what if you try to make drawings with the final phase of the milk, the foam? Well, first practice a little.

- It's true that with espresso-type coffee, the cappuccino turns out better. Not only because of the intensity of the flavor, which, as we have seen, you can achieve with other types of coffee. The issue is the creamy surface that is obtained in the espresso. As we have indicated, this is achieved because these coffee machines work with 15-20 bars of pressure. You can achieve this effect with some types of instant coffee, but you will need to have the water very hot, use a good amount of coffee, and therefore, stir well.

Have you tried it? Isn't it sensational? Now you know how to make a cappuccino at home, discover which types of coffee go best with your perfect cappuccino, how to sweeten it... and be sure to try it with our coffee makers. With them, we have our best cappuccinos!