Home Brewed Cappuccino in 3 Easy Steps

Make Cappuccino Like a Pro

There’s nothing quite like a freshly made cappuccino to go with breakfast. However, buying one from a commercial coffee shop every day can be expensive. Once you master your at-home-barista skill, you will love brewing cappuccino at home. You can make authentic Italian-style cappuccino at home in three easy steps. 

Coffee has come such a long way since the days of instant granules, and the cappuccino you enjoyed on your last vacation to Italy is much more achievable at home. You can purchase a fancy cappuccino machine for several hundred dollars if you’d like, however, we will explain how to make great-tasting cappuccino with a few inexpensive items. Let’s take a look. 

Step 1:

A coffee percolator, or stove top brewer as it’s sometimes called, is essential if you want Italian-style coffee. Available in one-cup to 10-cup sizes, it's usually made from hard aluminum or stainless steel and is suitable for use on any stove top. 

• Unscrew the top and bottom
• Fill the bottom with water to just below the valve
• Add freshly ground espresso beans to the filter
• Replace the top and place the percolator over medium heat

As the water comes to a boil the steam pressure forces the water through the filter and into the top. Remove from the heat when the gurgling noise stops and the top is full. Don't let the coffee boil or it may taste burnt.

Step 2:

Heat the milk while the coffee is brewing. You can do this in a couple of different ways. The fastest way, of course, is in a microwave on Medium 45-60 seconds for every 1/4 cup. However, for best results, you’ll want to warm it in a small saucepan over medium heat until the milk is nearly boiling. If you have a thermometer, remove the pan from the heat when the needle reaches 149 degrees. 

Pro-Tip: Preheat each cup with hot water from the kettle

Once heated with the hot water, pour out the hot water and pour in freshly brewed coffee into a coffee cup and top with hot milk. Reserve one-quarter cup of hot milk per cup you plan to make so that you can make froth.

Step 3:

For this step, you'll need a milk frother. These range from plungers to hand-held manual or battery-operated 1-cup frothers. 

To make froth with a manual 1-cup milk frother;

• Pour the reserved hot milk into a warmed cup
• Place the frother in the cup and pump up and down for 15-20 seconds or until the milk is thick and frothy
• Spoon froth over the cappuccinos and dust with chocolate to serve

Pro-Tip: Rinse your stove top coffee brewer with hot water and use a non-abrasive scourer to remove any coffee residue. 

You can also brew some really strong coffee to use instead of espresso, if you don't have a machine. Warm your milk and then pour into a small jar. Shake the jar for about one minute. Pour the milk into your waiting mug of hot coffee. Spoon out the foam and top with cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa, etc. You're good to go!! 

Conclusion

There is no right or wrong way to enjoy a cappuccino at home. It’s to your flavor pallet and these tips will help you get started. 

• Try different coffee beans
• Grind the coffee bean just before each use
• Adjust the strength with amount of ground coffee used
• Festive and seasonal flavour enhancers such as Pumpkin Spice and Peppermint are a great place to start

If you love cappuccino, become your own at-home-barista and master the art of making your perfect cup.