Without coffee, it’s hard to imagine everyday life. Macchiato, espresso, cappuccino and other varieties of this drink have firmly entered our lives. Coffee has become popular all over the world as a universal drink, perfect for the morning, for talking and for meeting new friends. Over the years, people have discovered countless ways to enjoy a fresh brew - from instantly adding ground grains to water, to complex, craft forms and dairy combinations.
Among the most popular coffee drinks today, there remains a mixture of gentle frothed milk and strong bitter coffee. A modest cappuccino is known today as the best morning drink for those who want strong coffee with a milky-flavored taste. Today, you can easily make cappuccino at home in a coffee machine.
Where did the name come from?
Many of the terms for coffee drinks are borrowed from Italian. So, espresso means “pressed”, which explains how this type of coffee is made. Macchiato can be translated as "coffee with a stain," that is, with the addition of milk. But the term “cappuccino” is unique in its own way. It comes from the Italian word, which refers not to coffee, but to Capuchin monks. The explanation is simple: the color of espresso mixed with frothed milk is similar to the color of their mantle. This name of the drink was borrowed in English in the late 1800s, and then quickly spread around the world.
How to make cappuccino at home in a coffee machine?
How well you can make a cappuccino depends on two things: your experience and the coffee machine that you usually use. For example, if you are a professional chef with specialized training in Italy, you will cope with this task better than most people. On the other hand, if you have a professional coffee machine that does an excellent job, you can make a good cappuccino even without much experience. Below is a step-by-step guide for making this drink. How to make a cappuccino in a coffee machine - read below. You should also find out which milk is best for this drink, and whether other ingredients can be added to it.
Choose the right coffee machine
How to make a cappuccino in a coffee machine? Some types of coffee making equipment are designed only to brew good espresso. Such a coffee machine will not make a cappuccino very well. You need a versatile technique that can make various drinks.
Prepare the machine properly
Preparing a coffee machine is an important step that helps make a good-tasting drink. It also helps to check if everything is in order, and will help prevent spills that may occur during the preparation of the cappuccino. Fortunately, you can prepare your coffee machine in less than one minute. Just fill the tank with clean cold water. Place an empty cup on the other end of the spout and turn on the coffee machine. If you do it right, you can expect the rest of the coffee you brewed the previous time to come out with water. If this is a new machine, clean it and remove any odor that could ruin the taste of the drink. Only after this should you start preparing a cappuccino recipe in a coffee machine.
Make espresso
Yes, espresso is an important component of cappuccino. Ideal if you cook it without any remaining ingredients (frothed milk and sugar). Fortunately, making espresso is easy when you have the right coffee machine and coffee beans. The latter is better to grind in advance to make cappuccino. This is because the powder passes through the mechanism faster and gives more taste.
How to make a cappuccino in a coffee machine to make the drink saturated? Once you have ground coffee, measure it, depending on the amount of espresso you intend to make. For one person, 7 grams of powder is usually sufficient. For two or more people, add as much coffee as you wish. After that, read the instructions for making espresso for your machine and get started. It takes less than thirty seconds (for one cup of drink). If you do it right, a golden foam should appear on the surface of the espresso.
Prepare a Cappuccino Machine
The second component of cappuccino is milk. How to beat milk for cappuccino? You should prepare it using the steam pipe of the coffee machine. Here, milk undergoes a series of changes, after which it becomes light and “airy”. After that, switch the machine to the cappuccino setting. You will immediately see that the temperature of the water increases and steam is created. Turn on the control valve to displace its excess.
Prepare milk
The foam in the cappuccino certainly comes from frothed milk. But how to do that? How to beat milk for cappuccino? Add the desired amount of heated milk to the tank. Turn on the steam pipe of the machine and control it for better foaming. As a rule, you should observe the formation of bubbles on the surface of the milk, while it will increase in volume. Let the foaming continue until you are completely satisfied with the consistency. Please note that milk can reach a boiling point and stop growing in volume. Therefore, try to prevent this.
If you don’t have the opportunity to prepare cappuccino foam in a coffee machine, since your kitchen device does not have such an additional function, do it separately while making espresso. This can be accomplished using an external electric milk frother.
Mix milk with coffee and sugar
How to make a cappuccino in a coffee machine when all the ingredients are ready? Add frothed milk to previously made espresso. You can mix them in equal proportions, or you can calculate any other amount.
At this stage of cooking, add sugar to taste. If you like a bitter cappuccino, then you can stop at a combination of espresso and warm milk mixture. But if you want to add some sweetness to your brew, a few teaspoons of sugar will look great.
Some people also like to add coffee powder, chocolate syrup, or another sweet mixture to the drink. Depending on your preference, all of these supplements can be used together to make the perfect cappuccino. Remember, however, that the true beauty of this coffee drink lies in its simplicity and thoughtful combination of the two main ingredients.
If you want to decorate a cappuccino, you can add cocoa powder on top. However, be careful - this may obscure the original aroma of the drink. When you pour frothed milk over the espresso, do it in a circular motion. This will allow you to form an arbitrary shape or design at the top of the drink.
How to choose milk for a drink?
Which milk is best for a cappuccino in a coffee machine? To make it whip better, adjust the steam tube as the amount of foam increases. Nevertheless, keep calm and give the machine the opportunity to foam it yourself. Use whole milk for a very thick and thick foam. Using a non-fat appearance, on the other hand, creates a foam that quickly dissipates.