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Original poster

Home made latte tips?

15 replies

TheyIndeed · 07/05/2023 09:20

Morning all 🙂 has anyone out there cracked the secret of a brilliant home made latte?

I love them from Pret and Coffee#1 but think it'd be cheaper in the long run to invest in a good machine (or am I wrong by the time you factor in milk and coffee etc?!)

OP posts:
LadyPenelope68 · 07/05/2023 09:27

Buy a good quality espresso machine and you’ll be in heaven, coffees when you want at a fraction of the cost. Don’t buy pod machines, rubbish coffee, usually with powdered/fake milk.

TomeTome · 07/05/2023 09:29

Heat the milk. Use the best real coffee you can afford

Hoppinggreen · 07/05/2023 09:29

We have a bean to cup machine and bit good quality beans.
Coffee is just as good or better than anything you get in most cafes.
No idea about cost comparison but I think the machine cost around £400 and we’ve had it 6 or 7 I think

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macshoto · 07/05/2023 09:34

Proper espresso machine and grinder, good quality beans - not too long since roasting. Steam the milk, but don't scald it (don't let it get too hot).

Latte art is something I haven't yet mastered - so I'll leave that for someone else Smile

Significant investment in kit if you want to do it properly, but if you drink a decent amount of coffee and are at home enough it can be justified.

Original poster
TheyIndeed · 07/05/2023 09:38

Which machines do you all have? Smile

I've been looking on Amazon but am never too sure on relying on reviews (which seem to sway on every single product between "5 stars, this machine is my god" and "1 star, it burnt my house to the ground" Grin)

OP posts:
So1invictus · 07/05/2023 09:39

Make an espresso with whatever you'd normally make one with (stovetop moka etc) Add warmed milk.

That's how a latte (macchiato) is made in Italy.

A latte as we know it in the UK is just an extra milky cappuccino in Italy and I'd agree the decent coffee is more important than the implement.

WhoHidTheCoffee · 07/05/2023 09:39

I’m going to be honest, full fat milk as opposed to semi-skimmed does make a big difference!

So1invictus · 07/05/2023 09:40

A milk frother would be more useful than an actual coffee machine, but if you want a machine then Lavazza or Delonghi are both very good.

So1invictus · 07/05/2023 09:41

WhoHidTheCoffee · 07/05/2023 09:39

I’m going to be honest, full fat milk as opposed to semi-skimmed does make a big difference!

Definitely

bakebeans · 07/05/2023 09:49

I have a stove top Expresso maker. It cost me £8. I heat the milk and either use a milk frother or a caffetiere to froth the milk up

mondaytosunday · 07/05/2023 09:57

I picked up a Nescafé Dolce Gusto machine at Tesco sale for £29 and its great. I think it's around £50 or so full price.

AuroraForever · 07/05/2023 10:01

Lavazza machine with milk frother. Use purple box pods and full fat milk. Utterly divine.

pumpkintits · 07/05/2023 10:13

We have the Sage Bean to Cup coffee machine. It's bloody brilliant, if our house was on fire I'd probably run out with it in my arms (after the kids, of course...)

I prefer the coffees I made at home to most coffee shops and the kids love when I make them fancy hot chocolate with it

Bearpawk · 07/05/2023 10:20

Sage barista express here. It's fantastic. You need to use decent beans of course. Full fat milk also tastes better.

Failing that agree a stove stop mokka (bialetti type) and a milk frother is cheaper.

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