Espresso with a stovetop pot-any tips. Lost instructions!

[Molehillmountain]

Really I want to make a latte on the cheap! Is it possible with my pot-a five pound bargain! Will I need anything else? Or do I actually need a posh machine?

Presuming you mean an Italian style stove-top coffee pot (mine's a Bialetti), here's how I do it.

• Fill up the water chamber up to the little valve (screw type) thingy that's visible inside.

• Place the ground coffee holder on top (the round bit with the holes and the little pipe under it) and fill it with ground coffee. Make sure you don't pack it down, and that there's no coffee spilt around the rim of the coffee chamber (this can cause the coffee pot to leak).

• Screw the top chamber onto the pot, and place on the hob. If you have a gas hob, you need to make sure the flame is under the base of the pot, otherwise it can damage the handle or overheat it.

• Leave the pot on the heat until you start to hear bubbling noises, at which point you should turn off the flame or remove from the heat.

• When the bubbling noises have stopped, the coffee is ready! It's important to turn the heat off as soon as the bubbling starts or you will end up boiling your coffee and can damage the pot.

• Heat your milk separately (I do it in the microwave) and froth it if you can be bothered. Then mix the two according to your tastes.

Bless you! Thank you for a brilliant set of instructions. Went out today for frothing whisk and excited about coffee now.

Good luck! I do love a good cup of coffee I must say :)

Dh and I have just had amazing cappuccinos. They would have been lattes but for the slight over enthusiasm with the frother! Should there have been much water left in bottom half of pot? Dont feel obliged to keep answering- I am a bit of a kid with a new toy today!

Um, I think there is usually a bit of water left in the pot, but not loads...
Glad your cappuccinos were god though!

god good