Latte Recipe

Preheat and dose

Preheat your espresso machine and portafilter by running a blank shot or rinsing with hot water. Dose 18 g of freshly ground coffee into the portafilter and distribute and tamp evenly to create a level puck.

Pull espresso

Lock the portafilter into the group head and start extraction. Aim for about 36 ml of espresso in 25–30 seconds for a standard double shot. Stop extraction when volume and color look correct (rich brown crema on top).

If you prefer a single shot, use 9 g coffee for ~18 ml espresso and adjust milk volume accordingly.

Pour milk

Pour 8 oz (about 240 ml) of cold whole milk into a chilled metal steaming pitcher. Use slightly less milk if your cup is smaller (a 6–8 oz latte cup).

Purge steam wand

Purge the steam wand for 1–2 seconds to remove condensation before submerging it into the milk.

Stretch and texture milk

Position the steam wand tip just below the milk surface and turn on the steam to create a gentle hissing sound. Stretch (introduce air) for 3–5 seconds to incorporate microfoam, then lower the pitcher so the wand is deeper to heat the milk. Continue steaming until pitcher feels warm to the touch and the milk reaches 60–65°C (140–149°F). Aim for velvety, glossy microfoam with very small bubbles.

Wipe and purge

Turn off the steam, wipe the wand immediately with a damp cloth and purge briefly to clear any milk from the tip.

Polish milk

Tap the pitcher gently on the counter and swirl to collapse any large bubbles and integrate foam into a smooth, silky texture.

Add sweetener (optional)

If using sugar or syrup, add it to the espresso and stir to dissolve before adding milk.

Pour milk into espresso

Hold the cup with the espresso at a slight angle. Start pouring milk from about 3–4 inches (7–10 cm) above the cup to incorporate milk and crema. As the cup fills and you want to create latte art, lower the pitcher and pour with a steady wrist motion to form patterns (heart, rosette). Aim for about a 1:3 ratio of espresso to milk by volume; typical result is a 6–8 oz beverage with a thin layer of microfoam on top.

Garnish

Optionally dust a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or cocoa on top. Serve immediately.