Journal · Brewing
How to make a cafe latte at home
A latte is two things: a short, strong coffee and steamed milk. Get those two right and the rest is habit.
1. Start with whole beans
Ground coffee goes flat within days of opening. Whole beans keep their aroma for weeks when the bag is sealed and kept away from light and heat. Grind right before you brew.
2. Grind for your brewer
- Espresso machine: fine, like table salt or a little finer.
- Moka pot: fine to medium-fine.
- AeroPress: medium-fine.
- French press, for a strong base: coarse.
A burr grinder gives a more even grind than a blade grinder, and even grounds taste cleaner.
3. Dose and brew the coffee
- Espresso machine: about 17 g of coffee for a double shot of about 36 g, in 25 to 30 seconds.
- Moka pot: fill the basket level without packing it, use hot water in the base, and take it off the heat as soon as it starts to sputter.
- AeroPress: 17 g of coffee with about 60 g of water just off the boil, stir, wait a minute, then press. It makes a short, strong concentrate.
- French press: 30 g of coffee to 250 g of water, steep 4 minutes. Use about half of it as your base.
4. Steam or froth the milk
Heat about 180 ml of milk until it is hot to the touch but not boiling, around 60 to 65°C. Whole milk foams the easiest; oat milk made for baristas works well too.
- Steam wand: keep the tip just under the surface to add air for a few seconds, then lower it to swirl and heat.
- No machine: warm the milk on the stove, then froth it with a handheld frother, or shake it in a sealed jar and let it rest a moment.
5. Pour
Pour the coffee into a warm cup, then pour the milk in from a little height, bringing the jug closer at the end so the foam settles on top.
Which Manukalatte to use
- Lemon: bright, with caramel sweetness. It turns soft and creamy with milk.
- Pralines: roasted hazelnut and maple. A warm, nutty latte.
- Citrus: toffee and dark chocolate with a citrus lift. Good hot or iced.
What it costs per cup
A 12 oz bag makes about 20 cups at 17 g each. With Manukalatte Trio ($265 for three bags, shipping included) that is about $4.42 per cup before milk. A typical cafe latte in the US costs around $5.75, depending on the city and size.
Try all three with Manukalatte Trio
One 12 oz bag each of Citrus, Lemon and Pralines. 100% Arabica whole beans. Ships free.
$265.00$285.00