Cappuccino is a hot drink made with espresso coffee topped with a smooth and creamy milk froth. Iconic of the Italian lifestyle, it has become a cosmopolitan drink that has conquered the world. Of course, we like its revisited versions but don’t confuse it with its multiple variations: mochaccino, macchiato, café frappé, Americano, Viennese coffee, Irish coffee, Liège coffee…
Follow the guide to learn how to make cappuccino at home!
Recipe for homemade cappuccino
Cappuccino is an offspring of the famous European Viennese coffee made with whipped cream and espresso. The Italians were the first to come up with the idea of using frothed milk instead of cream.
The quality of the ingredients is key when making cappuccino at home.
First and foremost, for homemade cappuccino, you need a good quality espresso prepared with a machine. De’Longhi, Nespresso, Breville, Keurig, pick your choice there are plenty of espresso machines on the market.
For a good espresso, you don’t need the very best and high-end machine, an entry-level one will be perfect if you use good coffee beans.
Choose the coffee and your preferred dosage and pour your espresso into a 25cl cup.
Now for the frothed milk. So how do you froth the milk?
Some espresso machines come with a milk frother: with 15 cl of milk make a creamy and dense milk froth and add it to the coffee. To finish your homemade cappuccino, decorate with a dab of whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. Try some latte art and draw a pretty pattern on the milk froth, it always amazes your guests! Depending on your taste, sweeten or not.
Vegan cappuccino
For a vegan cappuccino recipe, replace dairy milk with plant milk. We recommend soy milk, but coconut milk or your favorite plant milk will be just as good. After all, it’s a question of taste, and as long as you feel the coffee is not too much covered by the flavors of your preferred plant milk go ahead. Follow the previous recipe replacing dairy milk with your favorite plant milk. If you have difficulties frothing the milk look at how to froth plant milk.
How to make milk froth for cappuccino without a machine?
You don’t have a milk frother on your espresso machine? No problem, a standalone milk frother is a perfect addon to an espresso machine.
And if you don’t have a milk frother, froth the milk with a hand blender: whip 15 cl of heated milk with your blender for 2 to 3 minutes.
Cappuccino powder: what is it?
You now find instant cappuccino preparations for a drink ready in one minute (among the most famous Nescafé cappuccino). They can be of good quality and can save the day (if you like instant coffee) for when you are really in a hurry but… they really have nothing to do with an authentic Italian cappuccino.
Iced cappuccino homemade
Cappuccino, we like it in all seasons…hot but also cold, even ice cold! For an iced cappuccino, let the espresso cool down and refrigerate the milk before making the froth. Follow the classic cappuccino recipe for the rest, nothing changes.
How to make Starbucks Cappuccino
Here is the recipe for Starbucks Cappuccino!
You need 150 ml of milk (cow or plant-based), an espresso, and, optionally, chocolate chips and a pinch of cinnamon.
Get a large cup and pour your espresso. Froth the milk (or any plant-based milk if you prefer). For an ultra-gourmet result, try to end with 50% milk and 50% froth. Pour the milk froth and sprinkle with chocolate chips and/or cinnamon.
Chocolate Cappuccino
For a change of taste add some chocolate to make chocolate cappuccino. Close to mochaccino or mocha coffee, it’s a more coffee intense drink.
Chop finely milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate, use chocolate chips if you have some. The quantities depend on the size of your cappuccino and on your taste: you don’t want to overcome the taste of coffee! Start with about a tablespoon of chocolate per cup.
To make chocolate cappuccino, put the chocolate at the bottom of the cup and pour the hot espresso over it. Top with the cream and some shavings of chocolate.
Cappuccino vs latte
They are almost identical. The cappuccino mainly differs from the latte by a milk-coffee mixture with a stronger coffee taste and a layer of milk foam thicker than in the latte.