If you’re a coffee-lover, you will agree that making your favorite cup from home is both convenient and affordable, both in terms of time and your wallet. But can you replicate the coffee you drink at your favorite coffee bar? The answer is yes, you definitely can.
Here are some barista-style coffee recipes you can try at home, especially if you have a coffee maker!
Espresso
This Italian drink is perhaps the most beloved type of coffee among coffee aficionados. Apart from being highly concentrated, espresso is also commonly used as a base for other barista favorite blends, including latte, cappuccino, and Americano. As long as you have a quality espresso coffee machine like the ones from Smeg, you’re good to go. Depending on how you like your coffee, you may also need a milk frother or steamer. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started in making espresso at home.
Procedure:
- Grind a decent amount of roast coffee. 9 grams should be enough for a single shot.
- Put the coffee grounds into the espresso machine basket and press them gently yet firmly using a tamper so they’re totally compressed.
- Put the espresso basket back into the machine and press the start button to pull a shot. In about 30 seconds, you should have an espresso shot with foamy crema and a deep flavor. Consider whether to add frothed milk to make a latte.
Flat White
This is another great barista-style type of coffee you can make from home if you have a good coffee machine. By simple definition, picture the kind of coffee where you combine espresso with steamed milk. The resulting drink resembles café-style cappuccino, only without its characteristic froth.
Procedure:
To make a nice cup of flat white from home:
- Follow the previous steps and make espresso.
- Steam milk to 60 or so degrees Celsius, swirling the milk lightly around your pitcher so that it has a smooth, velvety appearance. Tapping the jug a little on the sides helps get rid of excess bubbles.
- Add frothed milk into your espresso to create floating crema on top.
- Pour it into your favorite coffee mug and enjoy!
Mocha
Mocha is another awesome coffee drink you can make without necessarily having barista skills. All you need to make this coffee-bar favorite is a good coffee machine or espresso maker, a steamer, coffee beans, milk, and some chocolate.
Procedure
- Using a coffee machine, make about 35ml espresso, pouring it into the bottom of your cup. Mix with a few spoons of drinking chocolate until the resulting drink is completely smooth.
- Using a steamer attachment, steam some milk until it creates 5cm or so at the top. Hold the jug with the spout around 4cm above the cup and steadily pour the milk in. Bring the jug as close to the surface of the drink as possible as the capacity within the cup increases, aiming for the center.
- Tilt the milk jug to increase the rate of pouring once it is almost touching the surface of the coffee. As you speed up, the milk will hit the back of the cup and begin to fold in on itself, forming a pattern at the top.
Cold Brew
This is among the easiest ways to make coffee without the need for special equipment. You simply need to pass water through freshly roasted ground coffee beans to produce a rich-tasting brew minus the bitter flavors. It can be a great way to keep cool when it’s hot while getting the energy boost you need from your favorite cup of Joe.
Procedure:
- In a large pitcher or jar, pour about 400ml cold water and add your coffee grounds without stirring. Cover and set it aside for 24 hours to steep.
- Gently whisk the mixture, straining it into another big jug using a funnel or sieve lined with a coffee filter or kitchen paper (or a piece of kitchen paper). The concentrate can last two to three days in the fridge.
- To serve, combine 1 part of cold brew with 2 parts of sparkling water or still water to taste and pour over ice.
For many reasons, coffee is inarguably the most preferred drink. The benefits are even more if you can make it from home. Thankfully, now you have a few recipes you can try for a decent and flavorful cup of Joe every time you need it.
