5 steps to making the perfect Latte@Home

Posted by James Hutchison on 19-May-2020 09:46:21

Missing the familiar churning and whirring of your office bean-to-cup machine? Yearning for the morning kick of a professionally made latte?

As we all await life to return to some semblance of normal, many of us are continuing to attempt to work from home. And boy, are there plenty of things going against us. With so many challenges and time stretching out ahead of us, a good cup of coffee can stir the soul (particularly when teamed with the right sugar-fix).

Here are our recipes for the perfect morning wake up call or afternoon pick me up - our Roast & Ground Latte@Home (with just a kettle and hob - no cafetière or other fancy kit required); which can be coupled up with our lip-smacking cupboard cookies.

Roast & Ground Latte@Homelatte

For 1 Drink

INGREDIENTS

  • Espresso/strongly brewed coffee
  • Milk
  • Cocoa powder (to top)

EQUIPMENT

  • Wide and shallow coffee cup
  • Tea spoon
  • Jar with lid

OUR 5 STEP HOW TO

1. Make up an espresso or a strong coffee - around a ⅓ of a cup will do.

2. Froth the milk: Pour your milk into a jar up to the half way point. Screw the lid on tightly, and shake it all up for 60 seconds. After this time it should double up in size.

3. Microwave the milk: Remove the lid and pop your milk in the microwave (uncovered) for 30 seconds.

4. Pour the frothy milk onto espresso/coffee - use a spoon to hold the froth back, until the cup is nearly full - then use the froth to top and finish with a flourish of cocoa powder.

Roast & Ground Tip #1 - How to Hack your Way to Heavenly Frothy Milk (Spoiler: Use THIS Gadget)

Two words. Coffee. Whisk. Available for around £5, this little gadget will change your coffee for the better. Use after you’ve heated the milk for optimal results. Speaking of which…

Roast & Ground Tip #2 - Thoughts on Heating Milk at Home for a Latte

In the recipe above we’ve kept it simple - recommending the easy and fast solution of using a microwave to froth up your milk. But what if you want fewer, smaller bubbles, for a more compact consistency?

Steamed milk is the answer, and is actually the way that your pro barista will whip up your latte at your local coffee shop.

To recreate this effect at home, follow these steps (you’ll need a French Press)…

1. Warm your milk to 60 °C (140 °F) on the hob (DO NOT allow the milk to boil)

2. Pour into your French Press and pump until frothy (this should take around 60 seconds)

3. Pour and enjoy!

Cupboard Cookies

For 20 -24 Cookies

  • ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 70g caster sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 70g soft light-brown sugar
  • 250g unsalted butter
  • 300g plain flour
  • Optional - a choc treat, such as M&Ms, chocolate buttons or a chocolate bar broken up into small chunks

OUR 6 STEP HOW TO

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas mark 4

2. Line two trays with baking paper

3. Mix the butter and the two sugars until light and fluffy, then slowly add the vanilla and mix once more (either with a stand mixer or with a handheld electric whisk)

4. Add one egg, then beat the mixture, followed by the other egg and beating once more

5. In a fresh bowl, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and 1 tablespoon of sea salt together, followed by mixing the butter and egg mixtures in

6. Sprinkle in your optional chocolate treat

7. Scoop out into even portions onto the paper-lined trays, flattening each one into a cookie shape

8. Bake for around 12 minutes (use a butter knife to check whether they’re soft in the middle - no dough should remain on the knife after it’s drawn out)

9. Once cooked leave to stand on a wire rack to cool down

Tuck in!

We’re all muddling along and attempting to adapt to working from home. Until the day the 9-to-5 resumes, we’re certain your DIY frothy coffee and cupboard cookies will provide for many an afternoon (or mid-morning) energy boost.

hello@roastandground.co.uk | 020 8397 8676

Topics: coffee breaks, coffee

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