Make the perfect cappuccino yourself

Drinking the perfect cappuccino is the ultimate me-time indulgence, although it can be quite a challenge to get it just right. More and more coffee lovers have their own espresso machine at home and froth their own milk. Perhaps you do that too? Kayleigh from Coffeemania by Boogh coffee salon has a step-by-step guide to making the perfect cappuccino at home using Holland Jersey milk.

What you need

  • Espresso machine
  • Milk frother
  • Kitchen scales
  • Tamper
  • Milk jug
  • Cleaning cloth
  • Holland Jersey milk
  • Here’s how you make it

How to make it

Step 1: grinding

Correct grinding is essential when making espresso. The finer the grind, the more pressure is needed to press the water through the grounds. This ensures that all the aromas are absorbed properly. For espresso, the grind is often set to the fourth position and around 7 grams of coffee beans are ground per grind. Then level off the ground beans with the tamper.

Step 2: processing time

The perfect processing time for an espresso is between around 25 and 30 seconds. You’ll recognize the perfect brewing time from the wonderful aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans and an evenly distributed cream layer.

Step 3: froth the milk

To froth the milk, fill the jug with milk to just above the spout. Use the steam pipe to gently ‘kiss’ the milk so that it starts to swirl and all the bubbles disappear. Froth the milk to around 70 degrees. You know you’ve reached that point when you can no longer actually touch the jug. The milk now has a rich, creamy consistency. Don’t forget to clean the steam pipe, otherwise the milk will burn on the pipe.

Step 4: pouring

Before pouring the cappuccino, it’s important to swirl the espresso and the frothed milk, as the espresso and milk will then mix properly. Make sure you pour the frothy milk in steadily to ensure the perfect ratio between froth and milk. So don’t be too delicate with it.

Practice makes perfect! There’s more than enough to practice. Did you know that, because of the milk’s protein content, froth from Holland Jersey milk doesn’t collapse? That means you can simply re-froth the remaining milk in the jug once it’s cooled down. So we don’t end up throwing so much away and we give nature a helping hand. Good luck!