How To Make Fancy Coffee Drinks at Home
Since we’ve all been in lockdown due to the pandemic, learning how to make great coffee at home has been an absolute must. Many people have likely realized that recreating their favourite fancy coffee drink isn’t actually as hard as it’s cracked up to be. But for those that are still too intimidated to try their hand at a decadent latte a la Starbucks, we’ve come up with a fool-proof guide. Keep reading to discover all there is to know about making fancy coffee drinks at home.
Equipment
First thing’s first, in order to make fancy coffee at home, you’ll need to possess the necessary equipment. There is no one must-have coffee maker. Rather, it depends on your personal preferences. You can splurge on a high-tech espresso machine or keep it simple with a French press or pour over coffee brewer. Luckily, it’s possible to make great-tasting coffee with practically anything, even if all you have is a classic drip coffee maker. The most important thing is really the coffee (more on that below!).
Coffee
If you’re going to attempt a fancy coffee drink at home, then the most important ingredient you need is good quality coffee. The quality and freshness of the coffee can easily make or break a great drink. For an optimal coffee drinking experience, you can’t go wrong with Colombian coffee. We know, we’re biased, but we’re biased for a good reason - because Colombian coffee, and specifically the arabica beans that Colombia produces, are the best in the world. If the base of your drink is these beans, you truly can’t go wrong.
No matter what coffee you decide to work with, make sure to follow the coffee to water ratio instructed on the packaging. It’s also worth noting that if you want to try and recreate your favourite latte, cappuccino, or macchiato, then keep your eyes out for espresso, rather than coffee, as espresso is what is commonly used in these beverages. If you can’t find or don’t have espresso, then just focus on making the strongest cup of coffee possible.
Milk
Most fancy coffee drinks, such as those you’ll pay $7 for at Starbucks, contain some form of milk. Milk is typically steamed before being added to coffee, where it then forms a beautiful layer of froth and foam. Nowadays, there are plenty of milks that can be used in coffee, from regular cow’s milk to oat milk, almond milk, and even macadamia nut milk, but you’ll want to pick up a milk frother if your coffee maker doesn’t already have one in order to be able to achieve a foamy consistency at home.
Other Additions
Beyond milk, there are a few other additions that can seriously elevate your at-home coffee experience. These include flavoured syrups and sweet-smelling spices. You can find plenty of flavored syrups at your local grocery store, such as chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel. Alternatively, if you’d prefer not to add something quite so sugary, you could simply flavor your coffee with extracts. A teaspoon of vanilla extract, peppermint extract, or even almond extract can totally change your cup of coffee. If all else fails, adding a teaspoon of maple syrup certainly never hurts! It’s also never a bad decision to sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or even cocoa powder on the top of your drink.
Recipe
Now that you know what you need to make your fancy coffee drink dreams a reality at home, we’ve listed one of our favourite recipes as a little inspiration:
Maple Cinnamon Latte
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup hot espresso or strongly brewed coffee
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
- 3/4 cup milk steamed, dairy or non-dairy (we prefer oat milk with this latte)
Instructions
- Pour the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in the bottom of a wide mug. Pour in the hot espresso and stir to combine.
- While holding the mug slightly to the side at a 45˚ angle, slowly pour the steamed milk in the center to fill the mug and add a thin layer of the foam to the top.
- Decorate the top with an additional pinch of cinnamon if desired and serve immediately.
