How to Make Cappuccino

Cappuccino is an espresso-based drink of Italian origin. Cappuccino is made by mixing espresso with twice as much microfoam. (See our article on frothing milk.) Microfoam is a very fine emulsion of milk protein and air.

The steam wand on your espresso machine will incorporate "microbubbles" into milk (given the proper technique) as it heats the milk. The result is "microfoam," which will have double the volume of the original milk. Thus, for cappuccino, start with equal parts espresso and milk, and then double the volume of the milk using the frothing technique (described in our article on frothing).

In Italy, Cappuccino is generally drunk only early in the day as part of a light breakfast. It is seldom drunk during the day or at night. In other countries (like the USA), cappuccino can be drunk any time, any where, and is even drunk as an after-dinner espresso drink.

In order to make good cappuccino, the quality of the espresso, and the quality of the milk and microfoam are both important. To make cappuccino at home, you will need to learn the technique for frothing milk. Cappuccino should be served in a preheated ceramic coffee cup, because ceramic retains heat better than a glass, steel, or paper cup. (Styrofoam is used in many take-out coffee shops, and is also an excellent thermal insulator.)

Although cappuccino has been available in major American cities for most of the last century following the influx of Italian immigrants, it was recently made "mainstream" in the U.S. by Starbucks. To get an authentic cappuccino at a Starbucks, you need to order a "Short Cappuccino" (in Starbucks' terminology) which is made of 1/3 espresso and 2/3 microfoam.

To make cappuccino at home, make a cup of espresso, and then make microfoam in a frothing pitcher starting with the same volume of milk as the cup of espresso. The milk should be frothed to double its original volume. Preheat a large ceramic cup (e.g., by pouring boiling water into it, and then draining it). Pour the espresso into the ceramic cup, and then pour the microfoam over it. If you like, you can sprinkle powdered or shaved chocolate or cinnamon on top of the finished drink.

Note that for cappuccino, the espresso is poured into the coffee cup first, and the microfoam is poured on top of the espresso. If you pour the two ingredients in the opposite order (i.e., if you pour the espresso into the microfoam), then technically, the drink is called a "macchiato," not a cappuccino.

...written by your friends at TheCoffeeBrewers