Ok, so we go to a local coffee house and we order cappuccinos, café mochas, lattes and espressos.  It isn’t the paper cups that make these drinks taste so good.  It’s the recipe and of course the prettiness factor.  Baristas all have a style of their own and every cup will taste different because of the roast, the grind, the amount used, the water, the temperature and many other things.  We have all tried to make these coffee delights at home the way we think they are made, but do we really know the real way they are supposed to be made to extract the enchanting flavors correctly?  Here is a quick list of how to make the basic drinks.  This is boot camp for coffee drinkers. 

Cappuccino: 
Equal parts of steamed and frothed milk and espresso. The milk goes on top of the espresso. Dust with nutmeg, cinnamon or chocolate powder or shavings.

Café Mochas:
The easiest way is to use a good brand of hot chocolate, throw in a shot of espresso and top with whipping cream and chocolate powder or shavings.  It looks the best if you put it in a tall glass and use a long handled spoon.  For a finishing touch add a saucer and a napkin.  Or make a latte and toss in a chocolate flavored shot.

Lattes: 
Foam & steam milk to 140-degrees.  The ratio is 50% espresso and 50% milk. Pour the milk down the side of the cup so it infuses with the espresso.  The difference between this and a cappuccino is a latte blends the two things together, whereas the cappuccino keeps them separate.

Espressos: 
We’ve all had bad espresso.  There are many reasons why this is.  The number one reason is an unfavorable bean.  If you like espresso you are likely a connoisseur of coffee and know what constitutes a good bean.  Anyway, to make a good espresso you must do the following:

• Use a fine grind
• Tamp the espresso down firmly
• Use a high pressure machine or stove top model
• Try not to make too much at once
• Make sure the cream on the top shows, which is a golden-brown foam
• Use an appropriate espresso cup to keep the temperature from dissipating too quickly

All in all, making coffee correctly is all up to you and the way your flavor buds react to the taste.  If you like it a particular way, then make it that particular way.  However, if you have guests over they may just like the basics.  have some fun  and learn the correct way to make lattes and espressos.

A good cup of coffee whether it comes from a standard coffee maker or an espresso machine is a great addition to any gathering. Coffee machines tend to malfunction from time to time and spill over.  To avoid dealing with a mess (especially in the middle of a fun event) try the Justin Case Deck.  The Justin Case Deck will capture the mess before it ruins the fun and the clean up easy.   If you would like a 15% discount off of a Coffee Station use the discount code BLOG15 at checkout.