Cappuccino Guide: How to Make a Perfect Cappuccino at Home

A cappuccino is a milk and coffee drink made using an espresso machine. A traditional cappuccino contains 25 milliliters of espresso coffee and 100 milliliters of steam-foamed milk. Some cappuccino recipes call for equal parts espresso, hot milk, and foam. Cappuccinos have more milk than some other espresso drinks, such as a macchiato, cortado, or flat white, but less milk than a caffè latte.

The name “cappuccino” may have been inspired by the Capuchin friars, an order of Franciscan monks founded in sixteenth-century Italy. The Capuchins wore brown robes with long habits called cappucios—the ensemble resembled espresso mixed with milk. The Austrians were the first to use the word “cappuccino” (“kapuziner” in German) to describe a coffee beverage. Kapuziner is an Austrian drink of coffee with whipped cream that made its way from Vienna coffee houses back to Italian coffee shops, where it was transformed with espresso and frothed milk upon the invention of the espresso machine.

Simply put, a cappuccino contains less milk than a latte. Both drinks start with a single or double shot of espresso, to which steamed milk is added. Cappuccinos are traditionally made in 160-milliliter (about 5.4-ounce) cups. Lattes are served in much larger cups (at least 8 ounces), meaning they contain about twice the amount of milk—or more. In addition, lattes feature a thin layer of microfoam that can make latte art.

Follow these steps to make the perfect cappuccino using an espresso machine:

1. 1. Refrigerate the milk. Cold milk foams better than warm milk, so fill a stainless steel frothing pitcher with 100 milliliters (3.3 ounces) of whole milk (or barista-style almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk) and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
2. 2. Grind the coffee beans. The best espresso comes from freshly ground coffee beans, preferably ground with a burr grinder, which produces more uniform particles than a blade grinder. Baristas will typically grind the beans directly into the portafilter for the freshest coffee possible.
3. 3. Tamp the grounds. The next step is tamping. A tamper is a small, flat round weight with a handle, kind of like a stamp. You use the tamper to press the coffee grounds into an even disc. Tamping will ensure that the portafilter can go into and come out of the machine properly and maximize the water's contact with the coffee. Don't press too hard, or the disc will become compacted. Apply light pressure, and release with a slight twist.
4. 4. Prepare the cup. Warm up a 160-milliliter cappuccino cup by pouring boiling water into the cup.
5. 5. Pull a shot of espresso. Gently slide the filter basket into the machine and turn the handle to lock it into place. Pour the hot water out of the cappuccino cup and place it underneath the portafilter. Depending on the design of your espresso machine, you'll need to flick a switch or press a button, and the coffee will stream out into the cup.
6. 6. Steam the milk. Your machine will have built-up steam that you can now release using the steam wand. Release a tiny bit of steam into a rag or sponge to clear the wand of any residue. Take the milk out of the fridge and insert the wand into the center of the frothing pitcher. Keeping the wand submerged, froth until the volume of the milk has increased to 125 milliliters and the temperature is about 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the wand near the top of the milk initially and gradually lower it deeper into the milk as the milk increases in volume.
7. 7. Pour the milk. Slowly pour the milk into the cappuccino cup on top of the espresso, and finish with a foam layer. Serve immediately.

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