How to Make a Latte With and Without an Espresso Machine

At Home Latte

So, you want to enjoy a latte but don’t want to shell out $400 for a fancy machine? Maybe you’re staying at a friend’s house and don’t want to pass up the opportunity to show off some serious barista skills. Or did you actually shell out the cash for the espresso machine but are still feeling unsure about how to make the perfect latte?  

If any of these scenarios apply to you, we’ve got you covered just in time for PSL season—so you can sit back, curl up with a good book and sip on your PSL like a real elitist.  

We’ll teach you how to show off to all your friends with some kick-ass barista skills to perfect that latte technique so you can make a coffeehouse-worthy latte, foamy, just the way you like it. 

[Photo credit: Justus Menke via Unsplash] 

What’s the Difference Between a Latte and a Cappuccino? 

Terms, terms, terms—everyone’s least favorite part about coffee. But once you have them down, you’ll sound smart as can be and you’ll be able to make the coffee drink you actually want! 

• Latte: A coffee drink made with espresso, steamed milk and milk foam. A latte has more steamed milk and a thin layer of foam on top.  
• Cappuccino: A coffee drink with distinct layers of espresso, steamed milk and milk foam. A cappuccino has a greater percentage of milk foam to steamed milk.  

Now you’re ready to get brewing! 

How to Make a Latte Without an Espresso Machine 

 Ingredients: 

• Death Wish Pumpkin Chai Roast (to make life a hell of a lot easier and vibrant) 
• Milk or oat milk (best for frothing) 

Instructions:  

1. Brew Death Wish Pumpkin Chai:

• Brew 1 or 2 shots of espresso, depending on how strong you like your coffee.  
• Now if you don’t have an espresso machine, this stuff already gives you a leg up–it can be brewed any way you like—to create an amazing cup of espresso-style coffee. We recommend using an AeroPress to make strong enough coffee to almost be called espresso. A Chemex, French press or even a Keurig will do as well, all thanks to Death Wish Pumpkin Chai. (Yes, it even comes in K-cups.)  

2. Steam the milk:  

• Heat milk either on the stovetop until it simmers, or microwave for 30-45 seconds.

3. Froth the milk:  

• Whisk: Place milk in a tall, wide container and hold at an angle. Start whisking quickly until foamy bubbles start to form. Let the foam rest for about 1 minute before adding it into the espresso.  
• Jar: Fill the jar halfway with milk. Screw the lid on and shake the jar until the milk is frothy and has roughly doubled in volume. 
• French Press: For best results with this method, you'll need 1 cup of milk. Add the hot milk to the French press and begin pumping with short, quick plunges until foamy bubbles start to form. Pour into a separate glass and tap on the counter to help break down large bubbles.   

4. Pour warmed milk into the espresso, using a spoon to hold back the milk foam from getting into the espresso.  
5. Add the foam:  

• Spoon as much milk foam as you would like onto your latte. Traditionally, lattes only have a small amount of foam on top. If you prefer a thick layer, it’s considered a cappuccino—but we won’t tell anyone. 

[Photo credit: Nathan Dumalo via Unsplash] 

How to Make a Latte With an Espresso Machine 

Ingredients: 

1. Death Wish Pumpkin Chai (to make life a hell of a lot easier and vibrant) 
2. Milk or oat milk (best for frothing) 

Instructions: 

1. Grind your beans: 

• If you don’t know what grind size is right–we’ve got you covered there too with our grind size guide!

2. Pull your espresso:

• You can either do a single or a double, depending on how strong you want your latte. Pour that espresso into a glass. 

3. Steam the milk: 

• Use an espresso machine and heat the steam wand. Place the wand just below the surface of the milk, tilting the jug slightly. Keep it in that position for about 5 to 10 seconds, with very slight movements up and down. This should make the milk slightly foamy. Once complete, lower the nozzle about another 1/2 inch and tilt the jug enough to get a small whirlpool to incorporate the foam, turning it into microfoam. Keep that still and spinning until the temperature is about 150 F. Turn off the steam before removing the wand. This will both heat and froth the milk.

4. Pour warmed milk into the espresso, using a spoon to hold back the milk foam from getting into the espresso. 
5. Add the foam: 

• Spoon as much milk foam as you would like onto your latte. Traditionally, lattes only have a small amount of foam on top. If you prefer a thick layer, it’s considered a cappuccino—but we won’t tell anyone.

 Pro Tip: Throw in a shot of rum after the kids go to bed to take the edge off.