Dreaming of café-quality coffee right in your kitchen? With your home espresso machine, like a Breville, and a little know-how, you can easily craft the three most popular coffee drinks: the Flat White, Latte, and Cappuccino. In this guide, we'll walk you through the simple steps to achieve delicious results every time, using the fantastic Artisti Champion Blend.
Getting Started: Your Espresso Base
Before we dive into milk steaming, let's get your espresso shot perfect. For a single serving of each drink, we'll aim for a strong base. While your machine might have pre-settings, don't be afraid to experiment with your grinder to find the sweet spot for your beans. For this demonstration, we're using two single shots extracted from a double shot button – one for your flat white and one for your latte.
Pro Tip: Using tools like an NCD (Needle Distribution Tool) and a self-leveling tamp can help ensure a consistent and even extraction, but don't worry if you don't have them yet – you can still make great coffee!
Introducing Artisti Champion Blend: Your Go-To for Home Brewing
Today, we're brewing with Artisti Champion Blend, our delicious medium roast house blend. It boasts delightful milk chocolatey flavors and is specially designed to perform beautifully in home espresso machines, including Breville models. You can even find it at our cafe partners!
The Art of Milk Steaming: Flat White vs. Latte vs. Cappuccino
The key to these three popular drinks lies in the steamed milk. While the process starts similarly, the amount of air incorporated and the final texture are what differentiate them. Always remember to purge your steam wand before and after each use to ensure clean, consistent steam.
1. The Flat White: Silky Smooth & Subtle
The Flat White is all about a thin, silky-smooth milk texture with minimal froth.
- Steaming Focus: We want constant movement and spinning in the milk, but only a small amount of air. Listen for those tiny, consistent bubbles. You're adding air for a shorter duration compared to a latte.
- Temperature: Continue steaming until the jug becomes too hot to comfortably hold.
- Pouring: Aim for a nice, thin base of silky milk.
2. The Latte: Creamy & Balanced
A Latte offers a slightly softer strength and a bit more texture than a Flat White.
- Steaming Focus: Similar to the Flat White, maintain movement and spinning. However, you'll incorporate air for a longer period, creating a slightly richer texture. Again, listen for small, integrating bubbles – not big, loud ones.
- Temperature: Steam until the jug is too hot to hold.
- Australian Standard: In Australia, a Flat White is typically served in a 190ml cup with around 5ml of froth, while a Latte is in a 220ml cup with about 10ml of froth.
3. The Cappuccino: Velvety Froth & Chocolatey Goodness
The Cappuccino is distinguished by its thicker, velvety froth, often topped with chocolate here in Australia!
- Espresso Shot: For a cappuccino, you'll typically use a single espresso shot.
- Steaming Focus: This time, you'll add air for an even longer duration, almost until you turn off the steam. This creates a denser, more textured froth.
- Temperature: Aim for a maximum of 65°C. A thermometer can be helpful here!
- Australian Tradition: For that authentic Aussie touch, sprinkle chocolate on your espresso shot before pouring the milk. This creates a delightful blend of chocolate and creamy milk.
- Froth Level: Expect about 15ml of thick froth for a traditional cappuccino.
Elevate Your Home Coffee Experience with Artisti Coffee!
Did you know Artisti Coffee is now available in the USA and Canada? If you've been following our content and perfecting your home barista skills, now's your chance to experience the authentic taste of Artisti Coffee! We literally ship our coffee directly from the Artisti factory in Australia, ensuring you get the freshest, highest-quality beans. Visit ArtistiCoffee.com (not artisti.com.au for our international customers!) to get yours.
Share Your Coffee Journey! We'd love to see your home-brewed Artisti creations! Share your photos and videos on Instagram and TikTok, tell us your favorite blends, and join the growing Artisti community.
For Our Australian Friends: If you're in Australia, you can easily purchase Artisti coffee beans and all the accessories you need to make delicious coffee at home directly from our website.
What's Your Go-To Coffee?
We drink plenty of lattes here at Artisti! What's your favorite of the three? Do you prepare them differently in your country? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below!
