How to Make a Cappuccino at Home: A Guide For Making the Perfect Cup

If espresso had a popularity contest, the Cappuccino would be the winner! This popular espresso-based Italian drink has millions who adore it. Most days nothing beats enjoying a delicious foamy cappuccino. 

What if you want to enjoy this delicious drink without the hassle of driving to your local coffee shop to get a cup? The good news is there are many options available today for you to be able to make a perfect cappuccino right in the comfort of your own home.

Today we will provide you with all the information you need in our guide on how to make the perfect cup of cappuccino at home.

What is a Cappuccino?

The flavor of a cappuccino is warm, rich and satisfying with a slight sweetness thanks to the steamed milk. A cappuccino is usually around 6 ounces in size and consists of an equal ratio of espresso, steamed milk and foam. Like many drinks, the cappuccino can be customized creatively with flavorings and milk types.

A cappuccino will begin with a layer of espresso shots with steamed milk placed on top. This is followed by an airy, thick layer of milk foam. 

There are different types of espressos named for how they are made. For example, a dry cappuccino is known for a bolder flavor and is “drier” than other cappuccinos due to using less milk. A wet cappuccino is known for a milder flavor with the addition of more foam and milk creating a richer tasting cup minus the sharpness of the espresso. 

The cappuccino has been enjoyed for generations in Italy and Europe, with the drink gaining popularity in America in the 1980’s. Today, the cappuccino is enjoyed regularly by millions of people every day. Having the know how and tools to make this drink in the comfort of your own home will ensure you get to enjoy it whenever you want too!

How to Make a Cappuccino at Home

Cappuccinos in their simplest form only have two ingredients: the espresso and milk. Each espresso is made of three layers: espresso, hot milk and milk foam. 

There are many ways to make a cappuccino at home. Of course, having a brewer that makes cappuccino such as the Nespresso Lattissima Plus at the push of a button is a convenient way to go. There are also many Automatic Espresso Brewers that will give you a barista quality drink at home.

Not ready to invest in an espresso brewer? Have no worries, it is possible to make espresso at home without a machine as well. 

Today Cozy will provide you with step by step guides on how to make a cappuccino at home in three different ways:

1. With a espresso machine
2. With a Nespresso
3. Without a machine

Making Cappuccino With an Espresso Machine

Home espresso machines have steadily increased in popularity, and along with it a surge in the need for espresso machines that allow you to brew a perfect cappuccino without the need to be a trained barista. 

Automatic espresso machines are one of the most convenient ways to brew a cappuccino at home, automating each step of creating an espresso, from grinding the coffee beans to pressurized pouring. 

Although Automatic Espresso Machines are an investment, it is one that will pay you back in dividends when you pick the right one for your espresso drinking needs. 

At a Glance: Our Top 4 Picks for Automatic Espresso Machines

1. Best Overall: Philips 3200 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
2. Great Value: De’Longhi Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso
3. Best Commercial Style: Breville Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
4. Best on a Budget: Breville Inissia Espresso Machine

Being every espresso machine will have similar components but may operate slightly differently it is important to familiarize yourself with the specific instructions for your machine. 

Typically, making a cappuccino with an espresso machine involves the following steps:

1. Measure and grind your espresso beans on a fine setting (you will want a salt like consistency).
2. Add the ground coffee to the portafilter.
3. Using the tamper press down on the ground coffee and twist before removing.
4. Tamp the coffee grounds about four times to create a smooth, round puck of coffee.
5. Attach the portafilter to your machine and pull the shot.

Tamping the Coffee

Tamping ground coffee is an important skill to master. With practice and a little patience, it is something you can become skilled at doing. A good tamp creates resistance with evenly compacted coffee that causes the water used to brew the coffee to work harder in order to saturate the grounds and extract the coffee flavor. 

An easy way to check the quality of your tamp is to take a look at the coffee puck after brewing is complete. The puck should appear solid, dry and be evenly shaped. You will not want to see any water on top. If you do, that is an indication you need to tamp with more pressure. 

Frothing the Milk

Once your espresso has been brewed, it is time to prepare the milk portion of your cappuccino. If your espresso machine comes with a milk frother, you will want to use a container that has a handle and a spout to froth your milk in. To make cappuccino at home with a milk frother you will typically follow these steps:

1. Fill your milk container with cold milk about a third of the way full. 
2. Wipe the steam wand and clear it out by releasing steam for a few seconds.
3. Place the steam wand into the milk container, typically about  half an inch into the milk.
4. Using the steam wand you will increase the volume of your milk by about half.
5. Lower the steam wand deeper into the milk and continue to steam the milk until it reaches a temperature near 140 degrees fahrenheit. 
6. Your steamed milk and foam is ready to be poured into your espresso!

Making Espresso Without a Machine

Not ready to invest in an Espresso machine? No worries, there are many methods you can use to make espresso at home without a machine. For a complete guide, we recommend you check out How To Make Espresso at Home Without a Machine. 

Before you start the espresso brewing process, there are a few tools that will make brewing easier and more accurate. If you plan on brewing at home without a machine, we recommend the following tools:

1. An electric kettle with temperature control 
2. A conical burr grinder for an even and consistent grind
3. A scale with a timer for coffee measuring

Picking the Beans

Before making your espresso you need to decide on the most important element of the espresso brewing experience – the beans! The first and most important thing you will need in order to make the perfect cup is good coffee, such as the popular LaVazza Super Crema Espresso beans.

We have put together a list of the best espresso beans on the market today, click here to view it!!

Brewing Methods

There are three methods recommended for brewing espresso at home without an espresso machine. Today we will take you through each method and the tools we recommend you have on hand to perfect your espresso:

AeroPress (Recommended Method)
Moka Pot Method
French Press Method

Now that you have all your tools available, you are ready for the most rewarding part, creating the espresso. Below is a summary of how to create espresso using the three recommended brewing options:

• AeroPress – Is a popular kind of coffee press that uses a rapid, total immersion brewing process to produce delicious, smooth and full flavored coffee. Measure your desired amount of ground coffee and water. To brew with an AeroPress place a filter in the AeroPress drain and rinse with water. Put the drain cap on the AeroPress and place it directly on a sturdy cup. Place your ground coffee in the AeroPress and pour the heated water. Plunge the AeroPress and the process is complete.
• Moka Pot – Is a tiny kettle that provides an affordable, traditional way to make espresso-like coffee. Add water to the bottom of your Moka Pot, add the coffee to the filter basket and replace the Moka Pot’s top. Place the Moka Pot on your stove burner on medium heat. A brown foam will appear, and the top of the pot will fill with coffee. Remove it from the stove and enjoy!
• French Press – This popular coffee brewing option can also be used to make a concentrated brew. To use, add ground coffee to the French Press then pour boiled water in your french press and close the lid. Apply slow but steady pressure to the plunger and push it all the way down. Your coffee is now ready for your cup!

How to Make Steamed and Foamed Milk

Once your espresso has been brewed, you need to add both steamed and frothed milk in order to make it a cappuccino. 

If you have an espresso machine then you most likely will have a wand attachment that you can use to make the milk for your drink. If you don’t have a machine, there are still several easy, at home methods to steam and foam your milk to perfection.

Frothing the Milk

The rule of thumb is to heat your milk between 140 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit. You can heat your milk in the microwave or on low heat on the stove. Once heated you can use the following tools to create milk froth:

• Whisk – You can use a wired or electric whisk to create milk foam. SImply heat the milk, pour it into a bowl and then using the whisk gently beat the milk until you have created milk foam.
• Mason Jar – This is an easy do it yourself method to create milk foam for your drink. You will want to warm the milk, pour it into the jar and seal the lid. Use a towel or pot holder when handling the jar to avoid being burned. You will pick it up and give it several shakes until large bubbles appear.
• Immersion Blenders – We love immersion blenders as a tool for making amazing coffee drinks! Immersion blenders can also be used to froth heated milk. You simply warm the milk, place the milk in a deep cup and use the immersion blender to froth the milk.
• Frothing wand – A frothing wand is a small tool that is designed to easily create milk foam. To use, place the frothing wand in warm milk to create milk froth. 

Once your milk is heated and frothed you can add it to your espresso to create a delicious cappuccino!

Making Cappuccino With a Nespresso Machine

There is a good reason Nespresso has a  devoted following of over 7 million fans and growing!  

Nespresso machines simplify the guesswork, measurement and tools needed to brew an espresso and instead provide you with a warm, comforting brew with a touch of a button. Oftentimes your hardest task when it comes to operating your Nespresso is deciding which capsule to brew! 

Nespresso has captured the hearts of espresso and cappuccino lovers around the globe and it is very possible it might just capture yours too. 

Nespresso – How Does it Work?  

Want a cup of steaming espresso faster than you can say Nespresso? Then you have come to the right place! Nespresso is an easy to use single-serve espresso and coffee (depending on the model) making machine. For an in depth review of Nespresso Machines take a look at our review of Best Nespresso Machines.

Quick Buyers Guide: Top Picks for Nespresso Machines

1. Best Overall: Creatista Plus
2. Most Stylish: Machine: CitiZ
3. Most Innovative: Lattissima Pro
4. Best Compact Model: Pixie

Brewing a quick cup of espresso Nespresso is a very user friendly, effortless experience:

• First, you will select a Nespresso capsule that has a pre-measured amount of coffee in it and then place the capsule into the machine. 
• You will press the button to select your drink of choice
• The Nespresso machine will brew your drink in 60 seconds or less

With Nespresso you are able to enjoy barista quality drinks at the touch of a button. The simplicity of the machine makes it a popular choice for coffee lovers all over the world.

Cozy’s Favorite Cappuccino Recipe

There are many brewing options and variations that can be used to create a delicious cup of cappuccino. Our favorite cappuccino is one that has a classic, comforting flavor. To make our favorite espresso you will need the following ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 shots of espresso
• Sweetener to taste
• Ground Cinnamon

Once you have your ingredients assembled  this is how you will make your cappuccino:

1. Using any heating method you prefer, heat the milk and the cinnamon stick to a temp of 140 to 155 degrees fahrenheit. We like to let the milk and cinnamon stick simmer for up to 10 minutes.
2. Remove the cinnamon stick from the heated milk.
3. Pour the two shots of espresso and add sugar to taste.
4. Pour the hot milk into the cup.
5. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and serve hot.

Cozy’s Conclusion

Cappuccino is a popular classic italian drink that is created by layering expresso, steamed milk and milk foam. This versatile drink is bold yet comforting, and is the perfect complement to your day. 

There are many options for brewing espresso at home. You can choose to invest in an espresso machine, such as the Jura Automatic Espresso Brewer which can result in a barista worthy espresso brewing experience.

For those who are not yet ready to invest in an expensive espresso machine, there are many alternative options available on the market today. Nespresso is the leading one touch espresso brewing machine that simplifies the espresso brewing process at the push of a button. You also can opt to use less expensive but just as effective espresso brewing tools such as an AeroPress or Moka Pot. 

Regardless of which option you choose, the end result will be a hot, frothy cappuccino in your hand any time you want it. Happy Drinking!