Stove Top Cappuccino Recipes

THE PERFECT CAPPUCCINO

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place the water into the boiler of your espresso machine.
• Place the 2 tablespoons (2 shots) of ground coffee into the portafilter.
• Tamp (press) the coffee down using a tamper. Do this 2 to 3 times to make sure the grounds are packed tightly.
• Place the portafilter into your espresso machine's group head and lock it in place by turning it to the right.
• Place a demitasse cup or the glass carafe that came with your espresso machine under the group head and pull the shot for 23 to 30 seconds, or until 2 ounces of espresso is yielded. Typically, there is a lever, switch, or button to start this process.
• Once the shot is pulled, foam the milk.
• Place the milk into either a glass measuring cup or a small metal pitcher.
• Insert the steam wand into the container with the milk, just under the surface of the milk.
• Engage the steam wand on your espresso machine. (You may need to read your espresso machine's manual for this, as each espresso maker is a little different.)
• Make sure to keep the tip of the wand toward the side of the container. This will create a vortex with the milk.
• Move the container higher, lower, closer, then further so that the steam wand can incorporate the air into the milk, making the foam. The bubbles should get smaller and smaller as you do this.
• Once the milk has foamed to double its size, turn the steam wand off.
• Top the espresso with foamed milk right after foaming. When initially poured, cappuccino is only espresso and foam, but the liquid milk quickly settles out of the foam to create the (roughly) equal parts foam, steamed milk, and espresso for which cappuccino is known.

STOVE-TOP CAPPUCCINO

Steps:

• Fill bottom part of a stovetop espresso pot with water to the pressure-gauge line. Drop in filter basket. Add a heaping tablespoon of espresso for every 3 ounces of water. Screw shut. Cook over medium heat until intense boiling stops and top compartment is full, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Pour milk into a mug, and microwave to heat through (or heat in pan on stove top).
• Place a small (4-inch) whisk in hot milk. Holding the handle of the whisk between your palms, rapidly twirl back and forth until foam appears, about 20 seconds. Pour coffee into mug; sweeten if desired.

ICED CAPPUCCINO

Steps:

• Fill a short glass with ice. Pour in espresso. Sweeten as desired. Top with foamed milk. Dust with ground cinnamon.