Coffee & Espresso · Buying guide
Home Espresso Drinks: 6 Café Classics You Can Make With a Steam Wand
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Once you can pull a decent shot, one machine covers nearly the whole café menu. These six drinks use simple ratios you can adjust to taste. They work with any espresso machine that has a steam wand, including the Breville Barista Express.
Looking for a machine? Read our Breville Barista Express review or check the Barista Express on Amazon.
Start with a good shot
- A common starting ratio is about 18 grams of ground coffee for roughly 36 grams of espresso in 25 to 30 seconds. Adjust your grind finer if the shot runs fast and coarser if it runs slow.
- Use fresh, whole beans and grind just before brewing.
- Every drink below uses that shot as its base.
The six drinks
1. Espresso
One shot, served straight in a warm cup. The baseline for everything else.
2. Americano
One or two shots topped with 4 to 6 ounces of hot water. Pour the water over the shots to keep the crema.
3. Latte
One or two shots with about 6 to 8 ounces of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. Steam the milk until it is hot to the touch and glossy, not stiff.
4. Cappuccino
Roughly equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foam. Stretch the milk longer on the wand to build more foam.
5. Flat white
A double shot with about 4 ounces of silky steamed milk and very little foam, for a stronger coffee flavor than a latte.
6. Iced latte
Fill a glass with ice and cold milk, then pour one or two hot shots over the top. Add syrup to the glass first if you like it sweet.
Tips for better drinks
- Purge the steam wand before and after every use, and wipe it right away.
- Cold milk in a cold pitcher gives you more time to build microfoam.
- Warm your cup with hot water first so the drink stays hot.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a special machine for lattes?
You need an espresso machine with a steam wand to steam milk. Drip coffee makers can't make true espresso drinks.
Which milk froths best?
Whole milk is the easiest to foam. Many plant milks, especially barista blends, also steam well.
Is it cheaper than buying coffee out?
Over time a home setup can pay for itself if you buy café drinks regularly, though machines and beans are an upfront cost.
How we wrote these
These are standard café ratios offered as starting points. Taste and adjust for your beans, your machine and your milk.