If You Can't Travel to Italy Then Try Making it at Home
I recently returned from a trip to the United States and one of the things that sticks in my mind still; happened when I stopped at StarBucks for a cappuccino. Now before I start my little tale, I must tell you that in Italy if you want to get an espresso or a cappuccino you pop in to an espresso bar. Usually you'll find a few tables if you want to sit down, but for the most part the standard operating procedure is: you pay first (a cappuccino is about a buck), then saunter up to the bar, get your espresso or cappuccino, drink it down and leave. It's a pretty fast process.
A cappuccino is usually served in a large cup-like saucer. A bit broader than a typical coffee-cup but not as large as a coffee mug. I'd venture to say it holds 8 ounces at the most. A cappuccino is generally served at a warm temperature. I'm not sure how to categorize "just right," but whatever that temperature is, that's what most cappuccino's are! Because again -- your average Italian is probably on his way to work and wants to get in and get out (of the coffee bar) and that can't be done if the cappuccino is so hot that it burns the roof of your mouth.
Well, getting back to my stay in the US: I decide to go into StarBucks and order a cappuccino and I was given this huge-ass cup that was probably 12 to 16 ounces, topped off with a mountain of whipped cream and nutmeg, had a cinnamon stick in it and a little wafer-thin cookie nestled in the whipped cream on top. Not to mention it must have cost about 5 bucks and there was no way I was going to drink this thing in a hurry. Especially since just working my way past the whip cream and nuts and whatever else was going to take a little while. Then by the time I did get to the coffee and milk, it was so darn hot that I had no other option except to sit and wait....for the thing to cool off.
Which brings me to....
Making your own cappuccino! It can be done! Not to take anything away from StarBucks -- I'm sure they have a large following ('cept in Italy) but if you want to make a cappuccino like the locals do then keep reading. If not, that's o-k. Just don't be disappointed when you visit motherland and can't find a cappuccino that also doubles as a meal.
But first - where did cappuccino really come from? Beats the heck outta me. I just drink it!
Whether the Capuchin monks were the originators of this exquisite hot beverage is unknown and tradition tells us that a properly prepared cappuccino of espresso and steamed milk leaves a brown ring along the rim of the cup much like the edge of the monk's cowl. So now you know!
So much for history. Now on to the good stuff!
A cappuccino is simply made with espresso and milk. Espresso is an Italian term that can be translated as "pressed out" or "fast" and refers to a method of brewing coffee. A cappuccino encompasses three parts - one part espresso, one part steamed milk, and one part frothed milk. Some people refer to the ingredients of an espresso as being 1/3rd espresso and 2/3's foam, which is also acceptable. Additionally, it is possible to make a dry cappuccino, which is a cappuccino drink that has less milk.
I present to you two ways to make a great cappuccino: the cheap way and the I-have-a-300-dollar-espresso-machine way. Both taste pretty good. Although the first method costs a heck of lot less than the second.
To make a great CHEAP cup of cappuccino, all that you have to do is follow these steps:
Make coffee in an Italian coffee pot. They cost about 3 euro in this neck of the woods. Don't know how much they cost over where you are. (Don't worry, you can always drop me a line and I'll get one for you).
Warm up a cup of whole milk (you can use skimmed milk if you want)
Mix one third espresso with two-thirds milk
Take the mini-frulatore' and run it for 10 seconds on high. The frulatore' is like a mini-beater and costs 1 euro. It runs on one AA battery. The frulatore' whips up the milk and gives it a head of foam. The coffee sits underneath.
Presto! Foamy cappuccino just like mom used to make.So the cheap way is obviously not good enough for you or you wouldn't still be reading. Perhaps you want to impress someone. Perfectly understandable. So let's assume you have purchased an espresso machine. The following recipe from http://coffeemakersmadeinusa.net is as good as any I've seen:
- Using an espresso machine, make about 1 ½ ounces of espresso.
- Place the finished espresso in a cup and then set the espresso machine to the steam function.
- Insert the steam nozzle of your espresso machine into a stainless-steel carafe that contains three ounces of cold milk until it is halfway down in the milk. Open up the steam nozzle which causes the milk to bubble up and get foamy.
- All it takes is between 45 and 60 seconds for the milk to become hot enough and for it to foam to your preference. -
- Add 1 ½ ounces of steamed milk to the cup of espresso. Add some of the foamed milk onto the top of the espresso. Drink up -- add sugar as desired.
Personally I like 'ol Gar's cheap method. Now a word or two about coffee. My preference is Lavazza Creamy Blend. Not quite as sharp as some other brands. I also like an Arabic import with a name I can't even pronounce. But I doubt it's available in the states. Again, drop me a line and I'll be happy to pick some up for you.
So that's all that is involved in making a cappuccino. I wish it were more hi-tech but it's not. Simple, tasty and it beats whatever I got served at StarBucks.
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