How to Make Delicious Espresso Drinks at Home

Classic Recipes

Classic Recipes are those that are traditional espresso drinks. They are simple to make, and generally require that you enjoy the strong taste of coffee.

Latte

A Latte is made with shots of espresso, and steamed milk. Larger coffee shops generally serve a latte in the ratio of one shot of espresso for drinks between 8 and 12 ounces and two shots for drinks between 16-20 ounces. This is more diluted than some independent coffee shops who use two shots in 8 and 12 ounce drinks.

Start Steaming the milk. Aerate milk for approximately 5-10 seconds depending on your machine. You want to build up a nice froth.
Pull espresso shots.
Add shots of espresso to bottom of cup.
Pour milk into cup, leave about 1/4 inch of foam.

Cappuccino

A Cappuccino is made like a latte, with a few differences. Cappuccinos are made with espresso shots and half steamed milk and half foam. The ideal cappuccino is made with meringue like foam.

Start Steaming the milk. Aerate milk for approximately 7-15 seconds depending on your machine. You want to build up a nice froth.
For cappuccinos milk must be aerated longer to create more foam.
Pull espresso shots.
Add shots of espresso to bottom of cup.
If you are confident your milk is steamed to an even milk to foam ratio, free-pour the milk into the cup. If you are a beginner you can hold off the foam with a spoon when pouring, and scoop foam on top after.

Americano

An Americano is espresso shots and hot water. With this drink, you can control how strong the coffee is. Starbucks and other large coffee shops use one shot in an 8oz, two in a 12oz, three in a 16oz and four shots in a 20oz.

Pull espresso shots.
Pour shots into cup.
Fill cup with hot water.

Espresso

Many people enjoy drinking straight espresso. This can be referred to as a “solo espresso” for one shot of espresso, a “doppio”, “triple”, or “quad”.

Straight espresso is best served in a warm, demitasse, ceramic mug.

Espresso Macchiato

An Espresso Macchiato is shots of espresso with a scoop of foam on top. This is usually served in a small demitasse cup.

Steam a small amount of milk creating nice, dense foam.
Pull espresso shots into cup.
Top shots with a scoop of foam, or more to your liking.

Espresso Con Pana

This drink is simply espresso with whipped cream.

Pull espresso shots into demitasse mug.
Top with whipped cream.

Sauce Recipes

These drinks are espresso based beverages that are flavored with thick sauces. The sauce generally gives the drink a nice creamy texture. Like lattes they should have a similar milk to espresso ratio. One shot of espresso for drinks between 8 and 12 ounces and two shots for drinks between 16-20 ounces These drinks require melting the espresso into the sauce to fully incorporate the flavor.

Mocha

Mochas are one of the most popular sauce based beverage. They are made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add sauce to the bottom of the cup. Add One tablespoon of sauce per 4 ounces of milk.
Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the sauce.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.

Caramel Sauce Latte

Caramel Sauce Lattes are made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, caramel sauce, and whipped cream.

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add caramel sauce to the bottom of the cup. Add One tablespoon of sauce per 4 ounces of milk.
Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the sauce.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.

Caramel Mocha

Caramel Mochas are made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, caramel sauce or syrup, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. Optionally it can be topped with caramel and chocolate drizzle.

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add caramel sauce/syrup and mocha to the bottom of the cup. Add One tablespoon of sauce per 4 ounces of milk. Some people add one tablespoon or each sauce per 4 ounces of milk. The sweetness is up to you.
Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the sauce.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.
For a special twist, top with caramel drizzle and/or chocolate drizzle.

Caramel Salted Mocha

Caramel Salted Mochas are made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and sea salt.

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add caramel sauce and mocha sauce to the bottom of the cup. Add One tablespoon of sauce per 4 ounces of milk. Adjust sauce amount to your liking.
Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the sauce.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.
Drizzle carmel over the top of whipped cream.
Top with sea salt.

The Candy Bar

Candy Bar Mochas are made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, hazelnut syrup, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. This drink is intended to taste like your favorite candy bar!

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add chocolate sauce and hazelnut syrup to the bottom of the cup. Now, add one tablespoon of chocolate sauce per 4 ounces of milk. Add one tablespoon of syrup for every 8 ounces of milk.
Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the sauce and syrup.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.
For a special twist, top with caramel drizzle and/or chocolate drizzle.
For a super special twist, top with crushed peanuts.

Spiced Pumpkin Latte

Spiced Pumpkin Lattes are made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, pumpkin spice sauce, and whipped cream.

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add pumpkin sauce to the bottom of the cup. Add One tablespoon of sauce per 4 ounces of milk.
Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the sauce.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.
Top with nutmeg, or other complimentary spice.

Peppermint White Mocha

Peppermint White Mochas are made with shots of espresso, steamed milk, peppermint syrup, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add white mocha sauce and mocha to the bottom of the cup. And, add One tablespoon of sauce per 4 ounces of milk. Add one tablespoon of syrup per 8 ounces of milk.
Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the sauce.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.
Optionally top with crushed candy cane, or chocolate bits.

Peppermint Mocha

Peppermint Mochas are with shots of espresso, steamed milk, peppermint syrup, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. These drinks are a holiday favorite!

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add mocha sauce and peppermint syrup to the bottom of the cup. Then, add One tablespoon of sauce per 4 ounces of milk. Add one tablespoon of syrup per 8 ounces of milk. Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the sauce.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.
Optionally top with crushed candy cane, or chocolate bits.

Syrup Lattes

Syrup Lattes are exactly like a latte, with the addition of a flavored syrup. Generally syrup are with shots of espresso, steamed milk, flavor, and optional whipped cream. Larger coffee shops generally serve a latte in the ratio of one shot of espresso for drinks between 8 and 12 ounces and two shots for drinks between 16-20 ounces. Syrup should be in the ratio of 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of milk.

Cinnamon Latte

A Cinnamon Latte is with Cinnamon syrup, shots of espresso, steamed milk, whipped cream, and a cinnamon powder topping.

Start steaming the milk.
Pull espresso shots.
Add cinnamon syrup to the bottom of the cup. Add One tablespoon of sauce per 8 ounces of milk.
Pour shots into cup.
Swirl or stir the shots into the syrup.
Pour in milk, holding back foam.
Top with whipped cream.
Top whipped cream with cinnamon and sugar topping.

Vanilla Latte

A vanilla latte is a classic with vanilla syrup, shots of espresso and steamed milk.

Start Steaming the milk. Aerate milk for approximately 5-10 seconds depending on your machine. You want to build up a nice froth.
Pull espresso shots.
Put syrup in bottom of the cup. One tablespoon of syrup for every 8oz of milk.
Add shots of espresso to bottom of cup.
Pour milk into cup, leave about 1/4 inch of foam.

French Vanilla Latte

A french vanilla latte is a classic with vanilla syrup, hazelnut syrup, shots of espresso and steamed milk.

Start Steaming the milk. Aerate milk for approximately 5-10 seconds depending on your machine. You want to build up a nice froth.
Pull espresso shots.
Put syrup in bottom of the cup. One tablespoon of syrup for every 8oz of milk. Use half of each hazelnut and vanilla syrup.
Add shots of espresso to bottom of cup.
Pour milk into cup, leave about 1/4 inch of foam.
Generally they do not come with whipped cream, but that is optional!

Caramel Macchiato

A Caramel macchiato is a Starbucks Classic. It is with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, shots of espresso, topped with caramel drizzle. The uniqe aspect of a caramel macchiato is that the shots are on top of the milk rather than stirred into the drink.

Start steaming milk.
Add vanilla syrup into the cup. One tablespoon per 8 ounces of milk.
Pour milk into cup, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch of foam on top.
Pull espresso shots.
Pour shots on top of foam.
Drizzle caramel on top of the drink. The drizzle should rest on top.