How to Make Cappuccino with Espresso Machine

Cappuccino is an Italian coffee beverage now popular all over the world for its outstanding taste and creamy texture. It comprises 3 distinct layers which give the pleasant look and also a perfectly balanced taste.

Making cappuccinos manually is a hard task to do. Moreover, the perfect consistency and amazing taste can only be acquired by years of coffee making experience. That’s when espresso makers come to rescue so that you can also make delicious cappuccinos by yourself with the help of an espresso maker and a milk frother.

Espresso machines with their multi-functioning abilities work within minutes moreover, extract the best flavor out of the coffee beans. By writing that your espresso machine should be perfect in every way for getting the premium coffee experience at home.

Check out our article best Italian espresso machines for a detailed review and information. If you are new to coffee making and trying out new coffee recipes, this article is the best for learning how to make cappuccino with an espresso machine.

You can also check out our article on how to make a latte with an espresso machine.

In this article, we will guide you with how you can make amazing and delicious lattes at home with an espresso machine within simple steps.

How to Make Cappuccino with Espresso machine

For making a single cup of cappuccino, you will require the following items:

• Espresso machine 
• Coffee grinder (if you will use whole beans)
• Cappuccino cup
• External Milk frother (if inbuilt is not included)
• 4 oz water
• 4 oz full fat milk 
• 2 tsp coffee grounds (any type you prefer)
• Cocoa powder, cinnamon (optional)

Before moving ahead, make sure your espresso machine is clean. You can also check our article- how to clean an espresso machine for detailed information.

Now, with no delay, let’s move to the recipe 

Step 1: Fill the Water Container

Fill the water container with water, preferably filtered water up to 4 ounces or more than that so that your machine won’t run out of water while brewing espresso. Lastly, reattach it.

Step 2: Start the Machine

Make sure your espresso machine is on an even surface. Furthermore, switch on the machine by plugging it into the mains. Moreover, do the same for an external milk frother. Now your espresso machine and milk frother will be in preheat mode. 

Step 3: Attach the Portafilter,

Detach the portafilter from the group head and add 2 teaspoons of coffee grounds into the portafilter basket. Tamp the grounds evenly with an espresso tamper so there will be no air left between. Furthermore, reattach the portafilter to the group head. 

Step 4: Pull out an Espresso Shot

Place the cappuccino cup below the nozzle and on the drip tray properly. Make sure the cup size is enough for your coffee size. If you have a foldable drip tray, defold the drip tray and place the coffee cup carefully on it.

If you have an automatic espresso machine, you simply have to press one of those preset functions for a cappuccino. However, if you don’t, go for the double espresso shot. Now within minutes, you will see your tasty espresso getting brewed.

Step 5: Steam the Milk 

If your espresso machine has an inbuilt milk frother or an external one, fill the milk reservoir with milk and press the start/steam button. The milk frother also has a heat up time so it may require 1-2 minutes max.

Also, it will take 5-6 minutes more to froth the milk. Therefore, we would suggest that you start it as soon as you start brewing your coffee. 

If you have an attached steam wand, let it heat up for some minutes then fill the milk container with the required quantity of whole milk and keep the wand nozzle below the milk surface and let it froth until your desired consistency and temperature is acquired.

If you have the option, always go for full-fat milk because it gives a good thick Crema. However, you can also use skimmed milk or low fat milk, but the results will not be the same as compared to full fat milk.

Step 6: Make the Cappuccino Cup ready   

Once your espresso gets poured into the coffee cup. Meanwhile, the frothed milk will be ready to use. For manually making a cappuccino cup, place the coffee cup on an even surface or take it in hand and slowly pour the steamed milk into the cup slowly you will be able to see 3 layers of cappuccino with the smooth Crema layer on the top.

Step 7: Tips to make it even better (optional)

If you are an artist or want to make latte art, you can easily make it with a milk frother. Additionally, a pinch of cocoa powder on the top of your cappuccino cup or some cinnamon powder will work best. 

Step 8: Cleaning the Machine

Cleaning the espresso machine is also important for the life of your machine. You need to run a cleaning cycle through the machine so there will be no coffee residue left. Moreover, empty the water reservoir and milk frother too if not to be used. 

You can check out how to clean an espresso machine for more information.

Conclusion

So, that’s how you make a delicious and tasty cappuccino cup at home. A perfect cappuccino requires the right amount of coffee grind, perfect milk thickness and temperature, which may seem as a tedious task for many new coffee makers here. 

However, espresso makers make it seem easier for many new coffee lovers. You can be a self learned barista by learning latte art. Espresso machines are easy to use, be it manual or automatic. Check out our article- how to use an espresso machine for a quick and detailed guide.

Moreover, you can also check out our article- best Italian espresso machines of 2021 if you are thinking of buying an espresso machine for making a cappuccino.