Coffee Beans Roasting

First of all, the only real distinction between an espresso and a latte is the amount of steamed milk that you incorporate into the beverage.  The basic components of a standard, no-frills latte are simply single shot of fresh espresso poured into a 6-8 ounce coffee cup, and enough steamed milk to fill the cup the rest of the way.  One of the signature trademarks of a great latte is the thin layer of milk foam that remains on top after the espresso and steamed milk are incorporated together.  It may take a few tries before you are able to both texture milk like a pro and add espresso to it without losing the desired foaminess, but with practice you will be making beautiful lattes like a native Italian. Once you master latte recipes you won't want to look for anything else. Once you have your standard latte down to science, it is time to start building on it to create delicious and unique espresso beverages.  And one of most satisfying types of lattes is simply a latte with sugar added.  Indeed, many people can’t stomach coffee beverages without the addition of a sweetener, and good old-fashioned sugar is generally the sweetener of choice.  A good ration of sugar to latte is two teaspoons to one tablespoon of sugar per 6-8 ounces of latte; of course this generally a matter of personal preference, and can be adjusted according to the taste of whomever you are preparing the latte for. Another way to customize your latte is through the addition of flavored syrups and/or caramel or chocolate topping.  One of the single most popular lattes sold at high-end coffee shops is the macchiato. Macchiato simply means ‘marked,’ though most commercially made macchiato’s are beautifully prepared, and are truly a site to behold.  To inspire awe in your own guests at home, try this simple macchiato latte recipe.  Simply lace the inside of a coffee cup or glass (preferably clear, and dependent upon whether your latte is going to be hot or iced) with caramel syrup.  Then pour in two shots of espresso, and either top with cold or textured milk, a swirl of whipped cream, and an additional drizzle of caramel syrup (if you are making an iced latte, add a handful of ice before the whipped cream and drizzle of caramel.)  Serve immediately. Now see what exciting latte recipes you can come up.