A great latte recipe and how to do it without needing any espensive tools (no espresso machine)

This article is a continuation of the recent Knoxville Gourmet Food Examiner article The Aeropress: an unlikely coffee-making gift for someone who has everything.

In the recent article about the Aeropress, which is a clever device for making a very espresso-like beverage without needing an expensive espresso machine (the Aeropress costs around $30), suggested that the interesting little syringe-like gadget can be used to quickly and neatly make great coffee drinks like faux cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos, and breves.  Here, you can find out how to do that on those days when you don't want to go enjoy great coffee and company at a nice local coffee shop!

This recipe fills two 12 oz. mugs nearly full.  Note that the sugar is optional for folks that like sweet coffee.  It can be omitted completely or replaced as indicated with honey or some other sweetener.

Ingredients:

1. 4 scoops (tablespoons) of good, fresh coffee beans, finely and freshly ground;
2. 12 oz. water, boiled and allowed to cool to around 180 F, though not quite all will be used;
3. 12 oz. milk (whole milk and half and half blend preferable);
4. 1 tbsp. turbinado or evaporated cane juice, divided evenly (substitute 2 tsp. honey);
5. 1 splash good vanilla extract.

Tools:

1. An Aeropress (directions assume the Aeropress) or moka pot;
2. A saucepan;
3. A kettle;
4. A blender.

Directions:

1. Combine one half of the sugar and the vanilla extract with the milk in the saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until the sugar dissolves and the milk just starts to steam;
2. Meanwhile, boil the water and grind the coffee, put the coffee into the Aeropress (use the provided funnel that looks like a stand!).  Let the water cool for 4-5 minutes or until it reaches 180-190 F.  Put the other half of the sugar into the mug under the Aeropress.
3. Pour the water into the press up to the number "4" on the press (four shots! hence four scoops of coffee).  Stir well for 10-12 seconds and refil the Aeropress to the 4 as not quite as much water went is as it seems due to bloom and the coffee being dry.
4. Press the coffee through the Aeropress. Stir the result until the sugar is dissolved.
5. Meanwhile, pour the milk mixture into your blender and blend for 45 seconds to a minute on a fairly high speed.  This will produce a fair amount of microfoam on top of mostly steamed milk.  Perfect for a latte.
6. Distribute the coffee equally between two mugs (use a measuring cup as an intermediary, e.g.) and then top off with the hot milk and then the foam from the blender.
7. Enjoy hot!

For a cappuccino, reserve half of the steamed milk (or, do the pressing twice and make four cups using the same amount of milk among the four).  Make sure to get lots of foam in each cup if you can.

For an Americano, skip the milk entirely and simply add one part water per part Aeropress extraction.  Do what you will with it from there.

For a breve, skip the milk and steaming and blender.  Just add half and half to the concentrated coffee.

Local tip: Knoxvillians, you can get the aeropress, or just make great lattes at home if you have an espresso machine, with locally roasted coffee courtesy of the Vienna Coffee Company, a roastery in Maryville, TN, just south of Knoxville.  For a complete list of locations in and around Knoxville where you can have Vienna Coffee Company coffees or buy their freshly roasted coffee beans, see this link to the VCC website.

For more great recipes and cooking ideas, follow the Knoxville Gourmet Food Examiner by subcribing at the top of the page. You can also read more on his personal cooking blog: The Untrained Gourmet.