How to make a good Latte at home?
Start with good coffee, no Folgers, etc… Make sure your coffee is fresh. Beans no more than two weeks old, ground within the last day or two. If it’s older than that, give it away to somebody that is just as happy to drink instant. Grind the coffee very fine. When you tamp it down, compact it as much as you can. If your espresso maker is not a pump type, consider getting one. The more pressure you get on the water, the better. Hamilton Beach makes a good, inexpensive pump type. How much you froth the milk has a big effect on what kind of drink you get. Lattes are usually just steamed milk (not much froth), I prefer what’s called a wet cappuccino, which has a little more froth. A better espresso maker will usually do a better job of frothing the milk. Whole milk or 1/2 & 1/2 will make the drink richer, but that is a matter of taste. As far as how much sugar and how strong; the trick is to measure carefully and try different combinations.
