To make cappuccino at home, organise two preparations: coffee and foamed milk. Espresso is the usual base. Milk preparation depends on your equipment: a steam wand, automatic milk system or heated frother.
Before starting
- Coffee suited to your machine, or a capsule for the correct system.
- Milk or a plant-based drink suitable for your recipe and appliance.
- A cup with room for the complete drink.
- The container and accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Read the milk or plant-based drink's ingredients and storage instructions. Different products do not necessarily produce the same foam texture.
A straightforward sequence
- Prepare espresso following your equipment's recipe.
- Heat and foam the milk with the intended accessory, respecting filling limits.
- Add the milk to the coffee and finish with foam, adjusting proportions to your cup and taste.
- Serve and clean milk-contact components according to the manual.
Do not put milk into a water tank unless the machine expressly permits it. Follow the model's steam procedure; wand positioning and controls differ between machines.
Choosing coffee for cappuccino
Compare two coffees with the same recipe and milk quantity. Note whether you can still taste the coffee, whether the drink feels balanced and whether you prefer a different profile. Do not choose solely by the highest intensity number on the pack.
For beans, read our automatic-machine coffee guide. For capsules, check our compatibility guide.
Can you use moka coffee?
You can make a coffee drink with milk and foam using moka coffee, but the extraction differs from espresso. Treat it as its own recipe rather than expecting an identical result.
Explore coffee beans or ground coffee suited to your method. Your usual cup is the best place to compare.