Cappuccino recipe: espresso, steamed milk, and foam
Jack Donnell
At a glance
Make a small cappuccino with espresso, warm milk, and a generous foam cap. Includes a measured home recipe and fixes for large bubbles or weak coffee.
A cappuccino pairs espresso with steamed milk and a more pronounced foam cap than a latte. This small home version uses one espresso and 1/3 cup of milk before frothing. It is designed for a 6 fl oz cup, with room for the foam to expand.
Think about the finished texture rather than trying to measure three perfectly equal layers. Milk expands as it is aerated, so the volume in the pitcher changes while you work.
Cappuccino recipe
Yield: 1 drink · Prep: about 2 minutes · Cook/brew: about 3 minutes · Total: about 5 minutes
Use these quantities as home starting points and adjust to taste. Times are estimates; allow extra time for an espresso machine to warm up. US volume measures are approximate metric conversions.
Equipment
Espresso machine, steam wand or milk frother, pitcher, spoon, and a 6 fl oz cup.
Ingredients
- 1 espresso, about 1 fl oz (30 ml)
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) milk
- A small pinch of unsweetened cocoa, optional
Instructions
- Prepare the cup. Warm a small cup with hot water, empty it, and brew the espresso into it.
- Froth the milk. Warm and aerate the milk using your equipment instructions. Create more foam than you would for a latte, while keeping the bubbles fine.
- Blend the texture. Swirl the pitcher gently. Tap it lightly on the counter if a few large bubbles remain; avoid splashing hot milk.
- Finish the cappuccino. Pour the milk into the espresso and spoon the remaining fine foam over the top. Add the optional pinch of cocoa and serve immediately.
Tips and adjustments
Use a smaller cup
A large mug makes it tempting to keep adding milk. Use the measured quantity and leave the cup partly empty if your vessel is oversized.
Foam disappears quickly?
Pour as soon as the milk is ready. Milk that sits in the pitcher separates into liquid and a stiff foam layer.
Want a stronger version?
Try a double espresso with the same milk amount and use a slightly larger cup. That is a different coffee-to-milk balance, not simply a larger serving of this recipe.
Common questions
Do I need cocoa on a cappuccino?
No. Cocoa is an optional topping. The espresso, milk, and foam make the basic drink.
How is it different from a latte?
This recipe uses less milk and a fuller foam cap. A latte typically has more liquid milk and a thinner layer of foam.
More coffee recipes
Browse all coffee recipes or return to our recipe collection.
Further reading: Cappuccino explained. The measured preparation above is a Chroma home starting version.
Illustrative stock photo: Pexels, used under the Pexels license.