Making a great cup of cappuccino is something between an art and a science. There are three key elements involved: espresso, milk that has been steamed, and the foam which results from the steaming process. For a perfect cup, these three parts must be in perfect proportion and at the perfect temperature.
It is worth to point out that the foam on the milk only comes from the correct use of the frothing wand, which is an inseparable part of every professional espresso maker, it is what allows to warm up and froth the milk using pressurized steam.
The World Barista Championship rules define a traditional cappuccino as a 'five- to six-ounce beverage.' This is also the size of the beverage served by many continental cafes. Within reason, the shorter the cappuccino, the better.
Espresso is a concentrated beverage brewed by forcing very hot, but not boiling, water under high pressure through coffee beans ground to a consistency that is somewhere between extremely fine and powder. The topping on the espresso is known as "Crema", the golden-amber or reddish foam that floats on top of the coffee.
But the king of contemporary espresso beverages is probably the latte (pronounced "lah-tay", which is an Italian word that literally translates to "milk"). A latte, or "caffe-latte", is basically a cup of foamy milk with a shot of coffee stirred in for good measure. Lattes are for people who do not like coffee very much.
There was a time when only a skilled cook (actually the barista), would master the steps to making a great latte or a great cappuccino, but now the widespread use of household espresso machines has brought the art of how to make them to the public. While purists may prefer a semi-automatic pump machine, which brings more pressure than a steam-driven, fully automatic steam-driven machines capable to prepare perfect, wonderful drinks with a simple touch of a button are also available. Depending on the brand, on the materials, on the implemented features and on the manufacturing technology, the price of these machines may vary from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Source : ezinearticles.com
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