Help with a latte problem?

[ep114]

I made it well into adulthood not drinking coffee of any kind, but recently I've fallen in love with lattes. And don't want to give them up. But I agree with you all - $5 is too expensive.   Do you have any suggestions for what I need to buy so I can make them at home.    **I have very little counter space, so smaller is better. And of course, I'd prefer not to spend too much.    Thanks!

[Rural]

I'm loving cafe au lait instead; you might try it before you spend money and dedicate counter space. It's half milk and half brewed coffee, and purists heat each separately and then pour together. Not being a purist, I pour half a cup of coffee, top it with a half cup of milk, and warm in the microwave. Saves muss and fuss that way, too, and it really does taste very different from plain coffee with cream.

[EK]

Okay for something simple that will still be really good (actually will probably be an improvement if your lattes are coming from a chain place like Starbucks): fill your mug half with milk until its hot.  It will probably take about a minute.  Optional step if you want to be fancy: use an aero latte wand to froth the milk.   In the mean time, make some espresso on the stove in a moka pot.  Then when it's ready pour the espresso from the moka pot into your mug with the hot milk.

Moka pots are small and can be had ridiculously cheap- I see them all the time at thrift stores for like $1 and even if you buy one new, they're only around $25.  If you're a 5 latte per week person, a moka pot will pay for itself in a week!!

[cerberusss]

Is Nespresso a brand in the US?

It's a coffee system where you put a pad/cup into the machine and brews a good espresso. The machine has a steamer so you can heat milk.

Put both in an aluminum cup with one of those screwed lids, and off you go.

I got a second-hand machine, cost me 40 (new price: 250) and is now two years old. Cups are expensive but you can get off-brand ones, and you drink only one anyway.

[plantingourpennies]

I bought a Rocky (grinder) and Silvia (espresso maker), about 6 years ago. the foaming wand is not the best in the world, but back then that machine was considered entry-level professional equipment. You can buy the updated versions together for about a thousand bucks.

I drink an average of 3 espresso shots a day outside of work-somebody else can do the math on this one, I need to go run =)

Best,
Mr. PoP

[PantsOnFire]

Moka pots are small and can be had ridiculously cheap- I see them all the time at thrift stores for like $1 and even if you buy one new, they're only around $25.  If you're a 5 latte per week person, a moka pot will pay for itself in a week!!

Moka pots are quite mustachian.  After years of drinking espressos and cappucinos from my fancy Krups espresso machine, one day it broke down.  The cost to repair was over $100 so I resorted to a moka pot until I figured out whether I wanted to invest in a "real" espresso machine again.  After some initial adjustment, I now prefer mokas over espressos any day of the week.  I have also developed a palate for Cafe Bustelo which is quite cheap compared to the gourmet brands.  http://tinyurl.com/jvlufko 

One side note: My old gas range didn't make the best mokas.  The burners were too wide to get good heat transfer into the small moka pot, so while the moka was rich and dark, it didn't quite have that pop that it should.  My new house has a radiant cooktop that makes the moka pot scream like a banshee, and the quality of the moka is much closer to a coffeehouse espresso. 

[frompa]

I use a cheapo battery powered hand held frother from ikea (we are talking like two bucks here) to use on milk heated on the stove. In a pinch, a whisk works as well.  Heat half a mug of milk and froth it while the making the coffee in the little pot. Roasting and grinding your own beans makes this even more fun and cheap. I find this supremely good as a treat, even though I am a dedicated daily tea drinker. Enjoy!

[boy_bye]

Brew some coffee in an aeropress, then add warm milk/cream to your liking. Delish, and a super cheap set up that makes excellent coffee.

[Joet]

if you like them find somewhere else in your budget to nix $5

[Guitarguy]

Brew some coffee in an aeropress, then add warm milk/cream to your liking. Delish, and a super cheap set up that makes excellent coffee.

This! If you've never liked coffee because it's too acidic without milk in it, try brewing with the pour over method. I've had some of the best black coffee in my life with this method and it's the cheapest way to make it because all you need is a grinder and the filter.

[grantmeaname]

You and I are kindred spirits. Here you go.