When it to a hot summer day, an iced latte is considerably one of the most sought-after coffee beverages in the world today. Iced latte is known for its creamy yet caffeine-filled flavor. It is the perfect quenching drink for those craving the taste of coffee on a hot day. Considering this, wouldn’t it be nice to have your own iced latte machine at home? If you’re interested, we have everything you need to know about lattes and the best iced latte machine.
What is Iced Latte?
Before we go over the whats and whys of the best iced latte machine, it is only right to know what an iced latte is. As mentioned earlier, it is considered one of the most popular coffee-based drinks commonly sold in coffee shops around the world. Made using a combination of espresso and milk poured over a glass filled with ice, an iced latte still captures the bitter-sweet taste of coffee that is perfect for coffee lovers and enthusiasts.
Latte vs Cappuccino vs Macchiato
As well, all might know, several coffee beverages are a combination of espresso and milk, much like a latte. So how does latte differ from other coffee shop favorites such as cappuccino and macchiato? The drinks’ primary difference is the ingredients and process of making the drink.
For cappuccinos, the recipe also includes a shot of espresso and milk. However, the milk is not merely poured over the espresso but rather steamed and frothed to create volume and its iconic foam on top. As for the macchiato, this drink is considered to be a latte that has notably less milk. Thus, it has a lot more dominant and stronger coffee flavor instead of a more creamy and balanced milky taste.
How To Make Iced Latte
Now that we know what makes latte different from cappuccino and macchiato let us dig deeper by going through how to make iced latte at home. Considering that lattes use espresso, it is ideal that you use an espresso machine. However, we also prepared a simple AeroPress recipe to make a latte without a machine.
With An Espresso Machine
Making a latte using an espresso machine is fairly easy and simple as long as you know how to pull a shot of espresso properly. Once that you pulled your espresso shot, combine the espresso, milk, and your choice of sweetener in a glass filled with ice. Stir the drink well to let each ingredient mix well before drinking.
Without an Espresso Machine
Tweaking the way you brew your coffee is an effective and convenient alternative that can be used in order to brew coffee with the same strength as an actual espresso shot. Here is how you make a homemade latte without a dedicated iced latte machine:
- First, grind your coffee beans as fine as possible, then measure an appropriate amount of ground for you to brew. Our suggestion is to use about 15g to 17g of ground coffee depending on your desired strength.
- To create a strong and concentrated cup, you would have to brew your coffee at a high coffee ratio to water. In this recipe, we used 12.5 grams of water per 1 gram of ground coffee.
- Once you have completed your brew, prepare the rest of your ingredients.
- Using a cocktail shaker, fill the container with ice and pour your strong coffee brew.
- Add about 12 to 16oz of milk depending on your preference of milkiness and creaminess.
- Secure the shaker’s lid and shake intensely for at least 30 seconds to create the froth of the latte.
- Pour the latte over a glass filled with glass and enjoy.
Things to Consider When Getting an Iced Latte Machine
Despite knowing how to make iced latte without an espresso machine, having an iced latte machine at home is still considered the most convenient and efficient way of making iced latte. But what exactly should you be looking for when it comes to choosing the best iced latte machine?
Price
Considering the plethora of coffee machines’ choices in the market nowadays, choosing the best model can be a little bit difficult. Knowing that coffee machines also comes in a variety of models set at different price ranges, having a specific budget or price range in mind can help limit your choices to a particular set of coffee machines. With this, it would be easier to find the best value iced latte machine model that is best suited for your needs.
Ease of Use
As mentioned earlier, having a dedicated iced latte machine is supposed to make the whole process a whole lot easier and faster. Considering that some coffee machines now can brew different coffee drinks with a button press, it is better to choose a model that does not make the process any more complex. This includes having a user-friendly user interface as well as clear and straightforward brew options.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Coffee machines are not the easiest to clean and maintain. It is important to consider the cleaning and maintenance the device need to ensure its quality and longevity. Luckily, some devices have dishwasher-safe features, which makes cleaning and maintenance a lot easier.
Conclusion
Considering that iced latte is one of the most popular drinks in the world right now, having an iced latte machine at home can rid you of the trouble of heading to your local coffee shop whenever you crave its creamy coffee goodness. However, choosing the best iced latte machine is not as easy as ordering it from the counter. Hopefully, this article was able to provide you enough information in order for you to choose the best iced latte machine for you. Here’s more to learn about lattes.