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7/30/12


COFFEE AT HOME // A beginner's attempt at cafe au lait

7/30/12
cafe au lait at home 1a

Even though all my classmates would be chugging through cup after cup of coffee when we'd stay up all night getting projects done during college, I always held coffee at an arm's distance. Mainly because I never wanted to spend money on it, and it always made me kind of jittery and shaky.

However, all of that changed when I had first cup of coffee with milk. Don't get me wrong- I still didn't want to spend money on it, and it still made me jittery, but it tasted so good that it was enough to win me over!

Now that coffee has become a regular part of my morning routine (I've been really spoiled by the fancy espresso machine at work) I decided to give it a try at making it at home to enjoy it on the weekends, and to save some money. What I really wish I could learn is how to make lattes at home, but I decided to stop myself from doing this being that I have absolutely zero barrista skills, and decided to start with something simpler and that didn't involve buying machines.


Some Ingredients:
cafe au lait 2
cafe au lait 3
cafe au lait 31
cafe au lait 30
cafe au lait 5

What I did:
I don't have a name for what I made, but it's probably closest to a cafe au lait. I read that a true cafe au lait is coffee with steamed milk, but I couldn't resist adding a little bit of milk foam, because that to me is the best part. And I also used a coffee dripper, instead of a french press. (Coffee experts, please forgive me!) I added some chocolate shavings that were leftover from a milkshake I made for taylor, and it tasted really good as it was melting into the milk and coffee, a small extra that made a big difference!

1. Ground coffee beans and put in filter over coffee dripper. I used Sumatra beans.

2. Boil water, I let it sit for a while and tried to keep it at 200 degrees to keep the coffee from coming out bitter. Poured it into filter in increments (waited a few minutes in between pours)

3. Poured milk into jar, shook it until it doubled in size, and then microwaved on high for 45 seconds.

4. Poured equal parts milk (used a spoon to keep the foam from spilling in) and cofee into cup, and then scooped the top layer of foam on top with chocolate shavings.


cafe au lalit 6
cafe au lait 12

It wouldn't say that it was restaurant quality, but I suppose it will get better with practice. There are so many intricacies and details involved with making coffee that I was totally unaware of! One thing I could definitely get used to though, is an apartment smelling like fresh coffee in the morning!

6 comments:

Bekkah said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Impressive. I'm not a coffee drinker just bc I don't like it, but I've got some friends that are trying to convert me. Another friend of mine gave me a light hazelnut roast that I'm thinking might be my gateway, but I haven't tried it yet.

Emy Augustus said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

your photos are so immersive. :)

Love the look and feel of french presses, but they are slightly annoying to clean.

helen said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

melody! i never drink coffee, but after these amazing pictures, i think i might want to. only if it's surrounded by flower petals and coffee beans, though :)

Translated: UnderTheSun said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I think they say, coffee is a gateway drug ;)

Miss your face Melody!!!!!!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I love that first photo a whole lot. It's beautiful and so creative.

Wren

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I love cafe au lait. I'm a big coffee drinker and that's how I usually drink it. Your pictures are stunning.

I found you through Ruby's (My Cakies) blog! Newest follower! ;)

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