Here’s How to Make Your Favourite Hot Drinks at Home

How to Make a Latte

A latte is a rich coffee drink made with two parts steamed milk to one part espresso. You can froth milk with an espresso machine or use a milk frother or whisk to whip up scalded milk: 

1.  Make two shots (60 ml) of espresso 

2. Steam 125 ml whole milk and froth 

3. Pour espresso into a mug big enough to hold coffee and foam 

4. Top with frothy milk

How to Make a Cortado

A cortado is made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk. It’s bolder than a latte and served in a smaller glass cup:

1. Make two shots (60 ml) of espresso 

2. Steam 125 ml whole milk and froth 

3. Pour espresso into cortado glass and top with steamed milk

How to Make a Café Au Lait

Made with equal parts strong coffee and steamed milk, a café au lait is milder and creamier than other espresso drinks:

1. Make 125 ml strong coffee 

2. Steam 125 ml whole milk and froth 

3. Pour coffee into a cup and top with steamed milk

How to Make a Cappuccino

A cappuccino is like a latte, but it’s made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foam:

1. Make two shots (60 ml) of espresso 

2. Steam 250 ml (8 oz) whole milk and froth enough milk so the foam is equal to espresso and milk 

3. Pour espresso into a cup and top with foam and milk

How to Make a Macchiato

Lighter than a latte, a café macchiato is made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk foam: 

1.  Make two shots (60 ml) of espresso 

2. Steam 125 ml whole milk and froth 

3. Pour espresso into a cup and top with foam

How to Make an Americano

A café americano is made with hot water and espresso with varying ratios of espresso to water to taste:

1.  Make two to four shots (60 - 125 ml) of espresso 

2. Heat water in an espresso machine or kettle and add hot water to the espresso to taste

How to Make Tea in Tea Bags

It’s simple enough to make tea this way, but it is important to know how long to steep tea to achieve your desired taste:

1. Place a tea bag into a mug 

2. Boil cold water in a kettle 

3. Pour hot water over the tea bag and steep to taste or the generally recommended time (green tea (1-2 minutes), black tea (2-3 minutes), and herbal tea (up to 5 minutes) 

4. Remove tea bag and enjoy

How to Make Loose Leaf Tea

Brewing loose leaf tea allows water to flow through the leaves to extract vitamins, minerals and flavours. With a tea infuser, it’s a simple process:

1. Weigh out 2-3 grams of tea for every 180 ml of water 

2. Boil cold water in a kettle 

3. Pour hot water over the infuser and steep according to your tea variety or preferred strength 

4. Remove the infuser and enjoy

How to Make Mulled Cider

Mulled cider is a hot, spiced apple drink that’s perfect for chilly weather. Here’s a stovetop method for approximately eight cups: 

1. In the bottom of a deep pot, over medium heat toast, the following spices: whole nutmeg, 10 allspice berries, 10 cloves, 2 star anise, and 4 cinnamon sticks 

2. Reduce heat to low, add 2 litres of apple cider and warm just below boiling for an hour 

3. Garnish with orange slices and cranberries

How to Make Hot Chocolate

A mug of creamy hot chocolate is great for a chilly night and evokes happy childhood memories. Convenient powdered mix will certainly do in a pinch but making it from scratch is part of the fun:

1.  In a pot over low heat, whisk 45 ml of cocoa powder with 500 ml of whole milk until smooth 

2. Add 32 grams of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, 2.5ml of vanilla extract, a pinch of cinnamon, and heat on medium until the chocolate melts and serve