The perfect double latte

What makes a good double latté?

I love cafe latte. It is my favourite type of coffee and I think it is great for people who don’t like coffee that much because the flavour is just so good.

I was sitting at a coffee shop in Cape Town and sipping on a good double latté and thinking what in fact makes a good latte. A few things came to my mind.

So what does make a good latté? Well first of all I would say you would look at the froth factor because anybody could heat some milk and pour coffee in at an angle, but often you get a latté and it just has a few bubbles on top. To me this is just not right. It should almost look and taste as if your froth has turned into a thick layer of cream taking up a good inch of your mug or glass. It’s always a nice touch if a heart or some sort of logo has been engraved with a little cocoa.

A latté has to be served in the appropriate latte glasses. You wouldn’t serve a cappuccino in an espresso cup so mugs or proper glasses are the best gear. Some shops will offer you a latte grande and will serve it in tall latte cups, which is probably better because they will retain the heat.

• I prefer my coffee strong so I would go for a double latte, but that's up to you of course. The espresso should also be the best because espresso is one of the most important factors that make up the latte and you should be able to taste if your latte was made properly in a proper latte maker.
  

You get amazing flavors. Some people prefer to stick to plain old latté, but if you are one for experimenting make sure you get something that tastes like what you ordered. If it is meant to be a Chai tea latté then it should taste like one! Here in South Africa we have a popular tea, called Rooibos, which is imported to many places all over the world. This is a newish flavor, which I was a little weary about, but the Red Latte is a fantastic subtle taste for tea lovers and some people will only drink Rooibos tea.

I used to be quite happy drinking filter coffee, but it’s a whole new way of life since I have come back from Brazil and started drinking proper filter coffee. I think anyone would be converted after visiting a country like that.

Here is a recipe you can use which I made I think by mistake when I had too much cream.

• Have whipped cream mixed with sugar ready,

• fill your cup of coffee up, leaving a little space for the cream
• scoop in the cream and add a little melted chocolate on top
  

Variations

These variations can be mixed into the cream

• Vanilla extract and sugar. You can also you a vanilla bean.

• ½ chilli deseeded mixed with ¼ cup chopped chocolate

• Cinnamon mixed with sugar