Easy Cappuccino

Is it a caffe latte? Is it a cappuccino? No, it’s a fakeaccino – easy, cheap and delicious!

Do you love cappuccino or frothy caffe latte, but have no fancy, expensive, bulky expresso machine?

Now you can enjoy a mug of this style of coffee at home, easily and cheaply, using just a coffee plunger (Cafetiere or French Press)* and a microwave. (Coffee purists, don’t protest- you can go the whole hog with your $500 machine if you like!)

I have one plunger at home and another at work, so I can have my fakeaccino whenever I like! 

*My mum actually invented this method for frothing the milk- it's the best I've found and works for hot chocolate as well as coffee.
  

Step 1 What you need

You will need:

• Large cup or mug (I use a mug which widens at the top, this seems to work better). If you want to use a smaller cup, just adapt the quantities.

• Small plunger-style coffee jug (the kind that has a glass jug that lifts out of its holder, and a fine mesh plunger). I got mine for $4.

• Microwave oven

• Strong coffee :

~ brewed if you prefer- (you can use your plunger, then put the coffee in a pot or cup to re-heat and wash out the plunger thoroughly). The notes in italics in these instructions refer to the brewed coffee option.

or - gasp-

~ instant coffee (I actually prefer instant, to my mother and my son’s horror)

• Milk (light or full fat as you prefer; not super fresh is better for frothing, apparently)

• Sugar/sweetener if you want

• Powdered chocolate/cinnamon etc to sprinkle on top if you like

Comments

[triumphman]

Great idea! I always wanted a quick way to froth up the hot milk or 1/2 & 1/2 ! I have many french presses of various sizes. One small one makes one cup of coffee. It is perfect to froth up the hot milk. Thank you so much for the idea! Top of the Lorrry to you mate!

[Puzzledd]

Glad you like the idea- people at work look at me a bit strangely at times but it's worth it ;)

[kemoshea713]

I actually tried this when we first moved into our house, and it tastes pretty close to machine quality. It just seemed like a little much of a hassel to get everything together and wait. I went and bought a $40 espresso maker with a steamer, and now it takes me less than 5 miutes to make 2 large lattes or cappucinos even early in the morning. I guess I'm a little too lazy to try other ways again.

If the machine ever breaks, I'll know that there is always another good way to make drinks. : )

[Puzzledd]

Thanks for your comment:) Your $40 espresso machine sounds a bargain. I know a couple of people who have paid over $500 for theirs! I actually have an espresso machine in the cupboard but can't be bothered to go through all the process with ground coffee etc (plus my milk never frothed much with the machine). Guess it depends what you get into the habit of doing ;)

[mollycule]

I know this is from a while ago, but I wanted to say thanks for posting, this makes an awesome soy cappucino! We have an espresso machine, but honestly I love the foam I get from using my little press pot and unsweetened soy milk.

Also with you on the instant coffee. I bought a little container of Medaglia D'Oro instant espresso to have coffee while camping, thinking that it was going to be an awful substitute but I can't camp without coffee... but it was delicious and I use it at home all the time! Sure its not the best espresso you can get, but its reliably tasty without all the work.

[Puzzledd]

Thanks for the comments... I hadn't tried it with soy milk (never got use to the flavour) and I like low-fat milk ).

I took my kit away with me (just the plunger part and a tall mug that fits it) last weekend on a group camp, as I really like my fakeaccino.

Your "instant" coffee sound pretty flash to me- I just use Nescafe Blend 43/Gold mix, cheap & easy. I do love a really good cafe latte, though ;)

I'm so pleased the press "frothing" works for you!

[danielcervantesph]

nice
excellent idea for a french press
you are good

[fungus amungus]

Interesting trick. I am also a little shocked at the instant coffee, but I am not one to doubt another's satisfaction.

I'd try that with my own french press, but mine is much bigger. I use a 12-cup press at home. Might just use a hand blender. Also, Ikea sells a frother for $2.

[Puzzledd]

I've tried a stick blender, whisk , small expresso machine and a special frother (like a small plunger in a tube, made by a coffee company) but nothing worked as well as this. I was a bit obsessed!
I ended up buying a $4 cafetiere, as I think it may have been called- and it works brilliantly.
The frother was OK, though, better than nothing. You can eat your milk in a tall mug to use it. Thanks for the reminder!

[Puzzledd]

Oh, that should be HEAT your milk in a tall mug, not eat it!

[tkjtkj]

hey ..thanks for this 'structable .. gonna try it now ..

(oh , and there isn't any 'x' in espresso ... nearly everyone thinks there is, but there isn't ..so don't feel bad ;)

[Puzzledd]

Thanks for the correction- you'd think with all the Italian heritage in Melbourne , we'd have our terminology more accurate, but "expresso" is the norm, as is "latte", rather than caffe latte.

[Screamo]

yumm! i love coffee but im not allowed to drink it :(

[Puzzledd]

This works a treat for hot chocolate, too, if you're allowed that... ;)

[jhines0042]

I believe your "coffee plunger" to be a French Press. Is that correct or is this something different than a French Press?

Nice tip, I will have to try this at home with my Keurig machine coffee and see how it works.

[Puzzledd]

Could be - I haven't heard of a French Press; we just talk about plunger coffee when we make it that way. You certainly press down on the plunger to make the coffee...
Thanks for your comment:)

[killerjackalope]

It is, a french press or cafetiere as they're known...

[Puzzledd]

Thanks for that- I'll add those terms in to make it clearer!

[killerjackalope]

Cool, over here we just call it by its actual name but know the term French press...

[joen]

Nice! Where did you get your $4 French press?

[Puzzledd]

Local $2 shop - we have lots of good ones in Melbourne, with cheap Asian goods. I've also seen "metal" ones in Safeway for around $12, but I'm stingy.

(In the picture, I've actually combined an old metal plunger with a cheap glass jug as I keep breaking the jugs on my slate floor).

At work, I use a spare plunger with a tall, narrow mug as I broke the glass jug... works well but not quite as frothy.