Help me make coffee...

[twainny]

... and save money too. I have become addited to Starbucks! I need to stop. Anyone know where I can get the vanilla for making a Vanilla Latte at home? I assume you can get it at starbucks, but anywhere else? (I am going to try Wegmans, but I don't know if they will carry it) And anyone know how much it costs?

Also, can I get coffee ground for the espresso maker anywhere? And how do I do that? (as in, can Trader Joe's do that for me, or do I have to get that at starbucks too?)

TIA!

[bookworm]

You can get the syrup at Starbucks, and I also often see it at places like Homegoods and Marshalls.

And at Trader Joe's, just turn the dial on the grinder to "espresso" (it's all the way at one end...can't remember if it's to the left or right). :)

[tlew12778]

If you want that starbucks taste I think you need to go with the starbucks beans. And you can grind your own beans at home if you buy a grinder. Technically the best espresso is made with freshly ground beans on a lever operated machine, but starbucks uses a pump machine (all commercial places do nowadays). So you may not even get the same taste if you are using a home-machine (which is probably steam operated). Steam machines won't produce the crema that a pump or a lever machine will... and that changes the quality of the pull.

ETA: I am pretty sure that Williams Sonoma also sells those coffee flavor syrups.

[laura]

Syrup:

$7.90
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AXWA0A/102-0365639-7991374?v=glance&n=3370831

$5.80
http://www.bobateadirect.com/product.php?productid=404

[Janey]

Twainny you don't say where you're from, but I go to Cash & Carry which is basically a wholesale grocer. They have about 80 million varieties of syrups -- an entire grocery aisle dedicated to them. It is where the "coffee shacks" get theirs... You could check in your area to see if there is a place similar to Cash & Carry in your area.

You can also get them online from Davinci Gourmet (http://www.davincigourmet.com/729.html?flashdetect=YES).

[Katy]

CostPlus also sells a zillion different flavored syrups - both Torani (http://www.torani.com/) and Davinci - regular and sugar-free. I've also noticed the basic flavors (like vanilla) in the local grocery stores over in the coffee aisle as well.

[KarenS]

I don't know if it's been specifically spelled out (or you may be aware of it, in which case just tell me to shut up! :)) but in order ot make a latte, you must have an espresso maker with a milk steamer. A latte is a shot of espresso with steamed milk added. Flavored lattes are made by adding flavored syrups to the cup before you pour in the espresso and milk.

If you try to use an espresso grind of beans in your regular coffee maker, it won't work. The grind is too fine and it will clog the maker and make a huge mess (yeah, I've accidentally put espresso grind in my coffee maker before - big mistake).

Karen

[Red'sGirl]

Here's just a helpful hint on making better coffee. Warm your milk - if not by steam, then just microwave it for 20 seconds or stovetop, before adding to coffee. Warming it makes the coffee taste better and smoother. If you put cold milk into hot coffee, or vice versa, it makes the coffee taste bitter.

[tlew12778]

Technically, a correctly made latte will have the espresso added to the milk, not vice versa... not sure how many places do it that way though. "Latte" actually comes from the term "latte macchiato" which means "marked milk" (as in marked with the espresso).

If you don't have a full blown espresso machine, you can get a moka which is like a stove top percolator, but again, you're not going to get the same quality espresso that you will in a coffee bar.

[twainny]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I will look for syrup at the grocery store (Giant or Safeway). And if they don't have it, I will get it at starbucks.

Karen- i do have an espresso maker. We got a really awesome coffee maker/espresso maker for our wedding that we have never used. I just got starbucks for the first time two weeks ago and i LOVE it!!

Yes, it has a steamer to make the milk too!

I do have a grinder at home, but my friend was telling me that you have to grind the beans for a long time, and it has to be just right for espresso. I was nervous about doing it wrong, so I thought I would just get the ground at the store.

[kindermom]

I am a coffee addict, to the point we have a professional machine with a coffee bar.

Syrups
Most syrups are pretty similar. Wegmans does carry the syrup. I have used their brand caramel and it is ok.

I usually try to buy Torani syrups because I like the bottle. I think this is what Starbucks used to use. (and may still use). There is also DaVinci brand. That is what we have right now only because that is what someone bought for us.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/lollicup_1897_4647395 http://www.davincigourmet.com/_IMAGES/photo-classics.jpg

Coffee
You can use Starbucks coffee if you wish. There is a definite difference in espresso and strong coffee though. So if you can not get an espresso maker, then just use strong coffee.

While you may love their lattes, their beans are not very good. Or more specifically, their roasting techniqes are not very good. They tend to over roast their beans, leading to a slightly burned taste. Other, better quality, coffees will taste much smoother. If you are near a big city, you should be able to find a coffee roaster in your area. Any way you cut it thought, you will end up shelling out for the beans. If you are trying to save money, I find that 8 o clock whole beans are my favorite cheap coffee. And at $3.50 a pound on sale, a good deal.

Espresso Machines
As I said, we have a pretty expensive one. Perhaps this site can give more insight. They are my favorite review site ight now.
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/kitchen/espresso-machines/reviews.html

Lattes
Starbucks has a caffe latte and they have a machiatto latte. The latte is espresso then steamed milk. The machiatto latte is steamed milk and then espresso. Not to be confused with a machiatto which is espresso with a dollop of steamed milk. I found this information here (http://www.starbucks.co.jp/en/latte_lingo.htm).

Directions
I found lots of them...
Copy Cat Recipe from GourmetSleuth (http://gourmetsleuth.com/copycat_starbucks.asp)

http://www.ehow.com/how_1852_make-caffe-latte.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_1852_make-caffe-latte.html

http://radified.com/Articles/latte.htm

http://www.ineedcoffee.com/02/12/latteart/

http://www.xpressivo.com/theespressoguide/recomended_latte_art.asp

http://www.arikiart.com/coffee/espresso-drinks/index.htm

http://www.xpressivo.com/theespressoguide/recomended_latte_art.asp

Finally, I can not link directly to where I found this (based on the url) so here is the information...

Starbuck's Vanilla Latte

2 shot espresso
10 oz steamed milk - (to 12)
3 3/4 oz vanilla syrup (3 pumps)

Combine all in a tall glass.
This recipe yields 1 (16-oz) "grande" serving.

[twainny]

wow Kindermom- I am soo impressed! I am going to Wegmans tomorrow (I hope!) I was just at Giant and they didn't have syrup, that I could find. Do you know if Wegmans sells the syrup in the coffee isle or over by the coffee bar?

Off to check the links you posted!

Thank you!

[Katy]

wow kindermom, who knew there was so much information out there. What a great resource to have.

[kindermom]

I really am a coffee snob. We have a professional (read way to expensive) machine at our house. I can not srink Starbucks much anymore now that I am spoiled to my own.

As far as Wegman's goes, it is near the coffee bar at my local Wegs (Hunt Valley MD).

[tlew12778]

I hear you on that kindermom. We have a La Pavoni Europiccola. We won't even walk into a starbucks. We honestly cannot stand the overburnt roast. But to each his own I guess.

[kindermom]

I hear you on that kindermom. We have a La Pavoni Europiccola. We won't even walk into a starbucks. We honestly cannot stand the overburnt roast. But to each his own I guess.

We have a Saeco Royale Professional. My DH and I decided that if we ever became destitute we would still somehow manage to buy another machine if something happened to ours. In the past 3 years, we have made about 9,600 cups of coffee. We drank most of that ourselves!

[twainny]

Well- just thought I would post how it is going. I found syrup, after visiting 4 stores (Wegmans is just too far to go for one thing, though I would probably spend 100 bucks once there...)

I made lattes yesterday and today. They turned out okay, at least for me (Kindermom, you would have HATED it!) Anywho-- I cant seem to get the steaming of the milk down. The coffee maker is to fast (brews in less than 2 minutes) and the milk doesn't even get warm. So I ended up warming it in the microwave and then steaming it to make the froth.

Any ideas?

[tlew12778]

A lot of bars in Italy use UHT milk for their cappucinos... I notice it actually froths better (as in the foam stands stiff like shaving cream almost) than fresh milk and you are starting at room temp so you could try that if you want. I personally don't love the taste of UHT milk so I use fresh milk but my machine steams quickly.

They also sell this weird pot here (I'm sure you can get it in the states too) that is sort of like a double boiler but it's only for milk (basically it's got an air chamber on the 2-layer bottom.

What about if you steam your milk first then make your espresso?

ETA: I found this article (http://www.coffeekid.com/espresso/frothing)about steaming your milk.

[kindermom]

What type of coffee maker do you have and what are you using to steam the milk?

[twainny]

I have a Krups... it is a dual espresso maker and a regular coffee maker. What do you mean, "... what are you using to steam the milk?" I am using 1% milk. And the coffee maker has a steamer on it.

[tlew12778]

There are various appliances that you can use to steam milk if you don't have the steamer portion on your espresso maker (not your case). Also, the container you use makes a difference.