Raise your mug if you absolutely need a cup of coffee to get you going in the morning!

As a parent, it’s likely that you turn to a cup of coffee each morning to wake up and prepare to face the day.

Yet, having the same cup of Joe every day can become boring and stagnant. Not only are you participating in the same routine each and every morning, but you’re filling your cup with the same coffee as well.

Why not shake things up and explore the wonderful world of coffee?

The Art of Making Coffee

Making coffee is, at its core, one of the easiest things in the world. However, for some reason, people are forever finding more and more complicated (and delicious) ways of making it.

We’re living in an advanced coffee culture, where coffee is the most popular drink on the planet. With so many options available when it comes to java, people are seeking ways to make delicious drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes at home.

An unfortunate trap people fall into is buying the instant versions of coffee shop drinks. These inevitably taste inferior.

Save yourself the disappointment and just make the drink yourself at home!

The most important thing to realize about coffee making is that, no matter what you may think, no variety of coffee-shop coffee is really that difficult to make – despite their fancy names.

Consider these coffees, for example:

• An americano is just a normal coffee with milk on the side.
• A cappuccino is coffee, milk and frothed milk (sometimes with chocolate sprinkles on top).
• A latte is milky coffee in a glass, while a mocha is the same thing with chocolate.
• A macchiato is coffee with frothed milk on top.

Each fancy word basically means coffee, milk and froth in one combination or another – plus, sometimes, chocolate. Everything else is pretty much a matter of presentation.

Coffee Equipment

In order to make these delicious satisfying drinks at home, you are going to need some gear. Remember, we are not giving in to the conveniences of instant products!

The coffee in each drink is made by an espresso machine, so a basic espresso machine is really all you need to start making amazing coffee at home.

As long as you can put the beans in the top and get espresso out the bottom, there aren’t really any other features you need.

This simple fact means that there’s not much difference between the cheapest and most expensive coffee machines if you know what you’re doing!

To make your coffee stronger, just add in more espresso. To make different drinks, use different quantities of each ingredient.

Most fancy coffee drinks require frothed milk, but you don’t need any special equipment to do this (although it helps). You can make hot frothed milk by heating milk gently in a saucepan and lightly whisking it.

Easy At-Home Coffee Recipes

Now that your mouth is watering and your brain is telling you that you need to be making fancy coffees at home, here are some super simple recipes you can use to shake up your java routine:

1. The Macchiato

To make a tasty macchiato, pour an espresso into a small cup or mug and top with some foamed milk. You can really put as much foamed milk on it as you like.

To take the macchiato to another world, drizzle your favorite syrup over the top!

You can opt for a caramel or even chocolate syrup.

By the way, you may feel tempted to stir your macchiato, but please resist. Macchiatos are best enjoyed in layers – the sweetness of the syrup, the fluffiness of the milk and finally the richness of the espresso.

2. The Cappuccino

Cappuccinos are a delicious milky drink where the milk doesn’t dilute the kick of the expresso.

To make a cappuccino, begin with a 1:1 ratio of espresso and hot milk. Add the espresso first, then pour the hot milk on top.

Finish it off with some frothed milk and, for a little oo-la-la, lightly dust the top with cocoa powder.

3. The Cafe Latte

If you’re looking for a milkier drink than the cappuccino, give the cafe latte a try! They are very easy to make.

Start by pouring an espresso shot into a long, tall coffee glass or cup. Top it with as much lightly frothed milk as you like.

You can customize your latte with flavored syrups and extra shots of espresso. Just add these in before the frothed milk.

The proper way to drink a latte is to use a spoon to eat the frothed milk before drinking the coffee. While you may not be interested in etiquette and decorum, it does help to prevent a milk mustache.

4. The Mocha Espresso

When you’re looking for something sweet and savory, look no further than the mocha espresso! Mochas are made almost like a latte but much, much sweeter.

In order to make a mocha, start by making a latte, adding in a couple of teaspoons of cocoa powder or hot chocolate powder to the frothed milk.

Once the drink is assembled, sprinkle the top with chocolate sprinkles or cocoa powder.

Want to get fancy? Use white hot chocolate powder instead.

Want to get real fancy? Mix melted chocolate with the milk instead of powder.

Want to get even fancier? Top the drink with whipped cream and chocolate curls.

While I wouldn’t suggest indulging in a super fancy mocha every single morning, you are definitely going to have days where a chocolate-laden coffee drink is totally appropriate.

5. The Americano

So named after the style of coffee that helped American soldiers power through the occupation of Italy, an americano will definitely help you power through your day.

This is by far the simplest of the coffees to make, requiring only that you fill a mug with hot water and brew your espresso directly into it.

This is a quick and simple option for those busy mornings where you need to inject caffeine directly into your veins but aren’t a huge fan of a strong espresso taste.

Stir It Up!

These recipes are only five basic types of fancy coffees you can make at home. With some extra time and little gumption, you can make an endless variety of tasty and impressive coffees right in your very own kitchen!

While there’s nothing wrong with quick-brewing a large double-double, or hitting up the drive-thru on your way to work, making a fancy coffee may be just what you need to begin the day on a high note.

I know I’d be more motivated to roll out of bed if I had an irresistible chocolate-y mocha espresso waiting to be made!

So, how do you like your coffee? Share your favorite coffee recipes in the comments below!