3 Reasons Your At-Home Lattes Are Subpar & What To Do Instead

Sometimes, a $10 coffee from a café just seems to taste a million times better than something you'd make in your own kitchen. Well, as a trained barista who once worked at a common coffee chain, I know what goes into those luxe cups. Here are three reasons your lattes may be lacking and how to level up your at-home coffee game:

A good latte starts with high-quality beans. It's easy to assume you can skip this part and that coffee is coffee, but that's unfortunately not the case when it comes to flavor. 

Other beans may have hints of vanilla, cherry, almond, or other natural enhancements. Find one that speaks to you—that's the first step. 

One of the sounds you may hear in a coffee shop is a loud buzzing noise: That's the bean grinder. Baristas grind their beans right before pulling an espresso shot since keeping beans whole until you are going to use them is a great way to preserve freshness and flavor. Sure, it takes an extra step when crafting your latte, but it's worth it to elevate the flavor and extend the shelf life of your beans (especially if you're investing good money in them). 

As a final note, give yourself some grace if you're just starting out. Many baristas have to spend days, even weeks training until they master the art of a wonderful latte. As with any kitchen craft, it's all about practice—so, cheers to more lattes from here on out. 

Three habits preventing you from crafting a grade-A latte include ignoring bean quality, pre-grinding your beans, and skipping the full froth period. If you want to learn more about the full-body benefits of drinking coffee daily (and yes, there are plenty), check out this guide.