There are three vital ingredients in a milk-based coffee: coffee, milk, and water. Get any one of those wrong and you’ll have a dramatic impact on the quality of a drink.

So to help you serve perfect brews, we’ve found some videos on how to froth and steam milk – with or without an espresso machine.

SEE ALSO: Coffee Science: Everything You Need to Know About Milk

With an Espresso Machine

You’ll always get the best results with an espresso machine’s steam wand. It may seem a bit technical at first but, once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be pouring lattes like there’s no tomorrow. We recommend starting with whole milk, as it’ll make it easier to develop that lovely velvety texture, and then just following the steps in this video:

Having problems with your milk? Can’t work out where it’s going wrong? Whole Latte Love are here to the rescue with their explanation of six common mistakes.

Without an Espresso Machine

While an espresso machine is best, if you don’t have one or are travelling, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on making a cappuccino. All you need is a milk frother and a microwave or hob/stove top. Here’s a short clip of this in action.

Notice how the user slowly moves the wand up while frothing. Oh, and just like in this video, make sure you turn it off before breaking the surface of the milk. Unless you fancy cleaning up spilt milk, that is…

Of course, if you want something even easier to use, you could always opt for a machine rather than a wand. All you have to do is flick the switch, wait for it to froth, and then pour.

SEE ALSO: Step-by-Step Guide to Milk Texturing & Pouring Technique for Latte Art

So what’re you waiting for? Off you go and start practising – we’re sure you’ll be pouring foamy lattes and cappuccinos in no time.

Feature photo credit: Aerolatte

Perfect Daily Grind does not own the rights to these videos and cannot be held accountable for their content.