The temperature outside is dropping and the dark comes sooner than we'd like. It's time to warm up with a hot mug in your hands and enjoy the autumn drinks that belong to this time of year. We'll show you three favourites you can make at home.
The duo that turns home into a café
It's no great science. You need two things, good coffee and properly frothed milk.
The Lauben Grind&Drip Coffee Maker 600BB takes care of the coffee. It has a built-in grinder, so it grinds the beans fresh right before brewing and then drips filter coffee into the glass carafe. The Keep Warm function holds it hot, even when you're in no rush to drink it.
The Lauben Glass Milk Frother 600BG handles the milk. It heats it and whips it into a thick, barista-style foam, does both a hot and a cold version, and has a mode for hot chocolate. The glass container also lets you see what's happening inside. Together the pair manage a latte, a chai and a hot chocolate, each in a few minutes.
Spiced pumpkin latte
An autumn icon. Coffee's bitterness, sweet pumpkin and warm spice, all in one mug.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of strong filter coffee
- 200 ml milk
- 1 tbsp pumpkin purée
- 1 tsp maple syrup or sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- a pinch each of ground ginger, nutmeg and cloves
- a pinch of vanilla
Method:
- Grind and brew a strong filter coffee in the machine. Pour it into a large mug.
- Mix the milk with the pumpkin purée, maple syrup and spices.
- Pour the mixture into the frother and start the warm frothing. The milk heats and whips into a thick foam.
- Pour the frothed spiced milk over the coffee.
- Dust with a pinch of cinnamon and serve hot.
Chai latte
A coffee-free classic. Black tea full of spice and velvety milk that warms you from the first sip.
Ingredients:
- 1 black tea bag or 1 tsp loose-leaf
- 150 ml water
- 200 ml milk
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 clove and a slice of fresh ginger
- 1 tsp honey
Method:
- Bring the water to the boil, pour it over the tea and spices and leave to steep for 5 minutes. Then strain.
- Put the milk in the frother and start the warm frothing.
- Pour the strong spiced tea into a mug.
- Top with the frothed milk and sweeten with honey.
- Dust lightly with cinnamon.
Hot chocolate
A cosy drink for the whole family. Thick, velvety and ready at almost the touch of a button.
Ingredients:
- 250 ml milk
- 40 g dark chocolate
- 1 tsp sugar, to taste
- a pinch of salt
- a pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Method:
- Break the chocolate into small pieces.
- Put the milk and chocolate into the frother and start the hot chocolate mode.
- The machine heats the milk and stirs the chocolate in until smooth.
- Pour the finished chocolate into a mug.
- Finish with a pinch of salt and cinnamon if you like.
FAQ
Which milk froths best? Full-fat cow's milk gives the thickest, most stable foam. Among plant milks, the barista versions of oat or soya work best, as they have more protein and fat. Skimmed milk froths too, but the foam collapses sooner.
Do I need whole beans? No. The Grind&Drip does both, it grinds beans fresh or brews from pre-ground coffee. Freshly ground tastes the most vivid, while pre-ground is convenient and still gives a good result.
How do you spice a drink without ready-made syrups? Rely on ground spices and honey or maple syrup. Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg give the drink depth without artificial sweetness. And for a pumpkin latte, a small spoon of pumpkin purée is enough.
How do you keep coffee hot for several people? Use the Keep Warm function, which holds the coffee hot after brewing. Froth the milk only just before serving, as warm foam is best fresh.
Why it's worth it
A café-style drink is something you can make at home too. No queue and no trip out. The Grind&Drip 600BB brews fresh coffee, the Glass Milk Frother 600BG takes care of the milk and the chocolate, and you enjoy a mug exactly to your mood.
