by Lexi Locke

You’re in a conundrum and the struggle is real.  The only way to get through the night to finish your 10-page paper is by downing a cappuccino but there’s a problem, it’s past 11 p.m. and there is not a single coffee shop open in town. Fear not, there is a way to create a delicious caffeinated concoction without paying thousands of dollars for professional equipment. Shaylyn Ferrer, a sophomore at Drury University, takes us through a step-by-step tutorial for making cappuccino at home using budget friendly equipment.

Ingredients:

• Milk (Almond milk if preferred)
• Coffee grounds
• Water

Required Equipment:

• French press
• Stovetop espresso maker
• Stove
• Microwave oven
• Spoon
• Mug(s)

Serves 2 – 4.

Most ingredients and equipment required to make this beverage can be found at Walmart or Target. In this tutorial, we used an older version of the Bialetti Moka stovetop espresso maker, but there are cheaper options as well. The model of french press we used was the Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker from Target.

Step One: To begin, start by unscrewing the stovetop espresso maker and fill the bottom piece with water until it reaches the engraved line inside the piece.

Step Two: Place the middle piece of the the stovetop espresso maker into the bottom piece and using a spoon, scoop coffee grounds into the middle piece and compact the grounds with the spoon until the middle piece is full and the coffee grounds are level.

Step Three: Make sure the rim of the middle piece is clean of coffee grounds. Once clean, screw the top piece of the stovetop espresso maker until it is secure.

Step Four: When the top piece is secure and in place, turn the stove on medium heat and place the stovetop espresso maker on the edge of the burner so that the handle is facing away from the burner. It is extremely important to make sure the handle is not near the hot surface of the burner. The espresso will take 9 to 10 minutes before it is done.

Step Five: While the espresso is percolating, take the french press and remove the top piece with the metal filter from the french press. Pour milk inside the french press until it has reached 1/4 full of the press.

Step Six: Take the french press with milk and microwave it for 1 minute and 15 seconds.

Step Seven: Take the french press from the microwave and place the top piece back in place in the french press. Using the metal filter and handle for the top piece, pump the filter completely through the milk top to bottom for about 30 seconds at a steady pace. Once done, let the milk sit for a minute. If a thick layer has not formed at the top of the milk, pump the milk with the filter again until your get the desired results.

Step Eight: By now the espresso should most likely be done, you’ll know when the gurgling sound has stopped. Take the espresso maker off the heat and place onto a potholder.

Step Nine: To serve, scoop the foam from the top of the milk in the french press and drop the foam into a mug.

Step Ten: Once satisfied with the amount of foam, take the stovetop espresso maker and gently and slowly pour the espresso on top of the foam until desired amount of coffee is served.

You now have a delicious cup of cappuccino, all you have left to do is write your paper. Go conquer the world with your new found power.

Photos by Lexi Locke.