How to Make a Latte With Nespresso Vertuo

On this page (8 sections)

1. What do you need for a Vertuo latte?
2. Which Vertuo capsule makes the best latte?
3. How do you froth milk for a latte?
4. How do you build the latte in the cup?
5. Can you make a latte without a separate frother?
6. How is a latte different from a cappuccino?
7. What goes wrong with a Vertuo latte?
8. Which setup should you choose for lattes?

Here's how to make a latte with Nespresso Vertuo: brew an espresso capsule into your mug, froth cold milk in a separate frother, and pour the foam over the coffee. The whole drink takes about three minutes once the machine is warm.

The coffee is the easy half. A Vertuo machine reads the code on each capsule and picks the brew size and spin for you, so the part worth getting right is the milk.

What do you need for a Vertuo latte?

You need a Vertuo machine, an espresso capsule, cold milk, and a frother. A mug that holds at least 8 ounces gives you room for coffee plus foam without spilling.

Here is the short list:

1. A Nespresso Vertuo machine, heated and ready.
2. A Vertuo espresso or double espresso capsule.
3. About 4 to 6 ounces of cold milk. Cow's milk froths best.
4. A separate milk frother, or a Vertuo Lattissima with its milk tank.
5. A mug of 8 to 10 ounces.

That's it. You don't need a portafilter, a tamper or a steam pitcher.

The Vertuo system does the extraction, and the frother does the milk.

If you own a Vertuo machine without a frother, one more piece of kit finishes the job. The Vertuo Pop+ is a compact option that ships with a frother in the box.

Which Vertuo capsule makes the best latte?

Use an espresso or double espresso capsule for a latte. These brew small, concentrated shots that still taste like coffee once the milk goes in.

A latte needs coffee flavor that survives the milk. Vertuo espresso capsules are built for exactly that.

A mug-size capsule brews 8 ounces or more on its own, which is too watery for a latte base unless you want a very milky drink.

Double espresso is the sweet spot for most people. It gives you roughly 2.7 ounces of coffee per capsule and enough strength to stand up to 4 to 6 ounces of frothed milk.

For a bigger mug, brew two single espresso capsules into the same cup.

Flavor matters too. A medium or dark roast holds its edge against hot milk.

Lighter, fruitier capsules can get lost under the foam. If you want the milk to taste like the coffee, stick to the darker side of the range.

Skip the cold brew and alto capsules for a hot latte. They're designed for longer, cooler drinks, and our guide to how to make iced coffee with a Nespresso Vertuo shows where those fit instead.

How do you froth milk for a latte?

Cold milk froths best, so pour it straight from the fridge into the frother. The aerator pushes air into cold milk before it heats, and that's what makes thick, stable foam.

If you use the Aeroccino 3, one short press of the button makes hot milk and froth. Its maximum cold froth capacity is 4.1 ounces and its maximum hot milk capacity is 8.1 ounces.

That's plenty for one latte.

A few milk tips that make a real difference:

• Cow's milk gives the most reliable foam. Nespresso says alternative milks can be attempted but there's no guarantee they'll yield results.
• Don't overfill. Leave room in the frother for the milk to expand.
• Froth, then wait. Give the foam a few seconds to settle while the coffee finishes.
• Use a cold pitcher. If you froth by hand or with a wand, a chilled pitcher keeps the milk cold longer.

For a thicker latte, froth two rounds and spoon the densest foam on top. For a lighter drink, froth once and pour the milk in a slow stream.

Hot latte or iced latte?

Hot milk foam gives you a classic latte. Cold froth gives you an iced latte base without watering down the coffee.

The Aeroccino 3 does both: one press for hot milk and froth, two presses for cold froth.

If you want a hot drink, froth first and let the coffee brew while it heats. For iced, brew the espresso, pour it over ice in a tall glass, and top with cold froth.

The ice chills the coffee so the milk layer stays distinct.

How do you build the latte in the cup?

Brew the espresso first, then pour the frothed milk over it in a slow, steady stream. Let the coffee settle for a few seconds before adding the milk so the crema forms.

Here's the order that works:

1. Warm the mug with hot water and empty it.
2. Insert the capsule and brew the espresso into the mug.
3. Froth the cold milk while the coffee finishes.
4. Pour the frothed milk over the coffee from a low height.
5. Spoon the thickest foam on top and serve right away.

Pouring from low keeps the layers separate. Pouring from high mixes everything into a milky coffee.

For a latte macchiato look, pour the milk first and the espresso slowly down the side of the glass so the coffee sits on top.

Keep the milk warm, not boiling. Hot milk above 170°F can taste scalded and loses its sweetness.

The Aeroccino 3 heats milk to between 160 and 170°F, which is right for a latte.

Can you make a latte without a separate frother?

Yes, if you have a Vertuo Lattissima, which has a built-in milk tank and one-touch milk recipes. Otherwise you need a separate frother, a steam wand or a whisk.

The Vertuo Lattissima is a fully automatic Vertuo machine with an integrated milk solution. Its detachable 16 fl. oz milk tank is dishwasher safe, and one touch makes cappuccino, latte or hot foam.

It brews six sizes, including single and double espresso and coffee up to 18 fl. oz.

That's the simplest path to a latte if you haven't bought a machine yet. You skip the extra counter appliance, but you also give up the option to froth milk on its own.

If you already own a Vertuo brewer, adding a frother is the cheaper and more flexible route. It froths milk for lattes, cappuccinos and hot chocolate without changing your coffee machine.

How is a latte different from a cappuccino?

A latte uses more milk and less foam, while a cappuccino uses equal parts coffee, steamed milk and thick foam. Both start with espresso and frothed milk, but the proportions change the texture.

A latte is the smoother, milkier drink. You pour most of the frothed milk in and finish with a thin foam cap.

A cappuccino gets a big dome of stiff foam and less liquid milk.

The capsule can be the same. The difference sits in the frother setting, the milk volume and how you pour.

Our guide to how to make a cappuccino with a Nespresso machine walks through the foam-heavy version.

If you want a milky coffee without the foam work, a flat white lands between the two. Brew a double espresso and top it with warm milk and a thin layer of microfoam.

What goes wrong with a Vertuo latte?

The usual problems are weak coffee, thin foam and milk that tastes scalded. Each one has a simple fix.

• Weak or watery taste. Use a double espresso capsule, or two single espresso capsules. A mug capsule plus milk makes a milky coffee, not a latte.
• Thin, flat foam. Start with cold milk and don't overfill the frother. Cold whole milk gives the thickest result.
• Scalded milk. Stop the frother when it finishes its cycle and pour right away. Don't reheat milk that's already hot.
• Overflowing mug. Brew the espresso first and leave 2 inches of headroom for the foam.
• Foam that collapses fast. Pour the milk as soon as the frother stops. Foam sits best when it's fresh.

If your Vertuo machine brews short or slow, the machine may need a rinse or descale, not a different capsule. Fix the brew first, then work on the milk.

Which setup should you choose for lattes?

For anyone learning how to make a latte with a Nespresso Vertuo, a Vertuo machine plus a separate frother is the flexible pick. The Vertuo Pop+ with its included frother covers both jobs in one box and keeps your options open.

Pick the Vertuo Lattissima if counter space matters and you want one-touch milk drinks. Pick a standalone frother like the Aeroccino 3 if you already own a Vertuo brewer and just need the milk half.

Our guide to the best Nespresso machine for a latte compares the machines on milk handling. If you'd rather skip the coffee entirely and make a sweet drink, can a Nespresso machine make hot chocolate covers what works and what doesn't.

Start with a double espresso capsule and cold whole milk. Froth, pour low, and spoon the foam on top.

That's the whole method, and it works on every Vertuo machine.

Frequently asked questions

What capsule do you use for a Nespresso Vertuo latte?

Start with a Vertuo espresso or double espresso capsule so the coffee flavor stands up to the milk. A mug-size capsule makes a longer, weaker drink, so keep to the smaller sizes and use two capsules if you want a stronger latte.

How much milk goes in a Nespresso Vertuo latte?

Use about 4 to 6 ounces of milk for a single espresso capsule. The Aeroccino 3 froths up to 4.1 ounces of milk, so brew a double espresso or top with hot milk if you want a larger drink.

Does the Vertuo machine froth milk on its own?

A Vertuo Pop+ only brews coffee, so you add a separate frother. A Vertuo Lattissima has a built-in 16 fl. oz milk tank and one-touch milk recipes.

The coffee capsules are the same Vertuo pods on both.

Can you make a latte with cold milk?

Yes. Brew the espresso first and let it cool slightly, then add cold or frothed cold milk.

For an iced version, pour the coffee over ice and top with cold milk or cold froth.

How do you get the layered latte look?

Froth cold milk first and let it settle, then pour the espresso into the cup and spoon or pour the foam on top. Cold milk froths into a thicker foam, which holds the layers longer than warm milk does.