How To Make A Latte Without A Machine

Coffee is a source of life for a lot of people — not to mention, a pretty big wallet drainer depending on what coffee places you frequent. But what if you knew how to make a latte without a machine, or without even having to leave your kitchen? I know this changed my life in a very major way — mostly due to me not having the money to own an espresso machine. This way I can feel like the fancy cat that I am on the inside, without dropping the big bucks on the outside.

Thanks to a wonderfully shot video by WIRED, a three step process emerges to creating a machine-free latte. The main thing you'll need to purchase will be a bag of Xanthan gum. Like most people this ingredient isn't just sitting inside of my cabinet. It's also not actual gum, which is what I assumed and was afraid of. Why would a video tell me to put gum in my coffee? Is this is a new trend that I just totally missed? Luckily, it turned out that Xanthan gum is just a powder created through fermenting corn sugar with a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris. Most of the time it's used to help emulsify things like salad dressing. It has a unique ability to link together items that usually won't stay together — water and oil, for example. It is also used as a thickener! When added to water it becomes more viscous (meaning thicker and with a stickier consistency). Ah science, what a wonderful gift you have given us. Watch the entire video below on how to make machine-free lattes.

As the video explains, this latte is a low hassle treat. First and foremost it's machine free. You will only really need a blender. Secondly, if you are the kind of person who gets an upset stomach from dairy, this will be your lifesaver. As someone who recently realized her stomach hates dairy, my life might actually go back to being normal with this new drink making option. First step: brew some coffee.

It doesn't matter if it's your favorite store-bought brand or a fancy pack of coffee your sibling sent you from their study abroad trip. Just make that delicious gold dirt and dump it into a blender. Then you will add our favorite new ingredient — Xanthan gum.

You can purchase it online or a local store. As ~unusual~ as it sounds, it's a very common ingredient. You'll just need to get used to using it in your own food. Lastly, blend that sucker up and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee.

Your latte is ready! No milk, no machine, and no hassle. You might have just singlehandedly started on the journey to becoming a top barista!

Images: YouTube