Cappuccino - What beans?

by John
(Newcastle, Australia)

QUESTION:

We have a DeLonghi EAMS3500S (Very erratic, wouldn't buy it again. However, we have spent a fair bit of money and are stuck with it).

Our problem is that we like Cappuccino and the machine just doesn't get it right! It seems to be black coffee and milk, not having the fullness of cappuccino.

Should we look for a particular type of bean?

To its credit the machine allows for variable grind; several strength levels and variable coffee to milk ratio.

We have tried many different beans, but just can't a full, rich cappuccino. Our daughter gets a much better cappuccino from her $600.00 Sunbeam machine.

Would really appreciate any assistance.

Thank you,

John.


ANSWER:

John, hi

You say, “It seems to be black coffee and milk, not having the fullness of cappuccino.”

That reminds me of a cappuccino I got at a restaurant a while ago. I sent it back, telling them that a cappuccino is one third espresso, one third steamed milk and one third froth.

Maybe they had a similar machine to yours, because they had skipped on the one third steamed milk. If they had added at least some steamed milk, they could have told me it was cappuccino scuro (dark cappuccino, also known as a dry cappuccino).

I’m not familiar with your espresso machine, or what adjustments are available to you.

If the problem lies with the beans, ask your daughter which beans she uses with her machine, and then try them yourself.

If it’s not the beans, see if you can make adjustments to your DeLonghi and increase the proportion of steamed milk.