Are you tired of spending a fortune at your favorite coffee shop for your favorite latte? Then I have the perfect recipe for you! This easy-to-follow recipe will help you create a café-worthy latte in the comfort of your own kitchen! With just two simple ingredients and 5 minutes, you'll be sipping on a deliciously creamy latte in no time. Perfect for lazy weekends or an afternoon pick-me-up, this homemade latte will become a favorite! Now you can enjoy your favorite coffeehouse drink anytime!
As you probably already know, I love coffee. Any kind. Hot or cold. And I never get tired of it. I can drink it in the morning and the afternoon!
I used to love picking up a latte at my favorite coffee shop, but it can get very expensive! With a large size costing about $5, it adds up pretty quickly!
That's why I love making my own coffee shop drinks at home! For just a fraction of the cost of buying one, you can make one that tastes just as good, if not better, than the coffee house!
My Homemade Iced Coffee Recipe is one of my most popular recipes, and people are loving how easy and delicious it is!
And I can't believe it took me so long to publish this cafe latte recipe! I make it at least once a week. I especially love holding a warm mug on a cold winter day - it's so cozy! It really is the best homemade latte recipe!
It goes well with an Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffin, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin, or a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin.
For more homemade latte recipes, check out How To Make a Starbucks Copycat Caramel Brulée Latte or Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte.
If you are not a fan of coffee, try my Homemade Lemon Ginger Tea. It is made with healthy ingredients and is full of natural flavor.
Jump to:
☕ What Is A Latte?
A latte is a popular coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. It typically consists of one shot of espresso (or two), topped with steamed milk and a small amount of foam. The word "latte" comes from the Italian caffè latte, which means "milk coffee."
Lattes are often enjoyed as a morning or midday pick-me-up, but they can be enjoyed anytime. They are known for their smooth and creamy texture, achieved by steaming the milk to create microfoam. This process creates a deliciously velvety texture.
💗 Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It's easy to make: This latte is incredibly simple and doesn't require fancy equipment.
- It's economical: As mentioned above, making lattes at home can save you money in the long run. This recipe lets you enjoy delicious coffee shop-quality lattes without breaking the bank.
- You can customize it: One of the best things about making lattes at home is having complete control over the ingredients. You can use any milk or any sweetener you prefer.
- Great for entertaining: If you're having friends over for brunch or an afternoon gathering, serving homemade lattes is a great way to impress your guests while keeping things simple.
- It's versatile: This latte recipe can be enjoyed hot or iced, depending on your preference and outside weather. You can also experiment with different flavors by adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
☕ Ingredients
This simple recipe only requires two ingredients (three if you want sweetener) you likely already have in your kitchen!
- Coffee: Traditional latte is made with one or two shots of espresso. I used Starbucks Espresso Beans and ground the beans in my coffee grinder for the best flavor. However, you can also make this latte with strong brewed coffee. I used two ounces of espresso as I used a large mug.
- Milk. I used 2% milk, but any milk will work. You can use plant-based milk or dairy milk. I also like the flavor of almond milk.
- Maple syrup is optional. I used pure maple syrup to add a bit of sweetness to the latte, which makes it taste amazing, but you could use your favorite sweetener, or omit it altogether.
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a full list of ingredients.
♨️ Equipment
You can use a Moka pot or espresso maker to make the espresso. Or you can use a coffee pot if you don't have either. Here's the difference between them:
- Espresso maker or Nespresso: To make delicious coffee shop drinks at home, an espresso maker or Nespresso machine makes it so easy. These machines brew concentrated shots of coffee that you can use in various hot drinks or iced beverages.
- Moka pot: A Moka pot is a stovetop coffee maker designed explicitly for making espresso-style coffee. It's a great option if you don't have an espresso machine and produces a strong and flavorful cup of coffee.
- Coffee pot: Make strong coffee by adding extra coffee grounds than you would normally use. The amount of coffee grounds will determine how strong the coffee is.
🫘 Instructions
First, brew your espresso or strong coffee.
While the coffee is brewing, prepare the milk. If you use maple syrup or another sweetener, pour it into the milk. Use a spoon or whisk to combine.
Next, heat the milk using a steam wand, on the stove in a saucepan, or in the microwave. For detailed instructions on these methods, see the detailed section below.
Next, froth the milk using a steam wand, French press, handheld milk frother, blender, mason jar, or whisk. For detailed instructions on these methods, see the section below.
Now, it's time to assemble the coffee. Pour brewed espresso into a mug.
Next, slowly pour the hot, frothed milk into the mug with the espresso, holding back the foam with the back of a spoon as you pour.
Finally, spoon the remaining foam on top of your latte.
Top with cinnamon if desired.
And voila! You now have your own homemade latte that's just as good as anything you'd find at a café.
Feel free to experiment with different types of milk and sweeteners to find your perfect recipe – whether almond milk and honey or oat milk and maple syrup; there are endless possibilities when making lattes at home!
Enjoy!
🥛 How To Steam Milk
- Steam wand: If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, this is the easiest way to steam milk. Fill your milk pitcher with cold milk, then insert the steam wand into the pitcher and turn it on. Hold the pitcher at an angle so that the wand's tip is just below the surface of the milk, then move it in a circular motion until the milk is heated and frothy.
- Microwave: Pour the milk into a microwave-safe container, such as a glass measuring cup, place it in the microwave, and set it to high power. Heat the milk in 30-second increments, stirring after each interval to ensure it heats evenly and doesn't form a skin on top. Continue heating and stirring until the milk reaches your desired temperature, being careful not to overheat it. Remove the container from the microwave using oven mitts or a dish towel, as it may be hot.
- Stovetop: Pour the milk into a small saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir the milk with a whisk to prevent scorching or boiling. Continue stirring until the milk reaches your desired temperature (measured with a thermometer, it should be around 150-160°F or 65-70°C for lattes).
Hint: Note that heating milk on the stovetop requires more attention and effort than using a microwave, but it can give you more control over the temperature and texture of your milk. Watch the milk carefully as it heats up to avoid spills, boil-overs, or burning.
🥛 How To Froth Milk
- French press: To use this method to froth milk, pour steamed milk into a French press, then pump up and down vigorously for 30 seconds to one minute, until it becomes thick and frothy.
- Mason jar: Another option for frothing milk is to pour hot milk into a jar, screw the lid on tightly, and shake it vigorously for about 30 seconds until frothy.
- Handheld milk frother: A handheld milk frother is a small, battery-powered device that creates foam by rapidly spinning a whisk inside the milk. Simply insert the frother into the steamed milk and turn it on. Move the whisk around in circular motions until you achieve your desired level of frothiness. Ensure to use a large container when frothing to prevent overflowing.
- Blender: If you have a blender at home, you can create thick and creamy foam for your latte. Pour hot milk into a blender and blend it on high speed for about 30 seconds until frothy.
- Whisk: While this method requires more effort than others, it's still an effective way to create frothy milk without special equipment. Pour heated milk into a bowl and use a hand whisk to vigorously beat the milk until it becomes foamy.
💭 Expert Tips
- Use freshly ground beans for the best flavor.
- Heat your milk until it reaches around 150-160°F (65-70°C), transfer it to a frothing pitcher, and use a handheld frother or steam wand to create microfoam. The microfoam should be smooth and velvety, without any large bubbles.
- Use a shot glass or measuring cup to measure one or two shots of espresso (depending on how strong you like your latte) and pour it into a large mug.
- When you pour the frothed milk, hold back the foam with a spoon as you pour the milk over the espresso in the mug. Once the milk is poured in completely, spoon any remaining foam on the latte.
- Garnish with cinnamon or cocoa powder for extra flavor, if desired.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make a latte with regular coffee instead of espresso. However, the flavor and texture of the latte may be slightly different than if you had used espresso.
A latte is a coffee-based drink containing espresso, steamed milk, and a small layer of frothed milk. So while it contains coffee and milk, it's not just a simple combination.
Yes, you can use any milk to make a latte. However, different types of milk will produce different results in terms of flavor and texture. Whole milk is the most commonly used milk for lattes because it produces a creamy texture and rich taste. However, you can use skimmed or low-fat milk if you prefer a lighter option.
Yes, you can add sweetener to milk before frothing. Adding the sweetener to the milk before frothing ensures it gets mixed evenly in the steamed milk. However, if you prefer a less sweet latte, use a smaller amount of sweetener or skip it altogether.
There may be a few reasons why the froth in your milk may disappear. If you don't froth your milk correctly, it can cause the froth to dissolve quickly. Make sure to hold the steam wand at an angle and keep it just below the surface of the milk. Also, milk with a lower fat content will produce less stable foam that is more likely to break down quickly. Try using whole or 2% milk instead of skimmed or low-fat milk.
🏷️ More Delicious Homemade Coffee Recipes
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📋 Recipe
How To Make A Delicious Latte At Home
Ingredients
- 2 ounces espresso *
- ⅞ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
- a sprinkle of cinnamon optional
Instructions
- First, brew your espresso or strong coffee. For a large mug, brew 2 ounces of espresso; for a smaller mug, brew 1 ounce of espresso.
- If using maple syrup, pour it into the milk. Stir with a spoon to combine.
- Heat the milk using a steam wand, on the stove in a saucepan, or in the microwave. For detailed instructions on these methods, see the Notes below.
- Next, froth the milk using a steam wand, French press, handheld milk frother, blender, mason jar, or whisk. For detailed instructions on these methods, see the section below.
- Now, it's time to assemble the coffee. Pour brewed espresso into a mug. Slowly pour the hot, frothed milk into the mug with the espresso, holding back the foam with the back of a spoon as you pour. Spoon the remaining foam on top of your latte. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.
- That's it! Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use freshly ground beans for the best flavor.
- Heat your milk until it reaches around 150-160°F (65-70°C), then transfer it to a frothing pitcher and use a handheld frother or steam wand to create microfoam. The microfoam should be smooth and velvety, without any large bubbles.
- Use a shot glass or measuring cup to measure one or two shots of espresso (depending on how strong you like your latte) and pour it into a large mug.
- When you pour the frothed milk, hold back the foam with a spoon as you pour the milk over the espresso in the mug. Once the milk is poured in completely, spoon any remaining foam on the latte.
- Garnish with cinnamon or cocoa powder for extra flavor, if desired.
- Steam wand: If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, this is the easiest way to steam milk. Fill your milk pitcher with cold milk, then insert the steam wand into the pitcher and turn it on. Hold the pitcher at an angle so that the wand's tip is just below the surface of the milk, then move it in a circular motion until the milk is heated and frothy.
- Microwave: Pour the milk into a microwave-safe container, such as a glass measuring cup, place it in the microwave, and set it to high power. Heat the milk in 30-second increments, stirring after each interval to ensure it heats evenly and doesn't form a skin on top. Continue heating and stirring until the milk reaches your desired temperature, being careful not to overheat it. Remove the container from the microwave using oven mitts or a dish towel, as it may be hot.
- Stovetop: Pour the milk into a small saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir the milk with a whisk to prevent scorching or boiling. Continue stirring until the milk reaches your desired temperature (measured with a thermometer, it should be around 150-160°F or 65-70°C for lattes).
- French press: To use this method to froth milk, pour steamed milk into a French press, then pump up and down vigorously for 30 seconds to one minute, until it becomes thick and frothy.
- Mason jar: Another option for frothing milk is to pour hot milk into a jar, screw the lid on tightly, and shake it vigorously for about 30 seconds until frothy.
- Handheld milk frother: A handheld milk frother is a small, battery-powered device that creates foam by rapidly spinning a whisk inside the milk. Simply insert the frother into the steamed milk and turn it on. Move the whisk around in circular motions until you achieve your desired level of frothiness. Ensure to use a large container when frothing to prevent overflowing.
- Blender: If you have a blender at home, you can create thick and creamy foam for your latte. Pour hot milk into a blender and blend it on high speed for about 30 seconds until frothy.
- Whisk: While this method requires more effort than others, it's still an effective way to create frothy milk without special equipment. Pour heated milk into a bowl and use a hand whisk to vigorously beat the milk until it becomes foamy.
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