Many of us have a bit of a sweet tooth. Why not mix that sweet tooth with your love of coffee? We happen to love vanilla lattes, especially making them at home, and we love helping others do the same! Making a vanilla latte is simple. All you need are a few common kitchen items and the desire for sweet, sweet coffee.
Keep reading for our step-by-step guide to making a vanilla latte. You’ll be enjoying your sweet, creamy drink before you know it!
What We’ll Need:
- 20-22 grams of coffee beans of your choice (We recommend Lifeboost’s excellent Dark Roast)
- Milk (about 10 ounces)
- Vanilla syrup
- Something to make espresso or strong coffee (Moka pot, espresso maker, or pour-over)
- A small saucepan or microwave-safe jar
- Stovetop or microwave
- A whisk
Now that we have everything we need, it’s time to put the whole thing together. We’re going to walk you through the process, step by step, with instructions on how to change the recipe or process as needed. Let’s get started!
How to Make a Vanilla Latte:
1. Grind the coffee.
The first thing we must do is grind our coffee. Since we are going to use a shot of espresso, we need to grind it as fine as possible because we prefer our shot extra strong. Because of the finer grind, the water will really have to work to get the coffee through and in the process, extract more of the bean.
If you don’t have an espresso maker, you can substitute strong coffee. You can use any brewing method, but try using more coffee and less water to produce a concentrated, espresso-like cup.
2. Start heating the milk.
To steam the milk, we will start by putting it in a small saucepan and heating it on low to medium heat so as not to burn the milk. This will also allow us to prepare our coffee and have the two be ready at the same time, making for the freshest drink possible.
Alternatively, put half the amount of milk you wish to froth in a microwavable jar with a lid and shake it up. It should double in volume. Once you’ve done this, microwave your milk for 30-45 seconds, and you’ll have fresh frothed milk!
3. Prepare your espresso or strong coffee.
Set up your Moka pot, espresso maker, or pour-over. You’ll want to brew 1.5 to 2 ounces of coffee per latte.
4. Prepare your vanilla syrup.
Pour the desired amount of vanilla syrup into the receptacle that will also hold your shot of espresso. We recommend using between ½ ounce to 1 ounce, depending on how sweet you want your drink to be.
5. Whisk the milk.
Once your milk is hot (for a latte, we recommend between 150-160 degrees Fahrenheit, as milk burns at 180 degrees), whisk it to produce froth. You can either do this with a traditional whisking motion or by placing it between your hands and rolling it back and forth. Whisk until your milk doubles in size.
6. Pour your shot over the vanilla.
Feel free to marvel at how beautiful the espresso looks as it mixes with the syrups!
7. Put it all together.
Pour the milk over the shot and voilà!
You now have yourself a lovely and delicious vanilla latte right in the comfort of your own home. You also have the fundamental knowledge of how to make this coffee drink any time you want. Think of how many other wonderful drinks you could make! Speaking of which …
Prefer a Cold Version?
You want a latte, but it’s over 100 degrees outside, so you don’t feel like drinking something that is also hot. You are in luck, because vanilla lattes are equally good iced, and they’re even easier to make. Here’s how to do it:
The first step is the easiest. Just fill a glass of your choosing with ice. Add a shot of espresso or a couple of ounces of strong coffee. Even better, try a tablespoon of vanilla coffee concentrate!
Then pour in the vanilla syrup and stir.
Finally, add (unheated) milk and enjoy your refreshing coffee drink!
Simple Vanilla Latte Recipe (Hot or Iced)
Equipment
- Something to make espresso or strong coffee (Moka pot, espresso maker, or pour-over)
- A small saucepan or microwave-safe jar
- Stovetop or microwave
- A whisk
Ingredients
- 20-22 grams coffee beans of your choice We recommend Lifeboost's excellent Dark Roast
- 10 ounces milk
- 1 ounce vanilla syrup to taste
- Ice optional
Instructions
- Grind the coffee finely.
- To steam the milk, we will start by putting it in a small saucepan and heating it on low to medium heat so as not to burn the milk.
- Prepare your espresso or strong coffee. Set up your Moka pot, espresso maker, or pour-over. You'll want to brew 1.5 to 2 ounces of coffee per latte.
- Pour the desired amount of vanilla syrup into the receptacle that will also hold your shot of espresso. We recommend using between ½ ounce to 1 ounce, depending on how sweet you want your drink to be.
- Once your milk is hot (for a latte, we recommend between 150-160 degrees Fahrenheit, as milk burns at 180 degrees), whisk it to produce froth. You can either do this with a traditional whisking motion or by placing it between your hands and rolling it back and forth. Whisk until your milk doubles in size.
- Pour your shot over the vanilla. Feel free to marvel at how beautiful the espresso looks as it mixes with the syrups! If you prefer an iced vanilla latte, add ice to the glass.
- Pour the milk over the shot and voilà!
