How To Make Cold Foam For Coffee Without A Cafe Setup

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Maybe you are trying to save a few bucks by avoiding the coffee shop. Perhaps you just don't feel like putting on pants and leaving the house (no judgement here). Either way, you don't need to rely on a barista or a cafe's expensive equipment to get cold foam. The trick to making Starbucks-style cold foam at home is in the agitation. It only requires a few tools you might already have lying around the kitchen plus your milk of choice. You can also use nondairy alternatives to make vegan copycat Starbucks cold foam, so don't let dietary requirements hold you back.

If you are the type of coffee drinker who uses a French press to make a cup of Joe, then you have all you need to whip up some foam. Pour a half cup of cold milk into the press, and then repeatedly pump the plunger up and down. You should do this energetically until the liquid thickens and becomes foam. Alternatively, you could pour the milk into a mason jar or similar vessel. In that approach, rather than using a plunger, you screw on a lid and shake the container for all it's worth.

Methods that require less elbow grease include using an immersion blender and a container tall enough to stop the milk from just flying everywhere. If you're making drinks for more than one person or otherwise need a lot of foam, you can pour a full cup of milk into a conventional blender. You will want to start at a low speed and gradually increase it. You can also buy a handheld device like the Bonsenkitchen Milk Frother for less $10 on Amazon.

At this point, you may be wondering how to channel your inner barista when using cold foam for iced coffee and other beverages. If you really want to up your game, you can start with flavoring. When you add your milk or nondairy alternative to a container, also stir in a teaspoon of flavored syrup, like vanilla, hazelnut, or pumpkin spice, before agitating it all into a tasty foam. If you don't have flavored syrups, you can instead drizzle in chocolate or caramel sauce, a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract, or a half teaspoon of matcha powder.

Maybe you are looking for ways you can incorporate your delicious homemade cold foam into more than iced coffee. The obvious suggestion is try it on matcha and other tea lattes, but those are not your only options. Topping lemonade with cold foam would add a silky texture to this sweet and sour summer staple. Pairing cold apple cider with cinnamon flavored foam could make for a refreshing treat while you await the coming of fall.