Skip the expensive chain lattes and make your own latte at home! This easy recipe will show you how to make a Homemade Latte without any special equipment.
Start with a basic latte recipe and let your imagination go wild to flavor your latte exactly how you like! Make a vanilla latte, peppermint latte, mocha latte--you get the idea. And the best part about this recipe? You can use any variety of milk you like, making this latte recipe perfect for anyone.
A latte is a coffee drink made with espresso, steamed milk, and a layer of milk foam. And it is downright divine.
But instead of purchasing a latte from your favorite coffee shop, which can quickly put a dent in your bank account, you can easily prepare a latte from the comfort of your own home.
And you don't even need an expensive espresso machine or milk frother. With this simple recipe for a homemade latte, you can enjoy a latte each and every morning--and keep money in your pocket.
Key Ingredients
- Coffee: Espresso or strongly brewed coffee is essential for a flavorful latte. Decaffeinated works just the same.
- Milk: Any variety you like. Skim milk, whole milk, reduced fat. Or for a Dairy-Free/Vegan Latte use non-dairy milk such as almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. You can even use a flavored creamer for a rich, sweet, flavored latte.
Tools Needed
Instead of an expensive espresso machine or fancy milk frother, you only need ONE expensive tool to make a perfect latte.
Whisking milk after it heats will form bubbles, or aerate the milk, creating a thick milk foam that is crucial for a good latte.
I do recommend looking for a whisk that will fit inside your coffee mug and I personally find that an aluminum whisk works to produce more bubbles and froth better than a silicone whisk.
How to Make a Latte
- Brew the coffee or espresso of your choice.
- While the coffee is brewing, heat the milk of your choice for 30-45 seconds in a microwave-safe coffee mug.
- Once the milk is heated, take a small whisk and vigorously whisk back and forth for 15-30 seconds until the milk forms large bubbles and becomes frothy. This will form the foam on your latte.
- Slowly pour the strong coffee or a shot of espresso into the mug over the frothed milk. The foam will rise to the top of the mug, giving you a pretty close replication of a traditional latte.
Alternatively, you can heat the milk in a glass measuring cup and then whisk your milk until bubble form. Pour coffee or espresso into a mug and then gently pour the frothed milk over the coffee. Spoon the remaining foam on top of your latte.
Flavored Homemade Lattes
You can opt to use flavored non-dairy milk or a flavored coffee creamer to heat and foam, which will add flavor and sweetness to your latte. The options are as endless as the varieties of creamers. Or you can opt to personally add flavoring to your homemade latte. This will allow you to control the level of sweetness and type of milk yourself.
- Sweetened Latte: To sweeten your latte, add 1-2 teaspoons of your choice of sweetener to your milk of choice and heat as directed. This will allow the sweetener to dissolve into the milk and add sweetness to the latte.
- Vanilla Latte: After heating the milk, add ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract and whisk as directed. The vanilla extract will flavor the milk just as a flavored creamer would (without the added sugar--of course, feel free to sweeten as well.)
- Mocha Latte: Once the milk has been heated, add 1-2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup. Froth as directed and enjoy a nice touch of chocolate in your latte.
Serving Suggestions
Even on the busiest days or on the tightest of budgets, you can indulge in your caffeine cravings with this simple Homemade Latte. It can be enjoyed alone or pair it with your favorite breakfast or brunch recipe, such as the recipes below.
- Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
- Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Cream Cheese Danish
- Quiche Lorraine
- Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
If you gave this simple recipe for a homemade latte a try, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Homemade Latte
Ingredients
- ½ cup milk any variety
- 6 ounces strongly brewed coffee or espresso any variety
Instructions
- Heat the milk for 30-45 seconds in your microwave in the cup you intend to drink your coffee from.
- Once the milk of your choice is heated, take a small whisk and vigoursly whisk back and forth for 15-30 seconds until the milk forms large bubbles and is frothy.
- Pour the coffee directly over the frothed milk or brew over the frothed milk. The milk oam will rise to the top of the mug.
- Alternatively, you can heat the milk in a glass measuring cup and then froth. Pour coffee or espresso into a mug and then gently pour the frothed milk over the coffee. Spoon the remaining foam on top of your latte.
Notes
- For a dairy-free/vegan latte, use non-dairy milk such as almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk.
- Sweetened Latte--add 1-2 teaspoons your choice of sweetener to your milk of choice BEFORE heating milk.
- Vanilla Latte--add ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract to milk before after heating milk but before you add coffee.
- Chocolate/Mocha Latte--add 1-2 tablespoons chocolate syrup to milk BEFORE heating milk.
Nutrition
This post was originally shared in 2020, but updated in 2022 with a few tips.
Tracy
Great inexpensive homemade latte recipe. I used a whisk attachment for my blender which worked really well. I should’ve used a bigger glass measuring cup to whisk it in though because I forgot about it coming over the sides. Good thing I did in the sink. If I want a chocolate one, I think I’ll just put in a scoop of hot chocolate mix. It was easy and only 2 things to wash or stick in dishwasher. Thanks, Tracy
Kristen Chidsey
Wonderful Tracy! I think adding hot cocoa mix or chocolate syrup would make a fabulous chocolate latte.