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, pumpkin spice latte, peanut butter mocha latte, and more!
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 bubbles 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 a homemade latte, add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar or honey to the milk 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, but of course, feel free to sweeten the latte 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.
- Pumpkin Spice Latte: Heat ½ cup of strong coffee with 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Add that to the frothed milk of your choice.
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 paired 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
- Blueberry Coffee Cake
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 vigorously 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 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.
Ally
Hello! Wonderful recipe, I would just like to point out a little confusion under the Notes section; I'm not sure if for the vanilla latte I should add vanilla before or after heating the milk since it says "before after". Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for pointing out my mistake Ally. I would add after heating the milk and will change that now.
Kate West
Wow! This was amazingly simple! I have a little handheld battery operated whisker that fits in the coffee mug, which helped froth the milk, but I love that you put the froth in first, then brew the coffee right on top and it was the perfect measurements for me!
Kristen Chidsey
It is a great way to start the day, isn't it?
Laura
A latte is the only coffee I'll drink, I'm not a massive fan of coffee otherwise. When I converted the liquid measurements into ml, I was doubting whether it would be too strong but oh my god! The perfect latte! I'll be definitely making more of these for autumn!!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! I am so glad you enjoyed so much Laura! Thanks for sharing your review!
Bella
Another great way to froth the milk is in a blender, if you have one! A few seconds in there and it’s all frothy 🙂
steven
Kristen Thank you .
Made Your Latte this morning .
Fast easy Love it.
Steven&Kathy
Kristen Chidsey
So happy to hear this made your morning. I hope you enjoy again and again.
Gina
I cannot believe I made this, I had to try it this morning. I used the whisk from my hand held mixer because that is all I had and it worked great. Starbucks Pumpkin Pie Spice Latte at home and I can have as many as I want. I should still purchase them and then put the money in savings 😆. Thank's for the great recipe
Kristen Chidsey
I am SO SO glad you tried this recipe and had success!! Enjoy your savings and your latte 😉
Stephanie
I normally hate coffee latte because the coffee shops make it too strong but in control of it at home. I really like it. Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
So glad you enjoyed this homemade latte!
Gianna
Awesome! Just like the seven-eleven coffee!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Gianna!
Bill
Never knew it was that easy! Thanks much!
Tiffany
Appreciate this! <3
Bridget Rocha
Delicious 😋 thank you
Kristen Chidsey
So glad you enjoyed!!!
Julie Blanner
I love this! Now I don't have to spend so much time at Starbucks!
Kristen Chidsey
It is a HUGE money saver for sure! Glad you enjoyed Julie!
Cindy Hopper
This is a great way to get my coffee craving satisfied! Delicious.
Kristen Chidsey
So glad you enjoyed Cindy!
Ashley F
This is the best way to get my coffee fix! Love how easy it is to make!
Toni
This was so good! A huge hit for coffee lovers like me!
Kristen Chidsey
WAHOO!!! So glad you enjoyed Toni!
LC
I have been missing my Pumpkin Spice Latte. So, decided to make one this evening. Mmm... it hit the spot. Thank you for your post.
Kristen Chidsey
Wahoo!! So glad you were able to enjoy a treat 😊
Ron
Just a thought... I tried some sprayed whipped cream to liven it up a bit and I worked very well. See what you think...
Kristen Chidsey
That is delicious and a great thought! I am allergic to the sprayed whipped cream, but great for any one who is not.
Marsha
I love how simple this latte is to make!
Kristen Chidsey
Most people never realize how easy it is to make!
Linda Nortje
Love your quick Latte recipe and make it all the time !
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!!! I am drinking one right now myself!