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Learn to make a homemade latte and save yourself time and money! With no special equipment needed, my simple process will walk you through how to make a barista-quality latte in minutes.
Easy Homemade Latte Recipe
I have been starting each and every day for decades with a homemade latte. And I want to help you indulge your caffeine cravings--while keeping money in your pocket.
Using nothing more than a good old fashioned coffee maker and a simple kitchen whisk, you can be sipping on a rich, foamy latte in less than 2 minutes!
Yes, that means that on EVEN the busiest of days and the tightest of budgets, you can and should enjoy a homemade latte. And once you see just how easy the process is, you will be enjoying homemade lattes for decades to come, just like me.
Happy Sipping! xo Kristen
What You Need to Make a Latte
A latte is a coffee drink made with espresso, steamed milk, and a layer of milk foam. And we can EASILY replicate that--even WITHOUT an espresso machine OR milk frother.
- Coffee: While you can certainly use espresso, strongly brewed coffee works just as well. Decaffeinated works just the same.
- Milk: Any variety you of milk or cream you like. Half and half, skim milk, whole milk, reduced-fat milk, almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, etc. You can even use a flavored creamer (like my coconut vanilla creamer) for a rich, sweet, flavored latte.
- A Small Kitchen Whisk: I recommend using a whisk that will fit inside your coffee mug. And over the years have discovered aluminum whisks aerate the milk better than silicone whisks.
How to Make a Latte at Home
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Brew Coffee or Espresso. For strong coffee, I recommend using 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of water.
- Heat Milk. While the coffee is brewing, heat the milk of your choice for 30-45 seconds in a microwave-safe coffee mug or glass measuring cup.
- Whisk the Milk. Whisking milk after it heats will form bubbles, or aerate the milk, creating a thick milk foam that is crucial for a good latte. To do this, simply use a small whisk to whisk vigorously for 15-30 seconds until the milk forms large bubbles and becomes frothy.
- Add Coffee To Milk. 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.
Alternative Method #1
No Heat Safe Mug?
If using a travel or non-heatable mug (like an Ember), heat and whisk your milk in a glass measuring cup. Pour coffee or espresso into your mug, then gently add the frothed milk and spoon foam on top.
Alternative Method #2
Using a Keurig?
When using a single brew coffee maker, like a Keurig, select strong brew and then brew the coffee directly over your frothed milk OR top with frothed milk.
How to Make a Flavored Latte
Start with a basic latte recipe and let your imagination go wild to flavor your latte exactly how you like! Make a peppermint latte, pumpkin spice latte, peanut butter mocha, or use one of the following suggestions to customize your latte yourself.
- 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.)
- Sweetened 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.
- Add Creamer: Feel free to add a splash of your favorite coffee creamer to your milk of choice before heating the milk. It will work to flavor and sweeten your latte.
- 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.
Complete Your Coffee House Experience
While your homemade latte will pair beautifully with any breakfast recipe, below are a few of my favorite pairings that will make the coffee shop experience complete.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Homemade Latte
Video
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup milk, any variety
- 6 ounces strongly brewed coffee or espresso, any variety
Instructions
- Heat ⅓ cup 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 6 ounces strongly brewed coffee or espresso 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.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally shared in 2020, updated in 2025.
Wow, love to see the hack you did for frothing milk .I always try this hacks when I made latte at home .
So happy to inspire you and make your coffee a bit more enjoyable.
So tasty! I like it better than the ones at shops because I used a coffee blend I really like with vanilla rooibos tea mixed in. I had no idea I could do this with just a whisk! I'm gloriously pleased with myself for avoiding a $200-300 machine I don't want to clean or store. 😁😁😁😁😁❤️
SO GOOD!! Definitely not AS good as Starbucks, but a whole lot cheaper. Tasty, easy, and cheap? Sign me up! I definitely recommend this.
Hi! I had no luck frothing nonfat milk with a whisk. The blender made a couple of bubbles... but what really worked was adding a tablespoon of whipping cream, THEN blending! 😁
I liked a drop of almond extract better than vanilla.
Thanks for the recipe.
You should try adding Nutella. Wow amazing
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
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!
Thanks for pointing out my mistake Ally. I would add after heating the milk and will change that now.
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!
It is a great way to start the day, isn't it?
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!!
YAY! I am so glad you enjoyed so much Laura! Thanks for sharing your review!
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 🙂
Kristen Thank you .
Made Your Latte this morning .
Fast easy Love it.
Steven&Kathy
So happy to hear this made your morning. I hope you enjoy again and again.