If you’ve ever ordered a cold brew or iced coffee at a café, chances are you’ve seen that silky, frothy layer on top called cold foam.
Unlike regular hot milk froth, cold foam is creamy, velvety, and made without heating the milk, which makes it perfect for chilled drinks.
The best part is that you don’t need expensive equipment to make it at home. With just a few ingredients and tools, you can take your coffee game to the next level.
How to Make Cold Foam
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cold milk (nonfat milk froths best, but oat milk and almond milk work too)
- 1 teaspoon sweetener (sugar, honey, or simple syrup – optional)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, for flavor)
Instructions:
- Choose your milk: Start with very cold milk. Skim milk creates the best foam, but plant-based alternatives like oat milk can also produce good results.
- Add flavors: Mix in your sweetener and vanilla extract if desired.
- Froth the milk:
- If you have a handheld milk frother, whisk the milk for about 20–30 seconds until it thickens and doubles in volume.
- No frother? You can use a French press: pour in the milk and pump the plunger up and down quickly until foamy.
- Alternatively, shake the milk vigorously in a jar with a lid for about a minute.
- Serve: Gently pour the cold foam over your iced coffee, cold brew, or even iced matcha. The foam will float beautifully on top, creating a café-style drink at home.
Conclusion
Making cold foam at home is quick, easy, and a great way to upgrade your favorite cold drinks.
With just cold milk, a little sweetener, and a frothing method, you can enjoy that smooth, creamy texture without stepping out to a coffee shop.
Experiment with different flavors—like cinnamon, caramel, or hazelnut—to create your own signature cold foam drinks.