How to Make Cold Foam is your ultimate guide to making cold foam at home (just like they do at Starbucks)! One cold foam recipe and 5 different ways to make it!

How to Make Cold Foam

There are so many fun cold coffee (and cold brew coffee), iced lattes, espresso drinks, tea drinks, iced beverages and iced coffee drinks out there lately (like this Iced Matcha Latte + this Iced London Fog + Iced Chai Latte) that are actually really easy to make at home.  A lot of them call for cold foam so we thought we would spend a little time breaking down all the different ways you can easily make it at home – we love using it in this Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew and this Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam.

What is Cold Foam

Cold Foam is frothed milk (or dairy-free alternative) that has been infused with air through the frothing process, but no heat is used so it ends up being simply cold frothed milk! Perfect for iced coffee or tea drinks. It differs from whipped cream in that texture is more airy and less heavy.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

1. Easy: this truly is easier than you think and can be made with tools you most likely already have around your house!
2. Quick: every method discussed take no more than a couple minutes!
3. Just Like a Coffee Shop: nothing like making your own, coffee-shop-worthy coffee drinks at home!

What You Will Need

• Milk, Half and Half, Heavy Cream/Heavy Whipping Cream or your choice of dairy-free creamer (or coconut milk): if you are dairy-free I love using this carton of coconut milk from Thai Kitchen! Milk froths better when it has a higher fat content so if you are using milk a whole milk would be your best option and for dairy-free I would use a dairy-free cream or this carton of coconut milk works great!  If you NOT allergic or sensitive to milk then the best milk that I would recommend would be the heavy cream or whole milk (the more fat the better it works so skim milk will be the least successful of your regular milk products).
• Hand Frother: this option uses a handheld milk frother like this one! Very inexpensive and easy to use!
• French Press: this might actually be one of my favorite methods! Here is one similar to the one I used!
• Milk Frother: here is the milk frother I have been using for a couple years now. They are more expensive, but if you use it every day instead of buying a coffee shop coffee….I think they are worth it!
• Blender or Mason Jar: these are two other ways you can make cold foam at home.
• (optional) Sweetener: maple syrup, vanilla syrup, honey, etc. all create a sweeter flavor

How to Make Cold Foam with a Hand Frother

The hand frother method is very easy! Simply add your milk or dairy-free alternative to a glass measuring cup and then froth with your handheld frother until it becomes frothy.

You can see in this before and after shot how much higher the milk got after just a minute or two of frothing.

Pour on top of your favorite cold coffee or tea.

How to Make Cold Foam with a French Press

This might be my favorite method and it is just as simple as the handheld frother, although it takes a little more muscle. To make simply add your milk or dairy-free alternative to a French press and place the top back on. Pump for about a minute or two until frothy.

Pour on top of your favorite cold coffee or tea drink.

How to Make Cold Foam with a Milk Frother

This is the method I use most often simply because I own this particular milk frother. It is easy and turns out great every time. To make, simply add your milk or dairy-free alternative to your milk frother. Set to the dial to “cold foam” or “cold stir” and press Start. That’s it!

Pour into your favorite cold coffee or tea drink.

Blender + Mason Jar Methods

There are actually two other ways you can make cold foam:

• Blender: add your ingredients to a high-speed blender. Blend on HIGH until the foam as reached your desired consistency.
• Mason Jar: add your ingredients to a cold mason jar. Close the lid tightly and shake the mixture has reached your desired consistency.

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