How To Make Cold Foam For Coffee
Nothing is better than touching that frigid cup rolling with condensation; meeting it to your lips as they’re greeted with an airy sweetness that could only come from the perfected cold foam in your coffee. Maybe that was a little much…what can I say? I love my coffee!
Cold foam is chilled, frothed milk for iced coffee drinks. Its texture and taste can only be described as creamy, smooth, and airy. The concoction is a type of milky foam that is poured on top of an iced coffee beverage to typically counteract the bitter acidy found in most coffees.
What’s in Cold Foam?
Most cold foam recipes are made with Half & Half and simple syrup (or sugar). You can combine these easy-to-find ingredients with either a milk frother or French press. Half & Half is the key part of a great cold foam recipe. Milk is typically too thin, so this problem is easily remedied with Half & Half. It provides a thicker base that upon drinking will rest oh so delicately on your mustache.
Simple syrup is an industry standard for any coffee shop (or bar). If you’re watching your figure though you can always opt-in for sugar-free simple syrup. Simple syrup is just thicker sugary water, plain and “simple”. You can find a good simple syrup at any grocery store or liquor store, but if you can’t locate a bottle you’re more than welcome to utilize honey, maple syrup, agave, or plain old sugar.
We recommend staying true to the simple syrup though in order to maintain the viscosity of the cold foam. A great cold foam once poured into your coffee will slowly seep to the bottom of the cup and swirl into a beautiful piece of culinary art. Did I mention I really love coffee?
Cold Foam at Starbucks
So how does the coffee industry giant make it happen? Starbucks’ cold foam is made with nonfat milk, using a blender (or electric handheld milk frother) to create a perfect white blanket of sweet cold foam. You don’t have to be a plain jane though. You can always change up your sweet cold foam with different simple syrups to create different flavors to contrast with your coffee drinks. You can opt-in for salted caramel, vanilla, peppermint, and even pumpkin spice. If you want to go the extra mile try topping your flavored cold foam with pumpkin spice seasoning, sugar crystals, matcha powder, or cinnamon!
Ordering a drink from Starbucks is almost completely customizable, so before you make your drink from home give it a shot at any local Starbucks. Any iced drink at Starbuck can be ordered with cold foam but be aware there is an extra charge. If you like your drinks strong, I highly recommend the iced shaken espresso topped with sweet vanilla cold foam. Starbucks offers cold foam as a topping that you can add to a multitude of drinks. Starbucks cold foam drinks include:
- Cold Brew
- Nitro Cold Brew
- Iced Lattes
- Iced Mochas
- Iced Cappuccinos
- Iced Espresso
- Iced Tea Lattes
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How to Make Cold Foam With a French Press
- Put refrigerated ⅓ cup of Half & Half and 1 tablespoon of your preferred sweetener into a French press.
- Secure lid and move the plunger up and down.
- The Half & Half will more than double in volume and begin to foam.
- Pour cold foam on top of your iced beverage!
On Amazon: Veken French Press Coffee Maker
How to Make Cold Foam With Handheld Milk Frother
- Blend ⅓ cup of Half & Half and 1 tablespoon of your preferred sweetener using a handheld milk frother.
- Blend and whisk for 15-20 seconds for airy cold foam.
- Pour cold foam on top of your iced beverage!
On Amazon: Zulay Original Milk Frother
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
- Buy your favorite blend of coffee beans whole (or preground). We reccomend grinding your beans at home for a fresh coffee expierence.
- Mix your grounds with water. Be sure to keep your mixture to a 1:1 ratio. So for every 1 ounce of coffee grounds, use 1 cup of water. 6 ounces of freshly ground coffee and 6 cups of cold water create about a weeks worth of cold brew.
- Steep the grounds for 12-20 hours. Place it in the fridge and in the meantime go read up on the latest food articles from PHASR!
- After your cold brew steeps you’ll want to strain your grounds. Utilize a fine mesh strainer over an 8-cup measuring cup. Slowly pour the coffee into the strainer and allow the grounds to be filtered out. Discard the grounds (or compost them). Strain the coffee a second time just in case there are grounds that made in through.
- Store your delicious cold brew in the fridge.
How Long Does Coffee Last in the Fridge
Iced coffee or cold brew lasts much longer than brewed hot coffee in the right conditions. Store your drink in a sealed jar, pitcher, or bottle in the fridge for up to 7-10 days. Cold brew with added dairy should be consumed within 2 hours, but it can also be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It will only stay fresh for 1-2 days in the fridge. Check for any signs of spoiling, like mold or sour smells, before consuming.
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Making Cold Foam: Final Thoughts
The beauty of this cold brew and cold foam recipe is the ability to get creative. Switch out the Half & Half for heavy whipping cream, change out the flavors of the simple syrups, or try a different type of coffee ground. Let the coffee lover inside run wild with this brilliant new trend in iced drinks!
How do you make cold foam for your coffee? Let us know on social media!