How To Make The Perfect Vanilla Latte

We are so grateful to have a guest blog post featuring Marcia Smart, from Smart In The Kitchen, to teach us all how to make the perfect vanilla latte! Marcia Smart is a fantastic cooking instructor, recipe developer and food writer who wants to help you make good, simple meals for your family and friends. Marcia craves food that’s seasonal and delicious and wants to share it with the world!

When the temperature’s cool and you’re working from home, there’s nothing like a cozy homemade latté. A latte’s standard ratio of coffee to frothy milk is 1:2, making it a cup you can linger over longer, compared to a shot of espresso. In this version, the dairy is replaced with a flavorful homemade almond milk that’s sweetened with dates and fragrant with vanilla.

Steps To Making The Perfect Vanilla Latte

There are a couple steps to making  the perfect vanilla latte at home.

How To Make Delicious Homemade Almond Milk

The perfect vanilla latte starts with delicious milk or milk substitute. For this recipe we’re going to use an easy, yet utterly decadent homemade almond milk that’s easy to make time and time again. Start by soaking your raw, unsalted almonds overnight. When you’re ready to make the almond milk, just drain the soaking water and rinse the almonds with fresh water. Place them in a high-powered blender or Vitamix with fresh purified water, pitted dates, vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt. Then purée very well and strain the almond milk through a clean flour sack towel or cheesecloth. You can find the whole almond milk recipe here. It’s also delicious on your morning granola!

How To Brew Rich & Decadent Espresso

No vanilla latte is complete without a rich and decadent espresso base. For the extra rich espresso, brewing directions will vary greatly depending on what type of machine you use. I’m a devoted Nespresso fan with two in my house. I’ve also used a Breville machine, which is a wonderful way to make espresso. But when you’re in a hurry to get your caffeine fill, nothing beats the ease of a Nespresso. I’ve also used a Jura coffee maker, which makes both coffee and espresso. It’s definitely a luxury machine for the coffee afficionado, but well worth the investment for those who are devoted coffee lovers looking for a perfect barista brew.

How To Make The Perfect Latte Froth

No vanilla latte is complete without the perfect latte froth. My go-to Nespresso machine doesn’t have an attached milk frother, but it’s easy to froth milk on its own. Get an Aerolatte frother – it’s battery operated and easy to use and clean. You can whip up the milk right in the mug you plan to make your beverage, just warm the milk in a microwave or on the stove beforehand.

Pro Tip For Keeping Your Homemade Latte Warm

A last touch that will help your perfect homemade vanilla latté stay warm longer, fill your ceramic coffee cup with boiling water while making the espresso. It will warm your cup from the inside out – and also warm your hands when the temperature dips.

The Perfect Vanilla Latte Ingredients:

• 2 shots of espresso (about 3 ounces)
• 3/4 cup vanilla almond milk (6 ounces)
• Optional add-ins: 1/2 ounce cardamom-infused maple syrup (for flavor and sweetness) or sweetener of choice
• Optional garnish: A sprinkling of cardamom, cinnamon or nutmeg

Step 1:

Fill a ceramic coffee mug with boiling water and set aside.

Step 2:

Measure out your almond milk in a glass or microwave safe measuring cup. Warm for 1 minute increments until heated (microwave lengths vary, but it will generally take 1-2 minutes). Using a frother, whip up the almond milk until bubbly. It won’t turn into a thick foam like frothed regular milk, but that’s ok!

Step 3:

Empty the hot water from the cup and brew two shots of espresso directly into the cup. Add the frothed almond milk, maple syrup (or sweetener of choice) and a sprinkling of spices. Enjoy!

Thank you Marcia! We hope you’ve enjoyed this delicious guide on how to make the perfect vanilla latte. Be sure to check out some of our other favorite recipes on Bering’s blog and sign up for our newsletter for the latest recipe tips and how tos.