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This Cold Foam Recipe (Starbucks Copycat) is super easy to make, luscious, fluffy, creamy, and lightly sweetened. I cannot think of a better topping for your morning cold brew. I am going to show you four different ways to make the best cold foam and four different flavor combinations. Let’s get caffeinated!
My morning coffee is definitely one of my favorite parts of each day. There is nothing like that first sip. I have to have my coffee immediately after I roll out of bed. What about you? How do you take your morning coffee?
I will admit most mornings I drink hot coffee, not necessarily because I prefer it, but because it is just convenient. I am often drawn to getting an iced coffee when I get coffee from a coffee shop. The Starbucks’ Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew (the one with the foam) is probably my favorite Starbucks drink.
I feel like cold foam is a newer thing that has recently become more popular (and for good reason). Since this creamy foam is so irresistible and Starbucks runs cost a pretty penny, I had to master making it at home.
I was pumped to find out that the frother that we got bundled with our Nespresso machine has a cold foam feature. Keep reading to find out how it performed compared to the other tools.
I decided to test out four different ways that the internet claims will make cold foam and I have a favorite by far. It is also the least expensive method!
I also thought I would test out a few different flavors. They are all delicious, but I think the salted caramel foam is still my favorite.
Jump to:
Highlights
- 4 different methods - blender, frother, hand mixer, or foamer
- 4 flavor variations - vanilla sweet cream, salted caramel, chocolate, & cinnamon sugar foam
- Super easy to make
- Simple ingredients
- Only 2 ingredients to make sweet cream cold foam
- A fun way to spice up your morning cup of coffee
- Great on top or hot coffee or cold brew
Ingredients
- Sea Salt: If you are using a coarse ground salt like sea or kosher, ⅛ teaspoon is perfect. If you are using table salt (much finer), you need even less salt. A pinch will do.
- Vanilla Syrup: Swap for ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar.
- Heavy Cream: I have only tested this recipe with full fat heavy cream. I am not sure how half and half or other milk would work. I imagine they would not thicken as well. Let me know if you have success with another milk!
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
The Best Way to Make Cold Foam for Coffeee
Here are the four different tools (ranked in order favorite to least favorite) I tested to make cold foam and the pros & cons for each.
My favorite tool by far is the handheld frother.
My least favorite was unfortunately the nespresso foamer. I wanted this one to be my favorite so badly. I love it and use it every morning for frothing hot milk for my coffee. But the foam was a little too runny. I ended up using the handheld frother to give it more aeration.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Handheld Frother | perfect consistency quick easy to clean fits in a small cup or bowl inexpensive | none |
| Blender | perfect consistency fastest method covered/contained (no splashing) ideal for large batches hands-off | not ideal for a single serving most difficult to clean |
| Electric Hand Mixer | perfect consistency easy to clean | bulky have to use a larger bowl takes longer than the frother |
| Nespresso Foamer | multiple functions (hot & cold foam) easy to clean no extra cup or bowl needed covered/contained (no splashing) hands-off | runniest foam expensive |
Instructions
before you start . . .
- Chill the cream. Make sure the heavy cream is super cold. Stick it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes if you have time. If not, it will still foam up. It might just take a little longer.
Step 1: Put the cream and flavor add-ins of choice into a bowl that is large enough for it to double in volume (or the blender or foamer).
Step 2: Froth using the mixer/handheld frother until it thickens and increases in volume. It should be pourable and thinner than whipped cream.
TIP - Do not over mix. If you mix the cream too much, it will become whipped cream. While delicious, it will be a little too thick.
Expert Tips & Recipe Notes
- Do not over mix. If you over mix the cream, it will become whipped cream. This is not the end of the world. 😉 However, it will be harder for it to melt into the cold brew.
- Add more sweetener if desired. You can double the amount or syrup in the foam to fit your taste. I do not prefer my coffee super sweet and find the measurements above to be perfect. You can also add a pump of syrup directly into the cold brew before making the foam. This is what Starbucks does.
- Serve immediately. Unfortunately the foam does not hold up well in the fridge. So do not make it until right before you intend to consume it. You can add the flavor add-ins to the cream ahead of time and store that in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
FAQs
No. Unfortunately it deflates, but like I mentioned above, you can sweeten the cream ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. That way in the morning all you have to do is froth!
Cold foam a cold, frothed or aerated, milk or cream. I believe Starbucks created this delicious topping. It is served on cold coffees or drinks. It has the consistency of a runny whipped cream and tastes delicious.
Starbucks makes their cold foam with nonfat milk. However, they have a special blender that makes it the perfect consistency. Since we do not have access to their equipment at home, I find heavy cream is the easiest way to replicate it at home.
No. It has a more runny consistency than whipped cream.
Cold foam is thicker than sweet cream. It is whipped or aerated in a blender or with a frother. Starbucks makes cold foam with nonfat milk. However the sweet cream is made with vanilla syrup, 2% milk, and heavy cream.
Yes! In fact, it is the easiest way to make cold foam at home. It easily thickens and has a luscious texture.
This Starbucks drink consists of cold brew, caramel syrup, and a salted cold foam. It is the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and bitter.
Related Recipes
Cold Foam Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
Equipment:
Ingredients:
Base
- ⅓ cup heavy cream*
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla syrup or more to taste*
Salted Caramel Cold Foam
- 1 Tablespoon salted caramel syrup or more to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt salt*
Chocolate Cold Foam
- 1 Tablespoon chocolate sauce or more to taste
Cinnamon Sugar Cold Foam
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- cold brew for serving
Instructions:
- Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
- Put the cream and flavor add-ins of choice into a bowl that is large enough for it to double in volume (or the blender or foamer).
- Froth using the mixer/handheld frother until it thickens and increases in volume. It should be pourable and thinner than whipped cream.
It looks incredibly delicious. I wish this were in front of me.
Thanks so much for this step wise guide. So helpful.