Coffee in our house is essential. Whether at home or out and about, you can expect to see a coffee in my hand at some point! After spending a lot of time and trial and error learning about espresso, syrups, espresso machines, and techniques for achieving the perfect coffee shop style lattes, we have come to be pretty decent at home baristas! By “we” I mean Konnor and I. I have to give him a lot of credit because his patience with testing, helped me get through the many failed attempts at making this finicky drink! So let’s dive in to exactly what you need to make Iced Lattes (specifically vanilla), plus the exact step by step instructions we use daily to nail a consistent coffee shop style vanilla latte.
Keep reading below
What you need to make coffee shop style iced vanilla lattes
Espresso Machine: You do not need a high end espresso machine to achieve yummy lattes, but just know that the higher end the espresso machine is, the more accurate your espresso will be. Espresso is tricky, and it takes the right amount of pressure, temperature, grind size, and grind amount to “pull” a shot that tastes delicious! Over and under extracting espresso is very easy to do with inexpensive espresso machines due to the lack of control you have with the machines settings. This is what leads your lattes to taste too strong, or bitter and salty. This is because of the unbalance between pressure levels, grind size, grind amount, etc. Konnor and I began with this espresso machine from De’Longhi, and later invested in this one from Breville. Below I have listed a few espresso machines in different price points.
Coffee: The good news with espresso is that you can use any coffee you like as long as it is whole bean. In our tests we have found that medium and dark roast work best. We have tried SO many coffee’s and below are our favorites so far!
Starbucks Brazil Here
Syrups: Choose any flavor syrup you like or make it from scratch. There are tons of recipes on Pinterest dedicated to homemade syrups. In my opinion, I prefer DaVinci syrup over Torani or even homemade. Currently, we are using the classic vanilla Torani syrup until I can get my hands on the DaVinci vanilla. DaVinci is not common in stores so it can be hard to find!
Milk or Half n Half: Whole Milk is common in lattes, but feel free to use any type of milk or even half n half. Konnor and I prefer half n half because it gives the latte a more creamy consistency.
Ice: For iced lattes, you want to have medium sized ice cubes. I know this may sound funny, but we have used large ice cubes and it just wasn’t the same!
Cups and straws: Grab your favorite glass, or choose plastic cups and straws like we do to give our at home lattes a more coffee shop feel.
Keep Reading Below
Now that you have all of your equipment and ingredients, it is time to make lattes!
Step by Step
1) Grab your glass or cup and pour in syrup
2) Add ice to your cup about half way
3) Pull your shot of espresso. I pull two shots for my one latte since I prefer a strong coffee flavor. For tips on pulling the right shot every time, I suggest watching YouTube tutorials as well as hands on testing! Here is a great video explaining how to pull a consistent shot.
4) Pour your espresso shots over the ice and mix it with the syrup
5) Pour in milk or half n half: Start little and gradually add to your liking
6) Top with more ice if necessary and add whip cream, chocolate drizzle, or caramel drizzle for extra flavor
Lattes are pretty easy to create after mastering pulling espresso shots, and it is honestly fun making them! What is your favorite coffee drink? I have been intrigued with caramel macchiatos and think I will make those next.
Thanks for reading today!
0 Comments