Recent years have shown an increase in popularity of the non-dairy alternative. One of the most popular dairy milk substitutes is almond milk. It is a healthy way to get your dairy fix without all the downsides of traditional milk.
One of the best ways to drink this substitute is in coffee, and an almond milk latte is a great place to start. Not only is it simple to make, but there are several variations of the beverage making it easy to find the perfect one.
If you want to skip cow’s milk in your next latte, keep reading below. We have outlined how to make an almond milk latte without having to do anything complicated. If you are new to alternative dairy, we also shared some of the benefits of giving up regular milk. Plus, we threw in some extra tips, as well!
Benefits of Almond Milk
For centuries, milk has been a staple in many people’s diets. Whether it’s the more traditional cow’s milk or variations like goat’s milk, it was the dairy beverage of choice. In fact, at some points in history milk was considered a luxury. It was also considered to be quite healthy.
Although there is no arguing that a glass of milk is better for you than a glass of soda, milk has many drawbacks that people are anxious to avoid. Beyond the calorie and fat content, the recent focus on climate change has people making the switch to beverages that don’t produce as many greenhouse gases.
Those are not the only upsides of almond milk, however. It has a lot of nutrients among a long list of other things making it the healthier choice. Take a look at some of the more prominent pros:
- Fewer calories
- Boosts nutrition
- High in vitamins A and E
- Lower in sugar
- Vegan
- Enriched with vitamin D
- Low in phosphorus
- Dairy-free/ lactose-free
- Combines well with coffee
- Easy to work with and create foam
While all of the points above are important, the last two are what we want to concentrate on today. Nut-based milk, and similar alternatives, are considered better for your health, but almond milk is one of the best matches for your coffee. That being said, preparing it correctly can make the difference between a great latte and a bad morning!
Ingredients
To make a basic almond milk latte, all you need is milk and espresso or strong coffee. Let’s start with the basics.
The Coffee
A traditional latte is made with a double shot of espresso, though you can go with a single if you prefer a milder coffee. Many people don’t have an espresso machine, however. If that is the case, you can use a French press, drip coffee maker, or any brewer you have to make a small cup of strong coffee. You also want to use a light roast as it goes best with almond milk.
There are a few recipes that use tea instead of (or along with) coffee, as well. Spiced chai is best, but you can use vanilla chai if so desired (though you should use two tea bags). If you don’t have chai tea bags on hand, you can easily make some with a few spices from your cabinet. You will need:
- 1 regular tea bag
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon of allspice
Add the teabag and spices to a mug. Fill halfway with water, so the tea will be strong. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes to let the spices fully dissolve.
The Milk
After you have chosen your coffee, you also need to choose which almond milk you prefer. There are three main options; sweetened, unsweetened, and vanilla. Depending on your taste, any of them will work.
That being said, almond milk can be slightly bitter, so many people prefer sweetened especially if you like sugar in your coffee. Vanilla works well in many recipes, as well. It also gives the milk a little extra sweetness. Regardless of which you choose, they will all be prepared in the same way.
Additional Ingredients
You can get quite creative with your almond milk latte recipe as easily as you can with a traditional one. Here are some of our favorite optional ingredients to give your brew an extra special touch.
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
- Sugar/sweetener
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Organic/natural coffee syrups
- Pumpkin spice
- Cinnamon
How to Make a Hot Almond Milk Latte:
To get started, we want to share how to make the traditional hot latte with almond milk. The first step is to choose your milk and style of brewing.
1. Make the coffee.
If you have an espresso machine, use a light roast to brew two shots of espresso. If not, you can use a French press, Keurig, drip coffee maker, etc. The trick is to brew a strong yet small (about half a standard cup) coffee. Add sugar or sweetener as desired and place to the side.
2. Steam the almond milk.
The next step is to warm your milk. Almond milk and dairy milk are similar to work with. The easiest way to heat it is with a steaming tool. Otherwise, you can do so on the stove. In a small saucepan, heat about 1 ½ cups of almond milk on medium heat. You don’t want to bring it to a boil. Instead, whisk consistently in a rapid motion until the milk is hot and slightly frothy. Remove from heat.
Optional: Once removed from the heat, you can add a small portion of the milk to a separate bowl and continue to whisk to create a thicker foam.
3. Combine the coffee and milk.
A latte should have one part coffee and three parts milk. Within the milk, the majority of it should be steamed with only a small portion on top being foam. Many people prefer to eliminate the frothed portion, however; especially if they are making their latte at home.
Add your milk to the coffee and enjoy!
How to Make an Iced Almond Milk Latte
Making an iced almond milk latte is even easier than making a hot one. To start, brew your espresso or coffee as shown above. Allow it to cool to room temperature. Once cool, transfer the coffee to a tall glass. Add ice and cold milk. Viola.
Alternatively, you can make an almond milk iced latte by making it hot first then pouring it over ice. In this case, though, you will have a more diluted version as the ice will melt quickly. It is important to heat almond milk before mixing it with hot coffee to keep it from separating.
Other Variations
As we mentioned above, there are a lot of extras you add to your almond milk latte to give it an extra kick. What’s more, a lot of people enjoy coffee with a little sweetness. Next to adding sugar or other sweeteners, latte-lovers have found healthy and interesting ways of adding flavor.
Sugars & Sweeteners
If you are looking for a calorie-friendly alternative to regular sugar, artificial sweeteners can reduce fat content while still balancing the bitter and bold taste. To give your latte some sweetness, you want to add the sugar to your coffee before adding milk. Allow it to completely dissolve by giving it a quick stir.
To add sugar/sweetener to an iced latte, however, you have two options. First, you can add the sugar to your coffee before it cools. Second, you can make liquid sugar (known as “simple sugar” in the food and beverage industry). This is a quick recipe you can make by adding a couple of teaspoons of boiling water to your desired sugar. The hot water melts the sugar/sweetener, making it easier to dissolve in a cold latte. You can also make a larger portion of liquid sugar that can be kept in the refrigerator for a week.
Spices & Syrups
If you are not a fan of sugar but still want to add a little something extra to your latte, we suggest going with natural coffee syrup, honey, spices, or even maple syrup. All of these options are not only delicious but open up many unique and fun recipes.
Here are some of our favorites:
- Vanilla and Honey Almond Milk Iced Latte: For this smooth and tasty beverage, you want to use a vanilla almond milk. Follow the steps for an iced latte above, and add 1½ tablespoons of honey to your hot coffee and stir until it’s blended. For an extra shot of flavor, add a few drops of vanilla extract.
- Maple Cinnamon Almond Milk Latte: Following the steps for a hot latte, you want to add a heaping tablespoon of maple syrup and a few dashes of vanilla extract to your coffee or espresso. Stir a few times to ensure the ingredients are well blended and follow with your warmed milk (unsweetened or unsweetened vanilla works best). Top off with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Almond Milk Iced Mocha Latte: Contrary to popular opinion, a mocha latte doesn’t have to blow your diet for the week. In this recipe, you want to make your iced latte in the alternative method of heating the almond milk before mixing it with the coffee. Before heating the milk, however, add one tablespoon of cocoa powder and a few drops of almond extract to the milk. Mix well before heating (you may need to mix again after it’s warm). Combine ingredients and top with low-fat whipped cream.
- Pumpkin-Spice Almond Milk Latte: This is a super easy recipe that only requires you to add a ¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to your coffee along with two teaspoons of your preferred sweetener. If you want to ramp it up, however, make this almond milk latte with chai instead of coffee. To do so, steep a chai tea bag with half a cup of boiling water. Add spice, sweetener, and follow with heated milk, though, you will want to skip the foam for this recipe.
Almond Milk Latte Tips
Almond milk is a great alternative to dairy milk especially when it comes to coffee drinks such as lattes. Before you set off to find your favorite version of this healthy beverage, we wanted to point out a few helpful tips you should keep in mind.
- Warming the Milk: While this nut-processed drink is called “milk” it’s important to remember that it doesn’t behave in the same way. As we talked about in the iced coffee section, you want to avoid adding cold almond milk to hot coffee. Doing so will cause it to curdle and separate. When making an iced latte, either let the coffee cool or heat the milk so they are closer to the same temperature.
- Use the Right Coffee: The reason cold almond milk curdles if you add it to hot espresso is because of the acidity in the coffee. This is why you are better off with a lighter roast, lower acid option. Many people also find that the slightly bitter taste of the milk is better suited to a coffee that is not as acidic.
- Freeze It: One thing that almond milk can do that regular milk can’t is freeze. Pour some in an ice cube tray and put it in the freezer. You can add the cubes to your iced latte, or use them to cool down your hot beverage.
- Coconut Milk: Unfortunately, not everyone likes or can drink almond milk. The closest alternative is coconut milk. Though they have different flavors, the undertones are similar, plus the liquids behave in the same way. Tip: use one part almond milk one part coconut milk with some honey and banana extract for a tropical latte recipe.
How to Make a Hot Almond Milk Latte
Equipment
- Espresso machine or coffee maker
- Milk steamer or saucepan and whisk
- Tall glass
Ingredients
- 1 ounce dark roast coffee beans
- 2 ounces filtered water
- 1 1/2 cups almond milk
- Sweetener optional, to taste
Instructions
- If you have an espresso machine, use a light roast to brew two shots of espresso. If not, you can use a French press, Keurig, drip coffee maker, etc. The trick is to brew a strong yet small (about half a standard cup) coffee. Add sugar or sweetener as desired and place to the side.
- The next step is to warm your milk. Almond milk and dairy milk are similar to work with. The easiest way to heat it is with a steaming tool. Otherwise, you can do so on the stove. In a small saucepan, heat about 1 ½ cups of almond milk on medium heat. You don’t want to bring it to a boil. Instead, whisk consistently in a rapid motion until the milk is hot and slightly frothy. Remove from heat.
- Optional: Once removed from the heat, you can add a small portion of the milk to a separate bowl and continue to whisk to create a thicker foam. A latte should have one part coffee and three parts milk. Within the milk, the majority of it should be steamed with only a small portion on top being foam. Many people prefer to eliminate the frothed portion, however; especially if they are making their latte at home.
- Add your milk to the coffee and enjoy!
Nutrition
Conclusion
Almond milk lattes are some of the most delicious drinks you can make at home. Nutty, rich, and caffeinated, this is the perfect non-dairy way to start your day! Once you find a good alternative for dairy milk, the coffee options you once forwent to stay healthy open back up. Making an iced or hot latte with this ingredient will add a lot of benefits to your coffee. We hope you enjoyed this article and have found a tasty almond milk latte recipe to try out.
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Featured Image: I Love Coffee, Shutterstock
