Maple is a traditionally autumnal flavor that many people associate with fall festivals, Canada, and pancakes. Well, we are here to tell you that maple isn’t just for crisp fall mornings or breakfast, but also a delicious twist you can put on the classic espresso drink. Sometimes it takes a little creativity to change things up in an interesting, tasty way and the maple latte is a perfect example.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to make a basic maple latte and give you some ideas for tweaking the recipe to make it your own. If a little extra sweetness in your latte sounds good to you, this recipe is for you.
Simple Maple Latte Recipe:
The heart of the maple latte is the classic latte. A traditional latte is four parts milk to one part espresso, and we are going to stick with that ratio for this recipe. We get our maple syrup from 100% real maple syrup, which is important for two reasons. First, real maple syrup doesn’t contain any artificial flavors that impart strange tastes and come with questionable safety. We like to keep as many chemicals out of our coffee as we can.
Second, real maple syrup is significantly thinner than the ultra-viscous, artificial alternative. Having thin syrup makes it easier to blend the drink evenly, which provides a smooth mouthfeel and even flavor distribution.
OK, enough about maple syrup, let’s get into the recipe.
- 8 ounces of milk
- 2 shots of espresso
- 1 tablespoon 100% real maple syrup
- 1 pinch each of nutmeg, allspice, and ground cloves
- Espresso maker
- Coffee mug
- Spoon
- Milk frother (or French press or Mason jar)
1. Pull the espresso shots.
Using your favorite espresso maker, prepare two shots of espresso.
2. Mix maple syrup and spices.
In a coffee mug, combine the maple syrup with the spices. Stir the mixture until the spices are evenly distributed in the maple syrup.
3. Froth the milk.
If you have a milk frother or steamer, use it to froth the milk as you would in a traditional latte. Otherwise, you can use one of our milk frothing tips to froth milk by hand.
4. Add the espresso.
Pour the espresso into the mug over the maple syrup and spices. Stir vigorously to ensure the coffee mixes with the syrup.
5. Top with milk froth and enjoy!
Top with frothed milk by pouring it gently over the coffee. Serve and enjoy!
Milk Frothing Tips
If you don’t have a milk frother, there are two primary alternative methods we recommend. The first method only requires a jar with a lid – a mason jar is a great option – and the second uses a French press.
French Press Method
Our favorite method for frothing milk without a frother uses a French press. It is the easiest way to froth milk without making a mess, and we think it gives us the closest consistency to machine-frothed milk.
- Heat the milk and then pour it into your French press.
- Press the plunger rapidly up and down for 10-15 seconds or until the milk reaches the desired consistency.
- Be careful not to splash milk out the top of the French press.
Jar Method
If you don’t have a milk frother or a French press, this is the method for you. It’s not as precise as using a frother, but it gets the job done.
- Heat the milk until it’s about 150 ºF, this usually takes about 30 seconds in the microwave.
- Seal the jar with the lid. A screw-top lid is the safest option since there’s no chance it will fly off spewing hot milk all over your kitchen. We like to use a mason jar.
- With a potholder, shake the jar vigorously until the milk starts to thicken. It usually only takes about 10 seconds to reach the right consistency.
Variations
We like this recipe a lot, but there are many ways you can add or subtract ingredients to give it a personal touch.
The most obvious changes you could make are adding more spices or swapping some spices for others. Cinnamon is a popular addition that adds to the fall flavor profile. Be careful with cinnamon, though, because it is quite potent and can easily dominate the drink.
Another popular change is to substitute the milk for non-dairy milk. We like oat milk, but almond milk is great too. Coconut milk usually gets a big thumbs up from us, but we don’t think it works well in the maple latte.
Finally, you could add a dash of almond or vanilla extract to give more depth to the taste. We tend to favor almond extract only because vanilla tends to be a more dominant flavor and can make it more difficult to detect the other flavors. However, vanilla is a popular option, so don’t let our personal taste dissuade you from experimenting with it.
Our Maple Latte Recipe
Cozy Maple Latte Recipe
Equipment
- Espresso maker
- Coffee mug
- Spoon
- Milk frother (or French press or Mason jar)
Ingredients
- 6 ounces milk
- 2 shots espresso
- 1 tablespoon 100% real maple syrup
- 1 pinch nutmeg, allspice, and ground cloves
Instructions
- Using your favorite espresso maker, prepare two shots of espresso.
- In a coffee mug, combine the maple syrup with the spices. Stir the mixture until the spices are evenly distributed in the maple syrup.
- If you have a milk frother, use it to froth the milk as you would in a traditional latte. Otherwise, you can use one of our milk frothing tips to froth milk by hand.
- Pour the espresso into the mug over the maple syrup and spices. Stir vigorously to ensure the coffee mixes with the syrup.
- Top with frothed milk by pouring it gently over the coffee. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Homemade Maple Latte: Final Thoughts
Even the most traditional coffee drinkers like to switch things up every once in a while. The maple latte is a unique drink that takes a classic espresso drink and gives it a sweet twist that’s great for chilly fall mornings. Our recipe is only a guide, so feel free to experiment freely with different spices or other types of milk. We hope you enjoyed this recipe and are willing to give it a try! If you love sweet coffee brimming with flavor, we know you’ll love it.
RELATED READS:
- Maple Syrup in Coffee: Worth Trying?
- How to Make AeroPress Tea (Easy & Delicious)
- 15 Cozy Winter Coffee Recipes
Featured Image by Coffee Affection
