How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate at Home

Introduction

You don't need a café budget to enjoy café-style drinks. With a few pantry staples, a way to froth milk, and strong coffee or espresso, you can recreate ten of the most popular coffeehouse favorites at home. Each recipe below includes exact measurements and clear steps, so you can make any of them in under ten minutes.

Prep Time & Quick Specs

Prep Time	5 minutes per drink
Total Time	Under 10 minutes
Yield	1 serving per recipe
Skill Level	Beginner

Ingredients Pantry Guide

• Espresso or strong brewed coffee, plus cold brew concentrate
• Whole milk, oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk
• Pure vanilla extract and pure maple syrup
• Date syrup or caramel sauce
• Raw cacao powder and light brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice
• Vanilla ice cream (for the affogato)

10 Café-Style Homemade Coffee Drinks

1. Caramel Macchiato

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp date syrup or caramel sauce, plus extra for drizzling

Steps:

1. Warm the milk with the vanilla in a small pot over medium-low heat.
2. Froth the milk using a milk frother until thick and airy.
3. Pour the date syrup into the bottom of a glass, then add the frothed milk.
4. Pour the espresso slowly over the top, then finish with a caramel drizzle.

2. Iced Vanilla Latte

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso, cooled
• 3/4 cup cold milk
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp pure maple syrup
• Ice cubes

Steps:

1. Stir the vanilla and maple syrup into the cooled espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice.
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the ice.
4. Top with the cold milk and stir gently.

3. Blended Iced Mocha

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup strong coffee, chilled
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1 cup ice cubes

Steps:

1. Add the coffee, milk, cacao powder, and maple syrup to a blender.
2. Add the ice cubes.
3. Blend on high for 30 seconds until thick and smooth.
4. Pour into a tall glass and serve immediately.

4. Vanilla Cold Foam Cold Brew

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cold brew concentrate mixed with 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup cold milk
• 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp pure maple syrup
• Ice cubes

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice and pour in the diluted cold brew.
2. Combine the cold milk, vanilla, and maple syrup in a small cup.
3. Froth the milk mixture with the frother for 20 to 30 seconds until it forms a thick cold foam.
4. Spoon the cold foam over the top of the cold brew.

5. Honey Cinnamon Cappuccino

Ingredients:

• 2 shots espresso
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp raw honey
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Steps:

1. Stir the honey into the hot espresso until dissolved.
2. Warm the milk and froth until it doubles in volume.
3. Pour the espresso into a mug, then spoon the frothed milk over the top.
4. Dust with ground cinnamon.

6. Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso

Ingredients:

• 2 shots espresso
• 1 tbsp light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cold oat milk
• 1 cup ice cubes

Steps:

1. Dissolve the brown sugar and cinnamon in the hot espresso.
2. Add the espresso mixture and ice to a jar or cocktail shaker.
3. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds until chilled and foamy.
4. Pour into a glass and top with the cold oat milk.

7. Vanilla Bean Blended Coffee

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup strong coffee, chilled
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1 cup ice cubes

Steps:

1. Add the chilled coffee, milk, vanilla, and maple syrup to a blender.
2. Add the ice cubes.
3. Blend on high until thick and creamy.
4. Serve in a tall glass right away.

8. Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tbsp real pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp pure maple syrup

Steps:

1. Whisk the pumpkin puree, spice, and maple syrup into the milk in a small saucepan.
2. Warm over medium-low heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Froth the warm spiced milk until foamy.
4. Pour over the espresso and serve.

9. Iced Coconut Latte

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso, cooled
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 tsp pure maple syrup
• Ice cubes

Steps:

1. Stir the maple syrup into the cooled espresso.
2. Fill a glass with ice and add the espresso mixture.
3. Pour in the coconut milk and cold water.
4. Stir well before drinking.

10. Affogato

Ingredients:

• 2 shots hot espresso
• 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
• Pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)

Steps:

1. Place the ice cream in a small glass or bowl.
2. Brew the espresso and pour it directly over the ice cream.
3. Dust with cinnamon and serve immediately with a spoon.

Tips for Better Café-Style Drinks at Home

Espresso quality matters most in the milk-based drinks above. A machine like the Breville Bambino Plus pulls real espresso and steams milk in one unit. If you'd rather not invest in an espresso machine, a strong brewed coffee works as a substitute, and our Ninja CM401 review covers a machine with a dedicated Over Ice setting built for iced drinks.

For the iced recipes, always chill your coffee or espresso before pouring it over ice, or the ice will melt and dilute the drink.

Conclusion

Café-style drinks come down to strong coffee, well-frothed milk, and the right flavor pairing. Start with one recipe that matches what you usually order out, then work your way through the rest.

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