Perfect Iced Latte

August 05, 2021

Here’s how to make an iced latte at home! This classic coffee drink is perfectly creamy, refreshing and espresso-forward.

What’s more refreshing than an iced latte? It’s no wonder this espresso drink is massively popular. The combination of bitter coffee balanced by delicate sweetness and creamy, frothed milk is an absolute delight. There’s no need to run to your favorite coffee shop for this one: it’s easy to make homemade! To us, there’s nothing better on summer afternoons (or anytime, really).

What’s an iced latte?

An iced latte is a drink with espresso, milk and optional sweetener. The milk is often frothed to simulate the steamed milk in a standard latte. So what’s the difference vs iced coffee? Iced coffee uses brewed coffee and optional milk. Because an iced latte uses espresso, it has a stronger, darker flavor.

How to make an iced latte: basic steps

Here’s the outline of how to make an iced latte at home:

Step 1: Make a double shot of espresso.
Step 2: Froth ¼ cup whole milk by shaking it in a covered jar or whisking until frothy.
Step 3: Pour the espresso and 1 teaspoon maple syrup over ice. Add milk and serve.

Below are a few notes on the methods for how to make espresso and how to froth the milk.

How to make the espresso

What makes an iced latte an iced latte? The espresso! Strong coffee will not do here. You’ll need the following items to make a double shot of espresso:

Espresso roast coffee: The roast is important to get the right dark, bitter flavor. Use a fine grind on the espresso beans.
Espresso machine, manual espresso maker, French press, or Aeropress: This espresso machine is fantastic: it’s pricey but it makes the best espresso. A manual espresso maker is much cheaper and portable, and makes great espresso. French press espresso also works well: it’s our top choice for decent espresso without a specific tool. Aeropress espresso works in a pinch: the flavor isn’t great, but it’s the cheapest option.

Milk to use for an iced latte

If you’re a latte fan, you’ll know: the best milk for a latte is whole milk. Why? Whole milk froths the best because it has the highest milk fat. With an iced latte, the exact texture of the milk is less important because it’s a cold drink. So you can get away with 2% if you’d like: it just tastes less rich!

The best milk for a vegan iced latte? Oat milk! Oat milk froths the best of any non-dairy milk. Since the cold version of a latte is less touchy than the hot one, you can substitute any other non-dairy milk if you choose: almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, etc.

Frothing the milk: a few options!

A good iced latte has lightly frothed milk, though some coffeehouses use straight milk. You can skip this step, but it adds a nice texture (and otherwise the drink strays into iced coffee territory). There are a few tools for the job that are easy to use:

Jar: You can simply place the milk in a jar and shake until it’s foamy!
Whisk. A whisk works too, and has a similar effect.
Handheld milk frother. If you already have a handheld milk frother for lattes, this is the best tool! It makes the thickest, creamiest frothed milk. See the recipe below for instructions.
French press. If you have a French press, it’s also great for making foam! It makes a nice frothy foam with bubbles a little larger than the frother.

For the last two methods, it’s easiest to use more milk than the recipe calls for because it froths better with a larger quantity. You can save it to make more iced lattes. And that’s it! Let us know if you make this iced latte in the comments below.

More latte recipes

Love a good latte? There are lots more to try: both espresso drinks and tea lattes! Here are some favorite recipes:

Learn the classic: How to Make a Latte (or Latte Art Basics!)
Opt for a spiced Chai Latte or Vegan Chai Latte
Go for a Vanilla Chai Latte
Add ice for an Iced Chai Latte
Try a Perfect Tea Latte or London Fog Drink