If you want to make a cold brew coffee with a smooth, velvety topping, you have come to the right place. Since cold foam has been introduced in coffee places, it has reached the ultimate demand from thirsty customers.
Making cold foam is not difficult if you have the right ingredients and a trustworthy utensil to create the perfect froth. Cold foam is not made by using steam or heat and looks like a fluffy meringue when it’s made correctly.
Did you know you can prepare your cold foam at home? If you want to skip the line at Starbucks™, you need to learn how to create cold foam, and if you take a look at the following information, you will see how easy and diverse it can be.
What Type of Milk Is Best for Perfect Cold Foam?
There are different ways to make cold foam. Whatever utensil you choose, the end product is the same. It is the milk that makes your foam, and skim milk is the best because it has more protein than the higher fat milk.
After all, you want to make your milk foam as smooth and creamy as a professional barista would make it.
Before we talk about how to make the foam, though, let’s discuss some of the tools that are helpful for creating that perfect froth.
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Equipment Needed to Create Perfect Frothy Cold Foam
You’ll be amazed at the number of options you have for creating that supple cold foam. Happily, most people have at least one of these already in their kitchen. We’ll talk more about how to use each one later in the article, but as you’re getting your supplies gathered, consider using:
- A handheld frother
- A hand mixer
- A standard kitchen blender or personal-sized blender
- A French press
- A Mason jar
You’re probably a bit curious about how to use these different options, but let’s finish gathering our supplies first.
Ingredients for Perfect Cold Foam
Creating your perfect cold foam isn’t complicated—there are only a few steps you will need to follow, and we’ve detailed them for you below:
- To get the process started, you will start with half a cup of skim milk
- Next, if you want a little bit of sweetness in your foam, you could add:
- About one teaspoon of simple syrup
- You could add flavoring like vanilla – just a dash
Note: Sugar right out of the sugar bowl won’t work for this. You need to sweeten your foam with the simple syrup liquid because sugar granules will prevent the perfect foam from being able to form.
How To Create Perfect Cold Foam
To get the froth you want, you will need to:
- Choose the mixing tool you will use to make your thick, frothy blend
- Place the frother in the bottom of the cup and begin the mixing/blending process.
- When the milk starts to get thick, bring the mixer to the top of the container to create the foam.
This process should take about 20 seconds.
After completing these steps, you will have cold foam that any seasoned barista would be proud of and that is ready to spoon over your:
- Home Made Cold Brew
- Iced Espresso
- Iced Latte
- Shaken Espresso
Use your imagination to make other creations topped with your cold foam.
By following these steps, you can make your own cold foam the way Starbucks™ does.
How To Use Different Tools to Make Cold Foam
There are many tools you can use to make cold foam and be your own barista! As promised, here are a few examples of how to use various implements to make a great cold foam at home:
Try a Hand Frother for Cold Foam
Hand frothers are compact, inexpensive, and easy to use. This frother is a stick with a mixer at the bottom of it. They are easy to clean with a bit of soap and hot running water.
The directions for use are straightforward, and they make perfect foam.
- Pour your cold, skim milk into a glass or cup
- Insert the hand frother and run the small blender until you have your finished product
- The result is fluffy, frothy milk
If specialty coffees and tea are important to you, this item is definitely a good purchase. You can make the foam in no time, and you have control over how thick and creamy you want your milk. Use a large mug to hold all of that foam.
Whip up Cold Foam with a Handheld Mixer
A handheld mixer comes with one or two beaters and can be used to whip up almost anything. It is also perfect for making cold foam, and it is easy to clean by ejecting the beaters and washing them in hot soapy water or tossing them in the dishwasher.
To use your handheld mixer to make cold foam:
- Pour your skim milk into a bowl
- Place your handheld mixer into the same bowl
- Use the low speed to froth your milk
- Gradually increase the hand mixer’s speed until the milk is foamy
The handheld mixer is a good choice if you don’t want to use the hand blender, which is a little more cumbersome and not as easy to clean.
Blend Up Some Cold Foam
Blenders can do more than mix up the perfect margarita! The instructions to achieve cold foam from a blender are as follows:
- Pour cold milk into blender cup
- Place the milk filled blender container onto the machine
- Slowly increase the blender’s speed until it is at top speed (More volume equals higher quality foam)
- When your chosen milk is fluffy and smooth, your foam is finished
If you want to make the best cold foam with a blender, press the pulse button a few times. The more blended your cold milk is, the more present the bubbles become. Most blenders need about 30 seconds to get the foam to the right consistency.
Make Cold Foam with a French Press
The French press was designed to separate coffee grounds from the liquid. It has tiny holes, which allows the liquid to go through it. When you make cold foam with a French press, you will need to:
- Pour your cold milk into the French press
- Add the press’ plunger on top and press down
- Plunge the device up and down numerous times until your milk reaches the consistency you want
When the liquid is the right texture, take the top off of your French press and pour the foam onto your coffee.
Using a French press is quite the undertaking, but it is worth the effort if you don’t have the other tools available.
Use Muscle and a Mason Jar to Make Cold Foam
The main advantage of using a mason jar is that you can easily scoop the foam from the jar and not transfer it from a large device, such as a blender. But it is quite a workout for your arms.
- Pour the cold milk into your Mason Jar, and remember to use skim milk
- Tighten the lid
- Shake the liquid until it becomes foam
The mason jar has some disadvantages in that you have to shake it until the foam comes together, which can take some time. However, this method will work in a pinch.
What Starbucks™ Drinks Feature Cold Foam?
Many coffee places can make an excellent cold foam brew, but it all began at Starbucks™ first. The origins of cold foam go back to 2014 in Seattle. Starbucks™ officially christened all their stores with this type of drink in 2018.
Some of the most popular cold foam drinks from Starbucks™ include:
- Cold Foam Cascara
- Salted Caramel Cream
- Pumpkin Cream (Seasonal)
- Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
- Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Vanilla Sweet Cream
- Iced Blonde Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Latte with Caramel Cold Cream
Starbucks™ uses flavored syrups, and they are sweetened, so they do not use cane sugar in their cold foam. Starbucks™ will sell their syrups so you can make your drinks coffee house style.
For an interesting take on cold foam, why not try making milk foam for cheese tea? It sounds weird, but it’s actually delicious!
What Are Some Flavored Cold Froth Options?
Coffee places like Starbucks™ are known to concoct a wide variety of flavors. If you don’t like ordinary coffee, you can use syrup like vanilla or caramel.
These kinds of milk are the best way to produce a drink with lasting milk bubbles that are creamy and frothy. Some people like heavy whipping cream, but Starbucks™ uses low-fat milk.
Making Your Own Cold Foam is Easy if You Know How
These techniques will help you achieve a fabulous cup of cold brew with cold foam. It will allow you to prove that a good barista can be made from an avid coffee drinker. So next time you’re craving a drink with that lucious cold foam, try making one in your own kitchen instead of running out to the coffee shop.
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