What is Brûlée Coffee and What Does It Taste Like?

Brûlée coffee mimics the indulgent flavors and decadent smoothness of crème brûlée. It's a sweet, creamy, dessert-like coffee that's high in calories but big on flavor. 

If you're searching for an indulgent after-dinner coffee or a one-off sweet treat, crème brûlée coffee is well worth a look. 

In this article, you'll learn all about brûlée coffee, including what it tastes like, how to make it, and similar beverages…

What is Brûlée Coffee?

Brûlée coffee is a coffee-based beverage inspired by crème brûlée — the classic French dessert. 

It's typically made with espresso brewer and steamed milk in the form of a latte coffee. The beverage gets its crème brûlée flavors from specialized syrup or a combination of caramel sauce and vanilla syrup. 

This is a rich, creamy, indulgent brew with dessert-like qualities — perfect for enjoying after dinner or as a one-off sweet treat. The beverage is typically topped with whipped cream and crunchy toffee pieces to provide the signature crunch from the crème brûlée's torched sugar top. 

What Does Brûlée Coffee Taste Like?

Brûlée coffee has a sweet, creamy, and slightly caramelized flavor. It balances the bold flavors of espresso coffee with creamy vanilla notes and a toasted sugar finish. 

When Monin Creme Brûlée Syrup (or a similar product) is used, it produces a brew with a deep, slightly smoky richness — similar to the crispy top of a crème brûlée. When made with steamed milk (as a latte), the creaminess mimics the custard base of a crème brûlée. 

What Do You Need to Make Brûlée Coffee?

Although crème brûlée coffee is relatively simple to make, you'll need quite a few ingredients and a few pieces of specialist equipment. 

Here's what you'll need to make a crème brûlée latte coffee:

Ingredients 

• High-Quality Coffee — Use high-quality, whole-bean coffee and grind it fresh before brewing.
• Water — Use fresh, filtered water to make the espresso. 
• Milk — Use whole dairy milk or a high-protein vegan alternative such as oat milk.
• crème brûlée Syrup — Use a syrup such as Monin Crème Brûlée. If you can't get hold of specific crème brûlée syrup, you can combine vanilla and caramel for a similar flavor.
• Whipped Cream — Use canned (squirty) whipped cream to top the brûlée latte.
• Crunchy Toffee (Optional) — Add crunchy toffee or fudge pieces to garnish your beverage. 

Equipment 

• Espresso Machine — This latte requires a double shot of espresso coffee. You'll need an espresso machine or moka pot to achieve this.
• Coffee Grinder — A fine grind is needed for making espresso. Most espresso machines have a built-in coffee grinder but if yours doesn't, you'll need a burr (not a blade) grinder.
• Steam Wand — A steam wand allows you to warm and froth the milk.
• Weighing Scale — Use a weighing scale to accurately measure the coffee for the espresso.
• Tamper — A tamper is needed to pack the ground coffee into the portafilter of your espresso machine. 
• Milk Pitcher — Use a milk pitcher to steam the milk. 
• Large Coffee Cup — You'll need a large coffee cup with an 8 oz (240 mL) volume for this brew. 

Coffee Recommendations 

Starbucks coffee and other coffee chains usually make crème brûlée lattes with 100% arabica coffee. However, whether you opt for arabica, robusta, or a blend is up to you. What's important is that the coffee is high-quality and freshly ground. 

The type of coffee you pick will affect the flavor of the resulting brew:

• 100% arabica — Arabica coffee such as DaLat offers smooth, sweet, bold flavors. This is the most popular option for espresso and milk-based beverages. 
• 100% robusta — Robusta coffee, such as Hanoi or BanMe, offers dark, robust, bitter flavors and a potent caffeine hit (around twice that of arabica). 
• Blends — Arabica and robusta blends such as Saigon OG offer the best of both beans. You get the strong caffeine hit and dark flavors of robusta and the sweet, smoothness of arabica. 

How to Make Brûlée Latte Coffee: Step-by-Step Guide

Although the brûlée latte is complex in terms of flavor, it's not particularly complex to make. 

Here's how to make a crème brûlée latte, step-by-step:

1. Prepare the Espresso Machine

Fill the water reservoir of your espresso machine with cold, fresh, filtered water. Turn the machine on and allow it to heat up — this can take anywhere from two to 20 minutes depending on the machine you have. 

2. Measure and Grind the Coffee

Measure out 18 grams of whole-bean coffee (for a double shot) and place it in the grinder on your machine, or a separate burr grinder. 

Aim for a fine grind — similar to powdered sugar. 

3. Prepare the Portafilter 

Add the coffee grounds to the portafilter and tamp firmly and evenly with your tamper.

4. Pull the Espresso Shot

Lock the portafilter into the group head of your machine and place an espresso cup on the drip tray below it. 

Start the extraction — aim for a 25 to 30-second pull. 

5. Steam the Milk

Add around 6.5 oz (200 mL) of whole milk or a high-protein plant-based alternative to a milk pitcher. Lightly steam the milk with the wand on your espresso machine until a light, velvety texture is achieved. 

6. Assemble the Brûlée Latte

In a large coffee cup, add the espresso and one to two tablespoons of crème brûlée syrup. If you don't have a specific syrup, combine vanilla syrup and caramel syrup at a 50:50 ratio. 

Gently pour over the steamed milk, holding back the microfoam floating near the top of the pitcher. Once the bulk of the milk is poured, release the spoon so the microfoam settles on top of the brew. 

7. Garnish and Serve

Add a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with crunchy toffee or fudge pieces (optional). Serve your crème brûlée latte while warm and enjoy. 

Similar Beverages to Brûlée Coffee

Brûlée coffee is an indulgent, creamy brew made using espresso, milk, and syrup. If you enjoy the sweet, milky flavors of crème brûlée coffee, there are several other beverages you'll also enjoy. 

Here are four similar brews to try if you enjoy brûlée coffee:

1. Latte Coffee

The latte is an espresso-based coffee that combines the bold, rich flavors of arabica espresso with creamy, velvety, steamed milk. If you enjoy brûlée coffee but can’t justify consuming so much sugar every day, try switching to a regular latte using the best coffee bean selections. 

Here’s a brief summary of making latte coffee:

1. Brew a shot of espresso.
2. Steam a pitcher of milk until warm, light, and velvety.
3. Pour the espresso shot into a large coffee mug.
4. Gently pour the steamed milk over the espresso in a gentle circular motion, holding back the microfoam with a spoon.
5. Once the bulk of the milk has been poured, release the spoon and allow the microfoam to settle on top of the beverage. 
6. Enjoy your creamy latte while it's warm.

2. Mocha Coffee

The mocha combines the bold, dark flavors of coffee with the rich, sweet, nutty flavors of chocolate. If you love chocolate and coffee, you’ll love mocha. It’s made with espresso, dark chocolate syrup, and steamed milk. 

Here’s a rundown of the brewing process:

1. Brew a strong, concentrated shot of coffee using an espresso machine, moka pot, or Aeropress brewer. 
2. Gently heat whole milk or a vegan alternative in a pan. 
3. In a mixing bowl, add dark chocolate and a small amount of freshly boiled water. Stir until a thick chocolate syrup has formed. 
4. Add the chocolate syrup and milk before frothing lightly with a fine whisk or milk frother until a light and velvety chocolate milk has formed. 
5. Pour the espresso into a large coffee mug, followed by the chocolate milk. Stir to combine. 
6. Add a dollop of whipped cream, garnish with a few coffee beans, and enjoy.

3. Caramel Iced Coffee

Caramel iced coffee is a sweet, creamy, chilled beverage that can be made in minutes. This brew has a similar flavor profile to brûlée coffee, but it's served over ice with more milk. You can make this brew with any strong, dark, concentrated coffee, milk, ice, and caramel sauce. 

Here’s how to make one:

1. Brew a strong, concentrated coffee using an espresso machine, pour-over, or French press. 
2. Cool the coffee to room temperature. 
3. Cover the inside of a glass with caramel sauce and add ice. 
4. Pour in the coffee. 
5. Add milk and stir or leave it “marbled” — where the milk and coffee are separated. 
6. Add a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel syrup on top. Serve and enjoy. 

4. Vanilla Iced Coffee

Vanilla iced coffee shares a similar flavor profile to brûlée coffee. It’s sweet, creamy, and offers toffee-like flavors. However, it’s served over ice and is a little less complicated to make. 

Here’s a rundown on making vanilla iced coffee:

1. Brew a strong, concentrated shot of coffee using a brewing method of your choice (drip coffee, French press, Chemex brewer, or Moka pot). 
2. Cool the coffee to room temperature. 
3. Fill a glass with ice and add one to two tablespoons of vanilla syrup — read this guide to learn how to make vanilla syrup at home.
4. Pour the coffee over the ice and fill the rest of the glass with milk. 
5. Stir thoroughly to combine the coffee, syrup, and milk. Serve and enjoy. 

FAQs: Brûlée Coffee

Want to learn more about brûlée coffee and other sweet, indulgent brews?

Check out the frequently asked questions below.

1. What’s the Best Coffee for Brûlée Coffee?

The best coffee for making crème brûlée coffee should be high-quality, whole-bean coffee that's freshly ground. The type of coffee is less important. However, the sweet, smooth, bold flavors of 100% arabica and the robust yet smooth flavors of robusta and arabica blends work well with the caramel-like flavors associated with crème brûlée. The earthy, bitter notes of 100% robusta coffee can be too overpowering for this milky, indulgent brew. 

2. What’s Inside Starbucks’ Caramel Brûlée Latte?

The Starbucks Caramel Brûlée Latte contains espresso, steamed milk, and a rich Caramel brûlée sauce. The brew is topped with whipped cream and crunchy toffee-like crème brûlée pieces. 

3. How Much Caffeine in Brûlée Coffee?

The amount of caffeine in brûlée coffee varies slightly depending on the bean type used and the coffee-to-water ratio. However, the average brûlée latte made with a double-shot espresso contains around 120 mg to 150 mg of caffeine. 

4. Can You Make Iced Crème Brûlée Coffee?

Yes. You can make an iced crème brûlée coffee by cooling a concentrated shot of coffee such as espresso, then combining it with milk and caramel brûlée syrup. The iced beverage can be topped with whipped cream and crunchy crème brûlée pieces. 

5. What’s the Difference Between a Caramel Latte and a Brûlée Latte?

Caramel lattes and crème brûlée lattes are extremely similar. They both exhibit caramel-like flavors. However, the brûlée latte is slightly more complex. 

Caramel lattes are usually made with espresso, steamed milk, and a caramel sauce or syrup. Brûlée lattes are made with espresso, steamed milk, and a “crème brûlée syrup” — usually made by combining caramel and vanilla syrup. 

6. What’s the Difference Between a Frappuccino and an Iced Coffee?

A coffee Frappuccino is a Starbucks creation that's similar to an iced coffee. 

Iced coffee contains coffee, milk, and whole ice cubes. A Frappuccino also contains coffee, milk, and ice. However, the ice in this brew is crushed by blending to create a slushy, milkshake-like texture. 

7. Can You Make a Crème Brûlée With Coffee?

Yes. If you enjoy the taste of crème brûlée and coffee, it's possible to make this creamy, French dessert with a dash of coffee syrup or powder. By folding a small amount of coffee syrup or powder into the custard as it forms, you can add deep, rich flavors to the dessert to give it tiramisu-like qualities. 

8. What’s the Best Syrup for Brûlée Coffee?

There are a few good options for infusing your coffee with crème brûlée flavors. Store-bought syrups such as Torani Crème Brûlée Syrup or Monin Crème Brûlée Syrup provide rich flavors of vanilla custard and burnt sugar. Alternatively, you can combine caramel syrup with vanilla coffee syrup to create similar flavors. 

9. How Much Sugar is in a Crème Brûlée Latte?

The amount of sugar in a crème brûlée latte depends on how it's made. A Starbucks Caramel Brulee Latte contains around 48 grams of sugar. A homemade crème brûlée latte made with syrup can contain anywhere from 20 to 60 grams of sugar. 

10. Can You Make a Brûlée Latte Without an Espresso Machine?

Although you can't make a true latte without an espresso machine and steam wand, you can make a brûlée latte with similar qualities without one. You can use a moka pot, Aeropress, Rok espresso maker, or instant espresso to create an espresso-like brew. This can be combined with warm, frothed milk created with a milk frother or fine whisk.