Cold foam toppings have become a must-have addition to give iced coffees aesthetic appeal and flavor variations. But how can I make this delicious and decorative garnish at home?
We’ll explain everything you need to know, including the definition of cold foam, the ingredients you need, and tips on making different flavor variations.
What Is Cold Foam?
Cold foam is frothed milk created without heat. This topping is designed for iced beverages. Its light and airy consistency adds a marbled visual as the creamy topping gradually combines with the coffee below.
Cold foam is a relatively healthy addition to your coffee,provided you stick to low-fat or plant-based milk. However, it can also be made with syrups and sweeteners to give that creamy topping extra flavor.
There’s also nothing to stop you from using full-fat versions or a combination of heavy cream and milk if you aren’t counting the calories. Some people claim this mixture creates just the right consistency for flavored varieties known as sweet cold foam.
Top 5 Ways to Create DIY Cold Foam at Home
The great thing about cold foam is how quick and easy it is to make, especially because you don’t need any specialist ingredients or tools. You’ll probably have most of these items in the kitchen cupboard already.
Irrespective of your chosen method, our simple guide will help you save money and time so you can focus on enjoying coffee shop-style drinks at home without breaking the bank.
Read on to discover how to make cold foam with a French press, hand whisk, milk frother, blender, and even in a mason jar.
What You’ll Need (Ingredients & Tools)
Choose one of the following according to preference:
- Skim Milk
- Half and Half
- Whipping Cream
- Heavy Cream
- Dairy-free milk or creamer
Choose one of the following:
- French Press
- Hand Frother (plus a tall mixing container)
- Milk Frother
- Blender
- Mason Jar
Flavorings (Optional):
- Honey
- Vanilla syrup
- Maple Syrup
- Caramel
- Chocolate
- Sweeteners
- Spices
1. Using a French Press to Make Cold Foam
You probably don’t consider your French press a tool for anything other than making coffee, but did you know that it can double up as a milk frother? Not only does it create tiny, fine bubbles to give your cold foam a creamy consistency, but it couldn’t be any simpler to use.
Pour the milk or cream of choice into the French press, and add your preferred flavorings. Then, press the plunger up and down for a few minutes until microbubbles start to form and the texture begins to change. Keep going until the milk has frothed into foam.
Use the foam to top your favorite iced coffee.
2. Hand Frothing Cold Foam
One of the easiest methods of creating cold foam is using a cheap handheld mixer. Pour your milk or cream into a tall container or jug, and add sweetener or syrup (if desired). Finally, put the milk frother into the liquid, and turn it on.
This is even more straightforward than the French press because it does all the work for you. Make sure your container is tall and you don’t overfill it — you’d be amazed how quickly the level of the milk rises.
3. Using a Blender to Make Cold Foam
Making your cold foam in a blender is a particularly good method if you’re making a larger quantity.
Add your milk and any flavorings to the blender and gradually increase the speed until the milk starts to froth up. The cold foam is ready once the milk is smooth and velvety and looks similar to whipped cream.
The only downside to this method is that it requires a little more cleaning up.
4. Making Cold Foam With a Mason Jar
If you do not have any fancy utensils in your kitchen to help you froth your milk, you can do it the old-fashioned way using a mason jar or other sealable container. This will work with any sealed container, provided it is airtight.
To make cold foam with this method, pour the required amount of milk into your container, close the lid, and shake it as vigorously as you can. After about a minute, check to see if there’s more foam than milk. Shake more if necessary.
Top 5 Delicious Sweet Cold Foam Flavors
Want to recreate some tried-and-tested classics or test some new flavor combinations? There are no limits to sweet, cold foam creations.
Sweet cold foam is made with a mix of heavy cream, milk, and whatever syrup your heart desires. Coffee syrups are readily available online and in stores, and you can find everything from vanilla and caramel to white chocolate and raspberry. Many flavors are sugar-free.
Here are five delicious cold foam creations:
1. Vanilla
- 2 tbsp of preferred milk
- 4 tbsp of heavy cream
- 1 tbsp of vanilla bean syrup
2. Brown Sugar and Cinnamon
- 2 tbsp of preferred milk
- 4 tbsp of heavy cream
- 1 tbsp of brown sugar cinnamon syrup
3. Pumpkin Caramel
- 2 tbsp of preferred milk
- 4 tbsp of heavy cream
- 1 tbsp of pumpkin caramel-like syrup
4. Vanilla Hazelnut
- 2 tbsp of preferred milk
- 4 tbsp of heavy cream
- 1 tbsp of vanilla hazelnut syrup
5. White Chocolate
- 2 tbsp of preferred milk
- 4 tbsp of heavy cream
- 1 tbsp of white chocolate sauce
How to Choose the Best Coffee for Cold Foam
When choosing the right coffee to complement your cold foam, there are a few things you should keep in mind to get the best flavor and quality beverage.
It’s important to consider the following characteristics to get the best results:
- Organic — Choosing organic coffee beans means they’re grown without nasty pesticides that may be harmful if consumed.
- Pre-Ground — You’ll want your beans pre-ground to the desired type of coffee. Fine for espresso, medium for regular coffee, and so on.
- Certified Mold-Free — Certified mold-free coffee helps you avoid buying beans exposed to harmful mycotoxins — microscopic toxins produced by mold.
- Fair Trade — Fair trade coffee ensures that farmers are paid fairly and work under ethical conditions, which supports sustainable practices and better livelihoods in coffee-growing communities.
- Freshly Roasted — Buying from a coffee company that roasts their beans within a few weeks of shipping means you’re getting rich flavors and aromatics. These elements fade over time, so look for companies that provide roasting dates.
Light, Medium, or Dark Roast: Which Is Better for Cold Foam?
If you are creating cold foam for iced coffee, we recommend using a high-quality brand for the best results. In terms of choosing the best roast, there’s no right or wrong — it’s down to personal taste.
Let’s break down the flavor notes of each:
1. Light Roast
Light roast coffee is renowned for its sharp, acidic, and floral undertones. These tend to be a lot less bitter than their darker counterparts.
These beans are roasted for a shorter amount of time, so the sugars aren’t as broken down, leading to more “natural,” green flavors of the coffee bean.
2. Medium Roast
Medium-roast coffee hits the sweet spot between bright acidity and rich, rounded flavor. It produces a cup that’s smooth, balanced, and often carries notes of chocolate, nuts, caramel, or mild citrus fruit. The aroma is warm and inviting, with a toasted, slightly sweet scent that lingers in the air.
3. Dark Roast
As you may have guessed, dark roast beans are cooked the longest. As the beans cook, the sugars break down and caramelize.
This gives them a more complex flavor profile than most, with caramel, blackberry, and stone fruit notes. They have slightly more bitter tones, which beautifully complement the sweetness of your foam.
Which Bean Type Is Best: Arabica, Robusta, or Blend?
Pairing your cold foam flavor with the correct coffee bean comes down to trial and error. However, it’s worth considering which flavors will best complement your topping of choice.
Though there are over 120 species of coffee beans, there are two that make it into your cup — arabica and robusta.
Robusta
If you choose a very sweet cold foam, you may wish to offset this with a robusta bean. A 100% robusta coffee like BanMe has a slightly bitter, chocolate-like flavor. Combined with the sweetness of syrups or chocolate, they create a rich and bold flavor that partners well with the notes of burnt sugar, cherry, and dark chocolate. This shade-grown peaberry robusta coffee bean is the strongest in the world and is an ideal accompaniment to a sweet cold foam topping.
Arabica
Those with a more discerning palate may prefer to combine the smooth flavors of arabica. When paired with an unsweetened cold foam, this combination creates a latte-style drink that highlights the natural caramel and blackberry notes of a bean like the DaLat.
Blends
You could also experiment with sweet and unflavored cold foam garnishes on top of a robusta and arabica blend. This coffee bean has a mixed profile of hazelnut, maple syrup, and citrus zest. You can adjust the flavor of your cold foam depending on whether you prefer a sweet, nutty taste or a sharp, citrus tang.
FAQs: Making Cold Foam for Coffee
Check out the answers to some frequently asked questions to learn more:
1.Why Is Skim Milk Better for Creating Cold Foam Than Whole Milk?
Skim milk has a higher percentage of protein than full-fat options or even half-and-half, which means it can be whipped up into a much fluffier, thicker cold foam. There’s nothing wrong with using other options, but the foam might be slightly less aesthetically impressive and will be more calorie-dense.
2. I’m Not a Fan of Syrups. What Other Options Are Available?
You can use honey and brown sugar, or create flavors using chocolate or fruit puree instead of store-bought syrups. There are also plenty of spices, extracts, and pastes on the market if you want to be a bit more creative, but there’s nothing wrong with unflavored cold foam.
3. How Long Does Cold Foam Last?
You should use your cold foam straight away, as it will lose its frothy consistency if left sitting for any length of time. If you’ve accidentally made too much, you can store leftover cold foam in the fridge for two to three days in a sealed container, but don’t be surprised if you have to froth it up again to regain the consistency you want.
4. What Are the Best Dairy-Free Products for Cold Foam?
Experiment with plant-based milk such as soy, almond, or oat. You can also buy ready-made vegan whipped cream. Coconut cream is a good choice for a rich, creamy foam, and you can even whip up tofu with sugar and vanilla extract to create a surprisingly velvety and tasty cold foam topping.
