Caramel latte recipe: a hot cafe-style coffee at home
Jack Donnell
At a glance
Make a hot caramel latte with espresso, milk, and caramel sauce. Get a measured single-serving recipe, mixing tips, and the difference from a macchiato.
A caramel latte is espresso and steamed milk flavored with caramel. This home version stirs the caramel into hot espresso before the milk is added, distributing the flavor throughout the cup. It is a mixed drink rather than a deliberately layered macchiato.
Use a pourable caramel sauce or a coffee syrup. Thick dessert caramel can cling to the bottom, so take time to dissolve it while the coffee is hot.
Caramel latte recipe
Yield: 1 drink · Prep: about 2 minutes · Cook/brew: about 3 minutes · Total: about 5 minutes
Use these quantities as home starting points and adjust to taste. Times are estimates; allow extra time for an espresso machine to warm up. US volume measures are approximate metric conversions.
Equipment
Espresso maker, milk pitcher or saucepan, frother, spoon, and a 12 fl oz mug.
Ingredients
- 1 double espresso, about 2 fl oz (60 ml)
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) milk
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) pourable caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon caramel sauce for topping, optional
Instructions
- Measure the caramel. Put the tablespoon of caramel sauce into the mug. Keep the optional topping separate so you can taste before adding it.
- Dissolve in espresso. Prepare the espresso and pour it onto the caramel. Stir until the bottom of the mug is free of thick sauce.
- Warm and froth. Warm the milk and make a little fine foam with your preferred milk equipment, following its instructions.
- Pour and finish. Add the milk gradually and stir once. Taste, then add the optional teaspoon of caramel over the foam if desired.
Tips and adjustments
Sauce versus syrup
Caramel syrup is usually thinner than dessert sauce. Start with the same measured tablespoon, but expect different sweetness and texture.
Want a salted caramel version?
Add a tiny pinch of salt to the caramel and espresso mixture. Taste before adding more; the sauce may already contain salt.
Coffee disappears?
Reduce the milk or caramel on the next attempt before changing the beans and espresso settings at the same time.
Common questions
How is this different from a caramel macchiato?
This recipe mixes caramel directly into espresso and milk. Our iced caramel macchiato uses vanilla in the milk, coffee poured over the top, and a caramel finish.
Can I make it without a machine?
Use 1/4 cup of concentrated moka pot coffee or strongly brewed coffee and a separate milk frother. The result has a different coffee base but follows the same mixing order.
More coffee recipes
- Iced caramel macchiato recipe
- Cinnamon dolce latte recipe with a quick brown sugar base
- Latte recipe
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Illustrative stock photo: Pexels, used under the Pexels license.