Iced lattes are a delicious coffee infused, milky drink – perfect for hot summer days. We have a quick easy to follow recipe, perfect for a hot day.
WHAT IS AN ICED LATTE?
Iced lattes are delicious caffeinated, milky drinks that are perfect for hot summer days. If you want to learn how to make this popular beverage, we have all the tips.
Firstly, we need to understand what exactly is an iced latte. It is an iced drink made with a shot or two of espresso, milk, ice and sugar syrup. Some people even add things like chocolate to make an iced mocha.
There are some tips that you should keep in mind when making an iced latte. Be sure to use quality ingredients for the best results and be careful with the ratio of ingredients as too much milk can dilute the espresso flavour.
It’s an Aussie hot day favourite.
WHAT MILK SHOULD YOU USE IN AN ICED LATTE?
For a nice creamy flavour that doesn’t overpower the coffee, whole milk is always best.
If you are looking for dairy-free milk options, there are a few. Make sure to use a ‘barista’ style for the best results. Soy has a similar mouth feel to whole milk, though some don’t like the aftertaste. Oat and almond milk are probably the next best options as they are more subtle in flavour and add sweetness to the latte.
TYPES OF COFFEE YOU COULD USE AT HOME FOR YOUR ICED LATTE
Cold brew from espresso beans is used in many cafes and restaurants for a quality coffee taste. Espresso hot brew however is the most commonly used when it comes to the type of coffee people use at home. There are 2 ways to do this.
The first is espresso from a coffee (espresso) machine, though not everyone owns this appliance.
Second is a coffee filter device such as a french press, Aeropress, Hairo, or a Stove Top/Moka Pot, which you can make hot or cold brew quickly to use in your coffee. Using cold brew instead of your normal espresso is a as this is a more high quality taste and mouthfeel. You could try making it yourself or using a ready made version like the CFTP Cold Brew.
COLD BREW COFFEE FOR AN ICED LATTE
Why use cold brew in an iced latte? Well, there are many reasons that cold brew is superior. Traditionally it takes 10-24 hours to brew so the depth of flavour is elevated and often can taste stronger due to the time the coffee is steeped in water. Using cold water also makes the coffee itself less acidic and the usual ‘bitter’ coffee taste is also more subtle with cold brew which allows you to taste the coffee more easily.
COLD BREW COFFEE RECIPE
Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarse-ground coffee beans in room-temperature water for 10 to 20 hours (traditionally).
This process is easy, economical and has a delicious result! Additionally, cold brew coffee allows you to customize the beans used and the strength to your liking. So how do you make a good cold brew?
The Process
+ For best results, add good quality, whole coffee beans to a coffee grinder until they are coarse to medium consistency, this is usually about the size of sugar granules.
+ For one batch, you’ll need 1/4 cup of coffee grinds and 1 cup of room-temperature water.
+ Add coffee grounds and water to a large measuring cup, and stir thoroughly to combine. Cover and leave the coffee at room temperature, mixing occasionally, for 10 hours or overnight to allow it to develop flavour.
+ For a cup of cold brew coffee that’s smooth and free of coffee grinds, make sure to strain your coffee through a coffee filter. This will give you a clean cup of coffee that you can enjoy!
+ If you want, you can dilute the coffee with some water if it is too strong.
Another option to make your own cold brew is to use a device such as a french press. This makes the process much faster (made within minutes!). It creates good results though won’t extract the same depth of flavour.
For the busy weeks when you don’t have time to make cold brew at home, we’ve got you covered. You can buy our ready-made CFTP Cold Brew from our website or in store. It’s delicious and convenient, and will definitely be useful for those times you need a pick-me-up.
HOW SHOULD I SWEETEN MY ICED LATTE?
Sugar syrup is used in iced drinks to sweeten them as normal sugar will not dissolve in cold water. One of the advantages of using sugar syrup is that you can more easily control the level of sweetness in your recipe.
If you want it to be less sweet, simply add less syrup. Or, if you want it to be sweeter, add more. You can also choose to not add any syrup at all. It is cheap and easy to make at home and will ensure the perfect latte every time.
If you are a sweet tooth and want to experiment with other options to customise your latte then flavoured syrups, whipped cream or even sprinkles could be for you. Try new things and have some fun with it.
The most common syrups to use would be vanilla, hazelnut and chocolate but some even add a pumpkin spice mix for a more unique flavour (particularly around the holidays). Whipped cream on top with chocolate sauce as a garnish is an idea and why not top with sprinkles to add a colourful, childlike spin on this classic?
CALORIE COUNT IN ICED LATTE
Most people don’t know how many calories are in these tasty drinks. When it comes to your recommended daily calorie consumption, an iced latte doesn’t contain a large amount in comparison.
Some people, however, like to keep track of their daily intake so it can be helpful to know if they are on a fitness or weight loss journey. An iced latte has approximately 115 calories per drink. This of course depends on the size of the cup and amount of syrup so it can range between 100-170 calories.
HOW TO KEEP THE CALORIES DOWN IN AN ICED LATTE
The easiest way to cut down on calories with an iced latte is to skip the sugar and cut back on the extras such as cream and syrup. Skipping the sugar syrup or minimising the amount you put in there will be the first step. It is recommended to gradually reduce the amount so that you get used to it without going from sweet to bitter quickly, especially if you are used to having sweet coffee. The second way is to try a low fat milk instead of whole milk as they often have less calories and fat. If you aren’t a fan of low fat milk then just add slightly less whole milk for a similar effect. Cold brew itself is almost free of calories so cutting back on flavoured syrups, sugar, milk and cream is the only way to reduce calories.
IS AN ICED LATTE GOOD FOR YOU?
People drink coffee for a variety of reasons. Some people drink it to wake themselves up in the morning, others drink it because they enjoy the taste but is coffee in an iced latte good for you? Iced lattes are perfectly healthy if, like most things, you drink them in moderation.
Coffee itself has many health benefits which are currently being studied, including improvements to cardiovascular, neurological and gastrointestinal health. As long as you stick to the recommended amount of coffee in your iced latte and don’t drink them all day, every day then there is no reason why you can’t enjoy it as a treat!
AUSTRALIAN ICED LATTE RECIPE
Ingredients:
+ 3 shots of our CFTP Cold Brew
+ Cup of ice cubes
+ Cup of milk
Sugar Syrup:
+ 1 Teaspoon of sugar
+ 1 Teaspoon hot water
Method:
+ Gather all of your ingredients together along with a 1 cup measuring cup, a teaspoon and a small bowl or mug to mix the sugar syrup together. Make sure you also have the glass you want to serve your iced latte in.
+ Make up your sugar syrup by boiling the kettle and adding 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of hot water into your small bowl. If you want more sugar just make a bigger batch of sugar syrup, ensuring that you keep the 1:1 ratio. This can always be done on the stove too if larger batches are required by combining sugar and water into a pot on a low heat until and stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Always allow sugar syrup to cool for a couple of minutes before placing on the ice or it will melt and water down your coffee faster.
+ Put the cup of ice into your glass.
+ Then pour in the CFTP cold brew, sugar syrup and milk and stir.
+ Add any extra garnishings or syrups and enjoy!
Like this recipe? Check out some of our other cold brew recipes like; Coffee Icy Poles, Black Russian Cocktail Recipe, White Russian Cocktail Recipe, Chocolate Coffee Mug Muffin and Coffee Protein Balls.
Wanting to know more about iced lattes and iced coffees? Check out the article that will give you all the FAQs.
Looking for the best coffee in Melbourne? We have the guide for you.
