A guide about how to make cold foam at home!
We can drink our black coffee just black, we can upgrade our coffee drinks with various sweeteners like honey, brown sugar syrup, maple syrup, ice cubes, and much more.
We shouldn’t stop there and could add cold foam. Cold foam can greatly improve your cold brew coffees, iced coffees, and other coffees, together with a better coffee experience.
Why is cold foam so great? It has light textures with bubbles and gives you a cool finish, and it’s not that hard to make yourself. We will show you how you can make it yourself at home, so you can share it on social media ;)!
What is cold foam?
Cold foam is cold, frothed milk, that can be made without heat for coffees, mostly iced drinks. This milk foam can be poured on top of an iced coffee.
Frothed milk can also be made with heat for coffees. In this article, we’re focussing on cold foam, destined for cold-brewed coffees.
The cold foam is made from milk that’s relatively low on fat. This cold foam will be added on top and fall into the coffee drink.
Cold foam can be sweetened with extra sweeteners like sugar, maple syrup, honey, or other syrups and can be topped with different flavors.
Cold foam and Starbucks
The popularity of cold foam is partly or mainly, that’s another debate, made by Starbucks.
In 2014, Starbucks has introduced it with their Americano Con Crema. There are a lot of variations today of cold foam on the Starbucks menu.
How to make cold foam at home?
Making cold foam at home isn’t that hard really.
You don’t have to buy expensive kitchen or coffee gear to make your cold foam.
A normal blender or handheld milk frother can do this job just fine!
The most important part is to have the milk as cold as possible and find the balance in the amount of air that’s being incorporated into the milk. Too much and your foam will collapse, too little and it might not taste as good as it should be.
What kind of milk should I use to make cold foam?
The first question you should ask: will any kind of milk do fine?
The answer is in a way: yes, there’s always a better fit for a certain recipe.
If possible, use low-fat milk or milk that has a max of 2% fat in it. The reason is simple and obvious: the less fat in your milk, the more likely your milk bubbles will last, so you can enjoy the cold foam more.
Alternatively, you can use half and half or heavy cream, but you’ll have more calories and your cold foam won’t last as long.
Now, that you’ve chosen your milk, we can discuss our 5 ways of making cold foam.
How to make cold foam with an automatic milk frother?
A milk frother can be a part of your machine, built-in, or bought separately. With a milk frother, you’ll have foam in no time.
Use about half of a cup (0.12l or 4,06 fluid ounces) of low-fat milk
- pour the cold milk into the cup or reservoir, and try to stay under the line for optimal results
- Press and hold the button for a few seconds until you see the right indication.
- Keep at it until the milk is fluffy and foamed
How to make cold foam with a handheld milk frother?
Not everyone has a milk frothing machine or a milk frother that comes builtin with an espresso or coffee machine.
There’s no need to worry.
A handheld milk frother doesn’t need to cost you a fortune and will last for some time if used with respect.
You don’t have to do a lot to get your so desired foam:
- Pour the cold milk into your carafe or cup
- make sure it’s not full
- put the end of the milk frother whisks in the milk and turn it on
- Do this until you get your fluffy and foamy milk
How to make cold foam with a blender?
If you don’t have a milk frother at home, using a blender might be your best bet. It blends well. You can make a lot of foam in a short amount of time.
Besides the blender, you’ll need 1 cup of low-fat milk (about 0.24l or 8.12 fluid ounces)
- pour the milk into the blender
- place the fill blender on/in your machine
- increase the speed evenly, don’t start at the highest speed
- Remove after you see the milk is fluffy and is foamed
Generally, the more milk you’ll use, the more likely you’ll get great results
You can also use these tips with a handheld blender. Start slowly and increase evenly.
Can you make cold foam without a mixer or frother?
Yes, there are a few ways possible. We will explain the French Press and the mason jar. These two methods can be used to make cold foam without an expensive milk frother or mixer.
French Press
The French Press can be used for more than just brewing coffee. It’s a great tool to have in your kitchen. Not many people know that you can use it to froth your milk.
- Pour the milk, preferably low-fat milk, into your French Press
- Push the plunger from the French Press up and down until your milk is fluffy enough. This shouldn’t last longer than 2 minutes.
Mason Jar
If you don’t have the proper coffee gear as described above (blender, milk frother, French Press), there’s also a cheap alternative: the mason jar.
This can be ideal when camping. There’s always a mason jar around right?
However, if you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys is a popular saying. While using a mason jar is a great alternative, it involves more work compared to the other methods.
- Pour the cold milk into a mason jar
- Close the lid of the jar
- Shake and keep at it until the milk is fluffy enough
Wrapping up
How is cold foam made?
Cold foam is made by using low-fat milk, that has a max of 2% of fat. It has a fluffy and stiff foam that enriches your coffee drink. You can also use half and half or heavy cream, but they’re richer in calories. You can make it in multiple ways: with a blender, milk frother, French Press, mason jar… So you don’t have to visit your local coffee shop but make it yourself at home.
What is the best way to make cold foam?
The best way is highly subjective, but what we can say though is that doing it with a mason jar requires more work. Depending on the desired volume you want to make, either go for an automatic frother or blender (a lot of volumes), French Press, and handheld milk frother can be used for lower volumes. In the end, it all comes down to experience.
Difference Between Cold Foam and Whipped Cream?
Cold foam is a lot like the hot version of steamed milk froth that is used in other coffee drinks like lattes. Whipped cream has more body and is thicker. Cold foam and whipped cream are made by inserting air into the milk or heavy cream, creating tiny air bubbles in the process.
Is cold foam made with a steam wand?
No, cold foam is made from cold foamy milk and can be made with different tools like a blender, a milk frother, and so on. It’s cold and not made with any heat.
Enjoy your coffee!