Sweet Cold Foam

Sweet Cold Foam is a delightful and velvety addition to any drink. Its rise in popularity can be attributed to the mainstreaming of cold coffee drinks like lattes, cold brew and iced teas from trendy coffee shops. The frothy topping is known for its light and airy consistency. It adds the perfect element of luxury without a huge caloric impact.

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What is cold foam?

Cold foam is essentially just frothed milk. Unlike when made for hot beverages such as cappuccinos, however, it’s frothed without the use of heat or steam. If you try to top a cold drink with hot foam, it will melt into a milky puddle almost instantaneously.

This is where cold foam shines, resting in a fluffy layer floating atop a drink like the pumpkin cream cold brew.

Without the use of heat, cold foam is thick, creamy and meringue-like in texture, ideal for topping or layering in any cold coffee drink. The foam sits atop the drink and gradually melts into it as you sip.

Whether you’re a long-time fan having fallen hard for this foamy phenom or are simply intrigued to give it a try, the good news is that making sweet cold foam at home couldn’t be easier. This article will walk through how to make it, ways to use it and fun flavor variations to try.

The best milk for cold foam

Almost counterintuitively, the best froth comes from using nonfat milk. This is true for hot foam as well as cold foam. 

The lower percentage of fat in the milk results in a higher percentage of protein. Protein is what gives the foam its structure and helps stiffen it up. 

While 1 percent, 2 percent or even whole milk are best for latte art, stick to skim milk when making cold foam for the best results. Heavy whipping cream and half-and-half are easy to whip, but they can quickly turn into whipped cream.

Plant-based milks are hit or miss when it comes to frothing. Some, like canned coconut milk, will do well, although even that can be brand specific depending on the ingredients. While others, like almond milk, often fall flat. If dairy is a concern, play around with different alternative types of milk to see which works best. 

Cold foam ingredients

Learning how to make this coffee topper at home won’t just improve your afternoon pick-me-up but also save you some pennies. Here’s what you’ll need for making cold foam:

• Cold brew coffee
• Non-fat milk
• Milk frother

Optional:

• Sweetener such as simple syrup, powdered sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar or sugar-free syrup
• Flavorings like flavored simple syrups or extracts

To make the cold foam, make sure to use cold, fresh milk and froth using the gadget of your choice from the list below. Handheld and electric frothers will only take about 20 seconds to create the cold foam. 

Spoon the foam over cold brew coffee or any other iced coffee drink, garnish with a dusting of cinnamon spice or chocolate shavings if desired and enjoy.

Types of milk frothers

Which type of milk frother do you need? You have some options.

favorite milk frothers

electric milk frother

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handheld milk frother

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rechargeable milk frother

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Handheld milk frother: This small kitchen gadget is likely the best value. For just about $10 (that’s only eight Starbucks orders of a cold foam add-on) it froths milk with ease in seconds.

Electric milk frother and steamer: This option will take up a little more space on your kitchen counter than a handheld frother but it offers both hot and cold-frothed milk options, albeit at about three times the cost.

french press essentials

french press

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gooseneck kettle

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coffee grinder

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French press: Using the plunger on a French press is a great hack for making cold foam without a frothing device. Place the cold milk into the beaker then press the plunger up and down for about 45 seconds until a nice frothy layer forms.

Whisk: Using a whisk is the most budget-friendly but be prepared for an arm workout. Whisking the cold milk by hand will work to create foam but the bubbles are larger and the texture likely won’t be as stiff and creamy as one of the other three options. Nonetheless, it will work in a pinch.

Sweet cold foam flavors

Syrups and extracts can be used to jazz up cold foam in a variety of ways. 

A few drops of any flavoring extract can be added to the cold foam without impacting the consistency. Try a hint of vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste or almond extract to liven up any cold coffee drink. Coffee extract is another great flavor for true coffee lovers. 

Syrups are another option for providing extra flavor. A homemade simple syrup can be added to the milk or any store-bought variety. Keep in mind, unless sugar-free, syrups will also add calories whereas extracts do not. Try one of these:

• caramel simple syrup
• pumpkin spice simple syrup
• chocolate syrup
• homemade vanilla syrup
• toffee nut syrup

Ways to use cold foam

Now that you’re a cold foam making pro, the possibilities of how to use this creamy indulgent froth are endless. Here is a list of drinks that would be ideal for a cold foam topper:

• Iced coffee and all its variations like this fresh raspberry iced coffee.
• Cold brewed coffee
• Iced tea
• Iced cappuccino 
• Iced espresso
• Iced latte and matcha latte
• Iced caramel macchiato
• Iced chai latte
• Iced hot chocolate

Beyond the usual coffee shop ideas, cold foam can also be used in other unique ways: 

• Pair it with some coconut coffee ice cream or enhance the classic affogato recipe with a spoonful of cold foam on top.
• Add it to a cold cocktail like this coconut bourbon coffee nog or a white Russian for extra creamy indulgence.
• Top pudding, fruit salad or a chia parfait with a dollop.

“I absolutely love to add cold foam to my cold brew coffee because it provides a velvety smooth texture with a hint of sweetness. My favorite is a chocolate cold foam followed closely by a simple vanilla cold foam! I pretty much can’t drink my coffee without it now.”

— Nicole Weatherford, Everyday Thrifty

Mastering the art of making cold foam saves money and makes coffee shop-quality drinks, like the Irish cream cold brew or vanilla sweet cream cold brew, a possibility in your kitchen. Experiment with different flavors, explore alternative milks and get creative with presentation to become a barista in your own home.

Troubleshooting flat foam

There are a few common mistakes first-time foamers make that can result in a less-than-ideal cold foam. 

Always make sure the milk is extra cold and as fresh as possible. Chances are if the milk has been sitting in the fridge for over a week, it just won’t froth well.

Over or under-frothing is also common. An electric frother eliminates this with built-in timing but if you’re using a handheld device it can take some trial and error to figure out the sweet spot. Over-frothed foam will contain large bubbles. Under-frothed foam will be thin in consistency and lack structure.

FAQ

This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.