How to Make Cold Foam
Gina Matsoukas
This guide will detail how to make cold foam, explore various ways to incorporate it into your drinks, and suggest exciting flavor variations to level up your coffee experience.
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Handheld milk frother This is a small, typically battery-powered kitchen gadget that you can get for around $10. Considering the cost of a Starbucks order, including a cold foam topping, this device quickly pays for itself. This option provides the most value for making cold foam for the cost and size.
Electric milk frother and steamer This device is much larger than the handheld frother and sits on your kitchen countertop, similar to an electric kettle in appearance. Electric frothers offer hot and cold foam options, but this feature also comes at about three to four times the cost of a handheld frother.
French press If you own a French press, using this device will save you money and the space needed to store another device. It's a bit of a hack to use a French press to make cold foam, but it can be done by pouring milk into the beaker and then plunging back and forth for about 45 seconds to create a foamy consistency.
Whisk A good old kitchen whisk can also make cold foam for anyone who wants an arm workout. This is certainly a budget-friendly option since you likely already own a whisk, but make no mistake- it's laborious. The foam will have larger air bubbles, making it less stiff and creamy than the other options.
- 1/4 Cup Non-fat milk
- 8 Ounces Cold brew coffee
To create the perfect cold foam, start with cold, fresh milk. Then, froth the milk using your preferred frothing tool from the options above.
Both handheld and electric frothers are efficient, typically taking just around 20 seconds to whip up the foam, whereas a French press or whisk will take 45 seconds or more.
Once your foam is ready, delicately spoon it over your cold brew coffee or any other chilled coffee beverage. If you’re feeling fancy, top it off with a sprinkle of cinnamon or some chocolate shavings, and enjoy a coffeehouse drink for a fraction of the price.
Emily Dingmann of My Everyday Table loves using vanilla paste, which she says is superior to vanilla extract, and heavy whipping cream for an easy sweet cream cold foam that she spoons over cold brew.
The Best Type of Milk to Make Cold Foam
Contrary to what you might think, cold foam is best made using non-fat milk. This is true for hot foam as well. By default, non-fat or lower-fat milk options contain higher amounts of protein. Protein gives the foam structure, so the more of it you have, the better the foam holds together. Skim milk will produce the best outcome when making cold foam, but 1% will also work well enough.
Plant-based milks are a bit hit or miss when creating cold foam. While they can be great substitutes for milk in other applications like smoothies, it’s best to stick to dairy milk for the best cold foam results. Often, plant-based milks include other additives, gums, and preservatives that interfere with the frothing process.