Cold foam has become a fan favorite that is popularly used to garnish iced coffee and also for added creaminess. Even if you remotely care about coffee and want a little something extra, cold foam is the low-hanging fruit.
For those of you who have ever wondered how to make this delicious topping in the comfort of your own house, then you are at the right place. This guide will help you to make cold foam and learn more about it.
The cold foam is created by frothing non-heated milk that rests on top of cold coffee beverages such as iced coffees or the new cold brew. Made from the same cold brew base, it is a foam that will not lose itself in your coffee.
Unlike what you might have done to scramble one of these on top of your lap or latte, this stuff stays staunchly fizzy and locked in place for good. It is usually made from low-fat milk and that creates a light, fluffy texture which balances well with the strong taste of coffee.
It also works well in iced beverages, adding an extra layer of creaminess without watering down the drink.
It is much easier than it seems and you need only a few ingredients and tools to prepare this cold foam at home. Follow these instructions for a quick, easy fix you can make at home that will have you whipping up your own creamy and perfectly frothy topping in no time.
Ingredients
In the best case, you should use ½ cup low-fat or nonfat milk. This will be your base to make a light, creamy, and firm cold foam.
Use Vanilla syrup or simple sugar, optional to make it sweet. Sugar can bring out the flavor of cold foam so feel free to use this if you have a little bit more great room in your macros for carbs energy.
Optional Flavors: Caramel Syrup, Chocolate Syrup, Pinch of Cinnamon.
Prepare The Milk
Add 1/2 cup of low-fat or nonfat milk to a blending cup or frothing pitcher. The first part is very important in getting the correct texture and making sure your milk is cold to froth it.
If you like your cold foam sweetness, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla syrup or other flavor preferences.
Froth Of Milk
Using a handheld frother, blender or cold foam maker will allow you to infuse the milk with air, expanding it into big frothy foam. Keep the frother below the milk surface and let it run until there is twice as much liquid volume in your container.
It will be almost to the top at this point and will be about double as thick with so many tiny bubbles making foam. This process usually takes 20-30 seconds.
Add Flavors (Optional)
If you like, sweeten your cold foam with flavored syrup (caramel, mocha) before frothing, alternatively, sprinkle cinnamon after frothing for some spices.
Now get innovative, experiment with flavors and see what you like best.
Lay the cold foam on top of an iced coffee or your favorite cold brew solution using a light touch with the spoon.
The foam will settle on the surface, not sink, making this a good-looking and tasty topping.
Enjoy
Slurp your drink with a luxurious lick of homemade cold foam, just like the one you order from the coffee shop!
This addition lets you enjoy a swirl of creamy foam, decadent coffee, and a sip to savor.
How To Make Cold Foam Without A Frother
If you're worried about not having a frother to create cold foam, here is an explanation of how to make cold foam without a frother. This will enable you to make foam at home and enjoy your coffee at your ease. Here’s how to do it:
Combine ½ cold low-fat or nonfat milk in a blender. Add a sweetener or flavorless as well, like vanilla syrup.
Take the blender and blend on high for 20 to 30 seconds, till the milk turns frothy & double in volume. Carefully spoon the foam on top of your cold drink and experience bliss!
Add ½ cup cold low-fat or fat-free milk to a jar that has a tight-fitting lid. Optionally, Add sweetener/ flavor to taste.
Add Buttermilk and Shake Vigorously with a Lid on the Jar for 1-2 minutes, until frothy. Then, spoon foam onto your iced coffee, and you can brew and enjoy!!
Pour 1/2 cup of cold low-fat or nonfat milk into the French press Heat in a Microwave, heat in the microwave Stir in sweetener or flavor if using.
Quickly pump the plunger up and down for one minute until warmed milk has doubled in volume, now creating a frothy stable form of velvety microfoam. Carefully label your cold foam over whichever drink you choose and enjoy!!
If you want to make the perfect cold foam it all starts with what milk you use. Low-fat or nonfat milk, which has higher levels of protein and therefore more stable foams, is also popular.
Milk can be replaced with any other type of your choice, such as whole milk for flavor or almond or oat milk to keep it plant-based.
Low Fat or Nonfat Milk
With its Sweetest taste and richest texture, low-fat or nonfat milk creates a light, airy foam. Cold foam milks often have less fat so they can be more aerated while foaming, creating that frothy dense foam.
The naturally sweeter taste and low-fat or nonfat option make this an excellent choice for those seeking a balanced and refreshing cold foam experience.
Whole Milk
It provides a rich, creamy, luxurious texture foam. It will give you a thicker, creamier foam if that is your jam.
However, it might not be as frothable as low-fat milk. As a result, the foam may not be as light or airy.
Almond Milk
This dairy-free cold foam is made with popular almond milk, offering a slightly nutty milk flavor and it’s low in calories. It can still foam up, but the texture might not hold as well or be quite as thick and creamy as cow's milk varieties.
That being said, the flavor of almond milk shines through in your cold foam here, so this is ideal for anyone looking to healthy-if their coffee and add just a hint of nuttiness.
Oat Milk
It is popular for its non-recurring outside of it and healthy frothing capacity. It hits the nail on the head when it comes to suggesting a lot of flavor without sacrificing too much frothability.
It is the perfect non-dairy option for cold foam and delivers flavor and foam quality.
Making Cold foam for coffee is a great way to add contrast and body to cold drinks to allow you more options. The soft foam topper embellishes your go-to iced drinks without drowning in their unaided flavors.
Whether you order a rich, smooth cold brew or an iced espresso drink, matcha is a Cold Foam beverage to try. Here's a deep dive into some of the ways this versatile topping can take your coffee to another level, making each drink that little more treat-like.
Cold Foam Cold Coffee: The perfect match, cold foam provides a creamy ending to an iced coffee. The foam isn't too heavy, which pairs nicely with the bitterness of some coffee, making every sip soft and drinkable.
Cold Brew: The depth and intensity of cold brew coffee are accented by the smooth creaminess of cold foam. The naturally sweet smoothness of cold brew complements the creaminess of cold foam for a perfect flavor escape.
Iced Americano: Cold foam is a velvety finish to your Iced Americanos. An Americano that has been cold-famed tastes the same bold and bitter taste without any sugar (obviously) but with a delicious, creamy layer on top.
Matcha & Cold Foam: Here, smooth cold foam meets the vegetal notes of matcha. The vegetable notes from the matcha combine perfectly with sweet, airy foam to give a rounded and romantic aspect.
There are lots of reasons why your cold foam is not frothing, such as whole milk doesn't froth, so choose skim or non-fat milk for best results. As the fat content of milk increases, so does its weight and inability to trap air in making a stable foam.
Moreover, cold milk froths are better than warm milk so make sure you chill your liquid beforehand. Milk that is too warm usually collapses faster, so cold milk works better.
Additionally, if the frother is the handheld type, enough strength should be applied so that every completed foam can maintain its shape and not collapse immediately. If strength is not applied to the desired level, it results in a thin and less creamy foam as air incorporation into the milk is not enough.
Absolutely! Cold brew and cold foam go hand in hand, but the best part about cold foam is how easy it is to flavor every day for a different taste over your iced beverages. Here are the different kinds of flavors you can use in cold foam:
Vanilla
Add a teaspoon of vanilla syrup to your milk before frothing. Used to reproduce whipped cream flavor in this cold foam, classic and well-rounded. The vanilla cold foam goes well with nearly all iced beverages, like blooming teas and lemonades.
The slight sweetness and slight floral vanilla take everything to another level, almost making it feel like you are having a drink that is also deliciously sinful.
Caramel
Add 1 pump of Caramel syrup with milk before frothing. For those who are a little more decadent, notes of caramel blend in equally perfectly with cold foam.
The caramel has that rich sugary flavor that pairs incredibly well with the bitterness of coffee perfect for your iced lattes or cold brew days when you need a little more sweetness.
Cinnamon
After you have frothed it sprinkle some cinnamon over the cold foam. Cinnamon is here for a spicy nuance that elevates the flavor profile of your drink. Particularly in the colder months, it is an excellent way to introduce some warmth and comfort.
The spiciness of the cinnamon offset by the sweet creamy finish from cold foam is a well-rounded and tasty accompaniment that adds to distinct fall-inspired beverages like an iced chai latte or cinnamon cold brew.
Mocha
Add a little chocolate syrup to your milk before you froth. This is a rich, dessert-like topping that somehow goes perfectly with cold foam. Velvety, mocha-flavored cold foam is decadent and chocolatey, perfect for iced coffees and cold brews.
With milk, chocolate, and coffee in one, it is a very nice treat to enjoy over your morning or afternoon hot beverage. All of these flavoring choices make your cold foam customizable, which can transform a basic coffee into an elevated craft experience.
Cold foam should be consumed fresh and immediately or within 24 hours because that's the only way it holds onto its wonderful texture and consistency. For the best experience in taste, serve your cold foam directly after making it. It's fluffy and light but stiff enough to sit on your iced coffee or cold brew without immediately dissolving.
Store in an airtight container or refrigerator to remain fresh and just remember that the foam may not be quite as wide and fluffy after being stored for some time. Gently whisk or shake stored cold foam to re-froth it courtesy of frothiness. Doing so will aid in pumping air back into the foam, allowing it to look more like new.
Cold foam is what steals the show when it comes to iced beverages, but frothed milk plays a key role in so many hot drinks. As soon as you get over cold foam, frothed milk will be your next favorite trick. Here are their classic drinks for you to attempt:
Latte: The original espresso classic, a latte, is smooth and creamy with an intolerance of silk at the top. Great for all your creamy, velvety coffee lovers.
Cappuccino: Rich and creamy with a bit of frothy milk, cappuccinos help to mellow the bitterness of espresso while still delivering some sweetness from the addition of mild. The frothy top of a cappuccino is such an amazing contrast to the strong coffee just beneath.
Macchiato: An Espresso shot with a foam layer on top, providing a deep flavor of coffee but a creamy coat. The foam helps whittle down the strength of the espresso, turning a bitter beverage into something more palatable and balanced.
Teajuvenate Perfect Tea Latte: An awesome tea latte just like your favorite coffee shop, done in 5 minutes only. These comforting tea lattes provide a coffee alternative but in a kinder, gently less potent connotation while creamy as well.
Chai Latte, Vegan Chai Latte: If you want something warm and spicy, go with your favorite masala chai latte or vegan. It is loaded with warm spices and flavors and pairs so well with frothy milk for a comforting treat!
Vanilla Chai Latte: It's a warm treat with Vanilla flavoring and a whimsically spicy traditional chai. Vanilla imparts sweet and warm depth here, which is why this one has been a fave.
Author
Reviewer
Biswas Kharel
Biswas Kharel is a food blogger and writer who brings a sharp eye and adventurous palate to every bite he writes about. Known for his thoughtful reflections and down-to-earth style, Biswas blends personal anecdotes with rich culinary insights—from quiet village kitchens to lively urban eateries.
His blog is a flavorful mix of travel, tradition, and honest food reviews, offering readers a window into the heart of every dish. For Biswas, writing about food isn’t just a passion—it’s a way of documenting life, one meal at a time.
Biswas Kharel is a food blogger and writer who brings a sharp eye and adventurous palate to every bite he writes about. Known for his thoughtful reflections and down-to-earth style, Biswas blends personal anecdotes with rich culinary insights—from quiet village kitchens to lively urban eateries.
His blog is a flavorful mix of travel, tradition, and honest food reviews, offering readers a window into the heart of every dish. For Biswas, writing about food isn’t just a passion—it’s a way of documenting life, one meal at a time.
