Iced and Refreshing Coffee
Cold Brew with Vanilla Cold Foam
Quick answer
The ingredient list calls for drinking-strength cold brew, not concentrate. If you use concentrate, dilute it according to its label before measuring the recipe amount; otherwise the coffee may overwhelm the foam. Keep the coffee chilled and pour it over ice just before topping.
Key takeaways
- The ingredient list calls for drinking-strength cold brew, not concentrate.
- Combine the cold milk, cream, and vanilla syrup, then use a handheld frother until the mixture is thick but still pourable.
- Spoon the foam onto the coffee so the layers remain visible.
Ingredients
- 150 ml prepared drinking-strength cold brew
- 50 ml cold skimmed milk
- 20 ml whipping cream
- 5 ml vanilla syrup
- 100 g ice.
Method
- Froth milk, cream and syrup with a handheld frother until thick but pourable.
- Serve cold brew over ice and spoon the foam on top.
Froth the milk topping to the right texture
Combine the cold milk, cream, and vanilla syrup, then use a handheld frother until the mixture is thick but still pourable. Stop before it becomes stiff. The exact time depends on the frother and dairy, so watch the texture rather than following a fixed number of seconds.
Layer and adjust sweetness
Spoon the foam onto the coffee so the layers remain visible. Stir before drinking if you prefer a uniform cup. Syrups vary in sweetness; taste the foam before adding more. For another cold coffee without dairy, compare cold brew and iced coffee.
Make the foam close to serving
Cold foam is easiest to spoon onto the coffee soon after frothing. If it sits, bubbles can collapse and the milk may separate. Keep the cold brew chilled, prepare the foam, then assemble the glass. Use a clean frother and wash it after contact with dairy.
Keep the coffee at drinking strength
The listed cold brew is ready to drink, not concentrate. If your batch is concentrated, dilute it separately according to its recipe before measuring. Otherwise the foam may not balance the coffee. Stir the finished drink if you want the vanilla distributed through every sip.
Make the foam to match the coffee
If the foam is too thick to spoon, stop frothing sooner next time; if it collapses immediately, make sure the milk and cream are cold. The listed skim milk and cream create a lighter foam than using whole milk alone. Keep the ratio and syrup amount as written for the first attempt, then adjust only the texture technique.