If you ask my hubby what his favorite coffee is, the answer will always be a latte. He loves nothing better than a latte from the coffee machine or even from Starbucks or Costa. But the fun thing about latte drinks is that there isn’t just one – there’s a whole range of delicious latte flavors to try.
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What is latte again?
In case you aren’t a latte fan like my husband, here’s a quick introduction to the basic latte, one of the many types of coffee we can all enjoy.
A latte is bigger than a cappuccino, with a stronger coffee flavor and more steamed milk. It is similar to a flat white but not quite as much coffee, and it has a foam layer that makes for the perfect drink. It is also available for most good coffee machines, so you can enjoy it at home.
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Shop Brewforge →What is a flavored latte?
A flavored latte is simply a normal latte with some kind of flavoring. Yep, it is that simple!
The fun thing about flavored lattes is that you can buy ready-made ones, such as coffee machine flavors. Or you can make your own and add your favorite flavors. So, you might get a vanilla latte or a caramel one in the shop. You can have a chocolate caramel with a rum latte!
How to make flavored lattes
The easiest way to make a flavored latte is to make a normal latte and then add some syrup to give it the desired flavor. If you pop into the local coffee shop that serves different versions of the drink, you will often see a row of bottles on the shelf, ready to add that flavor as needed.
One of my favorite syrup sets is the Monin range. They make syrups that are great for flavoring coffee, cocktails, or baking. They are high quality, made with natural flavors, and very easy to use. You can even get syrup pumps for their larger bottles to make dispensing your favorite syrup easy!
Can you flavor a latte without syrup?
If you are worried about the sugar content of syrup or just don’t like the flavors, then there are other ways to flavor your latte. The easiest way is to use a flavored protein powder. This adds the extra taste and also gives your drink a bit of a boost that helps you go through the day without snacking a little easier.
8 ideas for delicious latte flavours
Now we know what a latte is and how to flavor it, let’s start with some ideas of what kind of flavors you can make. There’s no limit to the variations, but it is always great to start with a few basics.
Vanilla latte
The vanilla latte is the classic latte flavor. It adds that extra touch of sweetness to the drink without the sugar overload that other flavors add. The key is to get a good vanilla syrup that lets you add a bit of sweetness but not too much.
Torani’s vanilla syrup is popular in lots of coffee shops. It is a French Vanilla made from pure cane sugar and uses natural flavorings. It can be used in cold drinks as well as hot ones.
Monin is the one in my cabinet, and theirs is a Madagascan vanilla that has a custard-like vanilla flavor, which is perfect for coffee. It is allergen and gluten-free with no artificial colors or flavors.
Caramel latte
Next up in the sweetness stakes is the caramel latte. Caramel makes for a rich and buttery drink that is sweeter than the vanilla flavor but still not as sweet as just dumping some sugar into the drink.
Then there’s the world of salted caramel. I never thought that I would like it, but that mixture of sweet and salt is irresistible. You can easily get both normal caramel syrups and salted caramel versions. There are also even sugar-free versions, but that kind of seems to be against the point for me!
Mocha latte
A mocha latte is one of those latte flavors that doesn’t use syrup but instead calls for a sauce. But it is still pretty easy to make at home.
Also known as a ‘caffe mocha,’ it is made by steaming chocolate powder with milk and then adding espresso. You can also make it by just adding chocolate syrup if you want a simple option, and even try things like white chocolate powder or syrup if you are a fan.
Hazelnut latte
There are two ways to make a hazelnut latte. The first is to use straight-up hazelnut syrup to give the drink a nutty flavor. The other way is to use French Vanilla syrup.
French vanilla is made by mixing vanilla with hazelnut. So get a good quality French vanilla syrup, and you have a hazelnut latte. Try them both and see what you prefer!
Coconut latte
I’m not a big coconut fan, but if you do love this flavor, then adding coconut syrup will make for a delicious and simple upgrade to your standard latte. Coconut lattes are also great for an iced coffee version because the refreshing flavor of the coconut works just as well as cold as hot.
Seasonal lattes
Another fun thing about latte flavors is that you can choose to go seasonal with what you add.
Pumpkin spice latte
This has to be the king of flavored lattes and the one that most people will mention when asked if they know one. Pumpkin spice everything is massive in the fall and has become so popular that many places have it available all of the time.
So it is no surprise that there are now syrups that have that pumpkin spice flavour already infused into them. Grab one of these and make your latte as fall-flavoured as you like.
Lavender latte
I’m not sure if this qualifies as a seasonal latte, really, but lavender always makes me think of summer, so I decided to pair it with seasonal drinks! It is also a bit of a ‘trendy’ style of a flavored latte.
It definitely wins for the prettiest version of a latte with a soft purple shade. It also works well if you use almond or oat milk in place of normal milk to enhance the flavor of the latte. If you can’t find lavender syrup, an option would be to use a few drops of essential oil – but make sure it is food grade and suitable for eating, not just for popping into a diffuser.
A twist on this for the floral drinks fan with an even brighter color would be to use Monin violet syrup. This is made from those pretty violet-colored flowers and is a milk and the not overly sweet option to add to drinks.
Mint latte
Again, it may just be me, but mint always makes me think of mint candy canes and Christmas, so this is my suggestion for a Christmas-flavoured latte! You can use different mint syrups or even use a little of something little crème de menthe syrup (or a mint liqueur) for an adult version.
Favourite latte flavours
These are just a few of the many flavors of lattes you can make with a few syrups or other ingredients. You can upgrade your latte or enjoy a favorite flavor in new ways – even making your own unique combinations!
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