Flavored Latte Recipes: Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut and More

A flavored latte is a regular latte with a syrup or sauce added: vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, chocolate and so on. Every flavor uses the same method, so once you can make one, you can make them all. That’s why flavored lattes are an easy way for a café to grow its menu without new equipment.

Below is the basic method, how much syrup to use, and flavor ideas to try.

The basic flavored latte

Torani, one of the best-known syrup makers, uses this ratio in its latte recipes:

That’s a sweet drink. Starbucks’ home caramel macchiato recipe uses 1 tablespoon of vanilla syrup with 3/4 cup of milk, so a tablespoon is a good starting point if you prefer less sugar. Taste and adjust.

How to make a flavored latte

1. Add the syrup to the cup. Torani steams the syrup together with the milk instead, which mixes it in evenly. Either way works.
2. Pull the espresso into the cup and stir it into the syrup.
3. Steam the milk to a silky microfoam. See our lesson on how to steam milk.
4. Pour the milk into the espresso, finishing with a thin layer of foam. A good chance to practise latte art.

Iced version: stir the syrup into the espresso first while it’s hot, so it dissolves, then pour over ice and cold milk.

8 flavored latte ideas

Make your own simple syrup

Dissolve equal amounts of sugar and hot water, by weight or volume, then let it cool. Add vanilla extract for a vanilla syrup, or use muscovado for a brown sugar syrup. Keep it covered in the fridge and make small batches you’ll use up quickly.

For cafés: keeping flavored drinks consistent

• Use pumps. TESDA’s list of bar stock and training equipment includes flavored syrups in bottles with pumps. A pump gives the same amount every time.
• Measure your pump. Pumps differ by brand and syrup. Pump into a measuring spoon once, then write the number of pumps for each cup size into your recipe.
• Limit the flavors. Four or five syrups can cover a big menu. Each new bottle is more stock to track.
• Price the syrup in. Add the cost of the syrup to each drink’s cost. Our menu pricing calculator helps.
• Offer it as an add-on. “Add a flavor” on any latte is an easy upsell. See coffee shop menu ideas.

Which coffee for flavored lattes?

Sweet syrups and milk can hide a weak espresso, so use one with enough body to come through. Our Arabica-Robusta Blend and CB’s Finest are made for milk drinks, and cafés buying 10 kg or more can see wholesale pricing. More lessons are in the Caffeine Brothers Coffee Academy.

Sources

• Torani: Vanilla latte recipe (syrup, milk and espresso amounts)
• Starbucks at Home: Caramel macchiato recipe
• TESDA: Barista NC II Training Regulations (flavored syrups as bar stock)