Almond Milk Latte

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This almond milk latte is sweetened using homemade cardamom syrup. It's smooth, creamy and enhanced by gentle hints of vanilla, cardamom and rosewater. If you enjoy flavoured coffee drinks give this recipe a go.

You may also enjoy my oat milk honey latte - it's another dairy-free coffee treat.

A tall glass of almond milk latte garnished with pink blossom.

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This almond milk latte will take your tastebuds in a delectable direction as it is sweetened with homemade cardamom syrup. In essence, this turns the drink into a cardamom latte with almond milk and, let me tell you, the flavour is enchanting.

I'm a self-confessed total sucker for flavoured coffee drinks. This typically means that I take my coffee sweet. However, I don't enjoy drinks that are too sweet and will rarely order one in a coffee shop if they're made with commercial syrups as I can find the sweetness overpowering if the barista is a bit too generous with the syrup.

So it is with delight that I'm sharing this charming, just-sweet-enough almond milk latte with you today. The base recipe for the homemade syrup features cardamom and vanilla, but if you fancy going on a deeper adventure with your almond milk coffee, then adding in a few drops of rosewater will make you a rose cardamom latte. It's magical and I highly recommend it.

Cardamom latte in a glass cup with a bottle of cardamom syrup and pink blossom.

Try it with a slice of cherry and almond flapjack (swapping the butter for dairy-free block butter if necessary).

Why you'll love this drink

This drink tastes creamy and indulgent.
However, this fragrant cardamom latte is low in calories compared to many other flavoured lattes.
It's also naturally dairy-free and vegan.
The cardamom flavour is a charming blend of sweet, floral and slightly peppery notes.
But the spice can be left out to make a straight latte with almond milk.
Making your own almond milk coffee is so much cheaper than visiting the coffee shop.

A labelled bottle of cardamom syrup lying on its side on a plate with cardamom pods.

What is almond milk?

Almond milk is a non-dairy alternative to regular milk. It is plant-based and it is usually made from whole almonds, or occasionally from almond flour.

Typically, whole almonds are soaked in water for an extended period of time. The nuts and water are then blended and the liquid is strained to produce a milk alternative. Sometimes salt and sweetener are added.

Barista blend almond milk is designed specifically for use in hot drinks. This blend has a higher fat and protein content and may also include emulsifiers and thickeners. All of these help to achieve that signature foam and it's entirely possible to create some fancy latte art on top of your almond milk coffee with this milk.

Almond milk is very low in calories and it's naturally dairy free. It's also high in vitamins A and E and enriched with vitamin D, so it's a relatively healthy option.

You can also use almond milk to make several of my other recipes for flavoured lattes. Try my Biscoff latte, gingerbread latte, pistachio latte and Spanish latte (don't forget to use non-dairy condensed milk if necessary).

I have other syrups that would pair well with almond milk, too. Try my amazing vanilla bean syrup or my caramel syrup if you fancy a caramel coffee drink.

Ingredients notes

Labelled ingredients for a dairy-free cardamom coffee drink.

Almond milk: although you can use any almond milk, including homemade almond milk, my preference is for a barista blend to ensure that the drink can be topped with creamy foam. My favourite barista blend almond milk is Almond Breeze (unsweetened) because it produces the best creamy top compared to the others I tried out for this recipe.

Coffee: the coffee needs to be strong, so espresso is the best option. As we need 75ml per latte then making two shots is a good idea. You can use instant coffee, but again, it needs to be strong.

Cardamom: this spice is really quite unique and delivers plenty of exotic flavour. Opt for ground green cardamom rather than using pods to ensure that the level of flavour in the cardamom syrup is spot on.

Vanilla and rosewater: these extras really round out the flavour in this cardamom coffee drink. But use the rosewater sparingly as it's easy for this ingredient to overpower other flavours if it's overdone. It can also be left out if you don't enjoy the additional floral notes that this goodie brings to your almond milk latte.

Step-by-step instructions

Almond milk coffee is very easy to make at home and there will be enough cardamom syrup for at least 5 servings (but you can always double the ingredients to make more syrup).

Make the cardamom syrup

Put the sugar and ground cardamom in a small pan with the water. Heat gently, stirring frequently until the sugar dissolves.
Take off the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
Add the vanilla extract and (if using it) the rose water.
Strain through a nut bag or a piece of muslin.
Decant the cardamom syrup into a bottle or jar.

Collage of images showing cardamom syrup being made.

Make the almond milk latte

Brew the espresso coffee either using a coffee machine or using an Aeropress, a moka pot or a cafetiere (French press).
Pour a measure of cardamom syrup into a mug and add the espresso.
Steam or heat the milk and pour in, mixing with a spoon if desired (or try some latte art). Serve immediately.

Collage of images showing a dairy-free cardamom coffee drink being poured.

Expert tips

For a stronger flavoured syrup leave it to infuse for longer before straining out the ground cardamom.
It's inevitable that some ground cardamom will get through the straining process and settle at the bottom of the bottle as it sits. Either shake the bottle to redistribute this before pouring or take care to avoid adding all the sediment to the last serving.
Measure the vanilla extract and rosewater carefully. Rosewater, in particular, can easily be overpowering. So, it's a good idea to use a pipette for the rosewater to avoid adding too much and spoiling the cardamom syrup.
Warm the coffee cup while you prepare the espresso and steam the milk so that your cardamom latte with almond milk is served at the best temperature.
Heat your almond milk to no more than 60C/ 140F to avoid the risk of scorching it as this can lend a burnt flavour to the drink.
This almond milk latte recipe uses a ratio of 1 part espresso coffee to 2 parts milk. This can be varied according to your own preferences.

Variations

Rose cardamom latte: add in 5 drops of rosewater to the cardamom syrup to add subtle floral hints to this drink for a truly charming taste experience.
Vanilla almond milk latte: omit the cardamom and rosewater from the syrup and instead use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon almond extract.
Iced almond milk latte: mix the cardamom syrup with the hot coffee then pour it into a tumbler filled with ice. Top up with cold almond milk and enjoy.
Almond milk frappe: take your iced almond milk coffee up a level by throwing it into a blender with a handful of ice. Blend, pour and savour every ice-cold sip.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use other milk to make cardamom latte?

Yes, you can. This cardamom coffee drink has been developed specifically to add to the flavour of a basic almond milk latte, but it can be made with other non-dairy milk too. I've tried it with oat milk and coconut milk. They're both tasty. It's also fine to use regular dairy milk.

Can I make cardamom syrup using whole cardamom pods?

Technically, this is possible to do. However, after strenuous research trying to find the definitive answer as to how many pods would be needed to replicate the same depth of flavour created when using ground spice, the results were highly inconclusive. So, I tested the syrup with what I thought would be the ideal number of pods. But my trusty taste testers quickly returned the verdict that the version made using ground cardamom was superior. If you only have cardamom pods, I'd go with at least 6-8. And don't forget to split them open before adding to the pan.

Can I leave out the cardamom in almond milk latte?

Yes, you can. Just make the syrup with demerara sugar and water and use this syrup to sweeten your almond milk coffee to taste. Cardamom is not to everybody's liking.

How should I store the cardamom syrup?

Store your homemade cardamom syrup in a sealed bottle or jar in the fridge. It will stay fresh for 3-4 weeks.

Why did my almond milk separate?

There are two reasons why almond milk splits when it is added to coffee. Firstly, the heat of the coffee causes the protein present in the almond milk to fall apart. It's not a problem in dairy milk because the protein structure is more robust. In addition, the natural acidity of coffee can also cause the milk to split. To reduce the risk of this happening, always warm your almond milk before adding it to hot coffee. Also consider using barista blend almond milk as it is much less likely to separate.

Overhead view of almond milk latte in a wide cup with cardamom pods and pink blossom.

More coffee drinks

Note: not all of these recipes are dairy-free.

Have you made this cardamom latte with almond milk? Please consider leaving a comment and/ or rating below to lep me know what you thought of it.

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