12 Signature Coffee Creations You Can Make at Home

Cafe specials look amazing, but they cost a lot and the menu changes all the time. The good news is that you can make the same fancy flavors at home in about 5 minutes. All you need is coffee, milk, ice and a spoonful of syrup or sauce.

Here are 12 signature coffee creations, from a simple vanilla bean latte to a rich turtle mocha. Each recipe makes one tall glass and uses the same easy method, so you can mix and match flavors however you like.

Before You Start: The Basics

• Use strong coffee. Espresso is best. If you do not have a machine, use instant espresso powder, a moka pot, or double-strength brewed coffee.
• Mix flavors into hot coffee. Syrups, sauces, sugar and spreads dissolve best in warm espresso, not cold milk.
• Try a breve. A breve is a latte made with half-and-half instead of milk. It is richer and creamier.
• Make it hot. Every recipe works hot too. Warm the milk, skip the ice and pour in the espresso.
• Top it your way. Whipped cream and toppings are optional, but they make the drink look like it came from a cafe.

1. Caramel Dream

Creamy caramel with a hint of white chocolate. Sweet, smooth and very easy to love.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp caramel sauce
• 1 tbsp white chocolate sauce
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Stir the caramel and white chocolate sauce into the hot espresso until smooth.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the top.
4. Add whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel if you like.

Tip: Warm the sauces for 10 seconds in the microwave if they are too thick to stir.

2. S'mores Mocha

All the campfire flavors in one glass. Chocolate, marshmallow and a little crunch on top.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• 1 tbsp marshmallow syrup or marshmallow fluff
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream, toasted mini marshmallows and crushed graham cracker

Instructions

1. Stir the chocolate syrup and marshmallow into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in the milk.
3. Add the espresso mixture.
4. Top with whipped cream, toasted marshmallows and graham cracker crumbs.

Tip: Toast the mini marshmallows under the grill for 30 seconds. Watch them closely, they burn fast.

3. Cookie Butter Blondie

Warm, buttery and spiced like a fresh cookie. Cookie butter spread does all the work.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1½ tbsp cookie butter spread
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Crushed cookie crumbs (optional)

Instructions

1. Stir the cookie butter and brown sugar into the hot espresso until melted.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the top.
4. Finish with whipped cream and cookie crumbs if you like.

Tip: Cookie butter melts best in hot espresso. Do not add it to cold milk.

4. Salted Caramel Cold Brew

Strong, smooth cold brew with a fluffy sweet cream on top and a pinch of salt.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• ¾ cup cold brew coffee
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tbsp caramel sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 small pinch sea salt

Instructions

1. Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in the cold brew.
2. Whisk or froth the milk, cream, sugar and half the caramel until thick but still pourable.
3. Pour the sweet cream slowly over the cold brew.
4. Drizzle with the remaining caramel and add a pinch of sea salt.

Tip: A handheld milk frother makes the sweet cream foam in about 20 seconds.

5. Hazelnut Truffle

Hazelnut and dark chocolate together, just like a chocolate truffle in a glass.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp hazelnut syrup
• 1 tbsp chocolate sauce
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream and chopped hazelnuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Stir the hazelnut syrup and chocolate sauce into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the top.
4. Top with whipped cream and chopped hazelnuts.

Tip: Toast the hazelnuts in a dry pan for 2 minutes to bring out their flavor.

6. Vanilla Bean Latte

Simple and smooth, with real vanilla flavor. Tiny vanilla specks make it look as good as it tastes.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla bean paste (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
• 1½ cups ice cubes

Instructions

1. Stir the sugar and vanilla into the hot espresso until dissolved.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the vanilla espresso over the top.
4. Stir gently and serve.

Tip: Vanilla bean paste gives you the real specks. Extract works fine if you do not have it.

7. Cinnamon Roll Breve

A breve is made with half-and-half, so it is extra rich and creamy. This one tastes like a cinnamon roll.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup half-and-half (or ½ cup milk and ½ cup cream)
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream and extra cinnamon

Instructions

1. Stir the brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the half-and-half.
3. Pour in the spiced espresso.
4. Top with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.

Tip: Cinnamon does not dissolve well, so stir it into the hot espresso first to avoid clumps.

8. Turtle Mocha

Chocolate, caramel and pecans. Rich and indulgent, perfect as an afternoon treat.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 tbsp chocolate sauce
• 1 tbsp caramel sauce
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream and chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Stir the chocolate and caramel sauce into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the top.
4. Top with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle and pecans.

Tip: Drizzle the caramel inside the glass first for a bakery-style look.

9. White Chocolate Macadamia

Sweet white chocolate with a buttery macadamia nut crunch. Creamy and very smooth.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp white chocolate sauce
• 1 tbsp macadamia nut syrup (optional)
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream, white chocolate shavings and crushed macadamia nuts

Instructions

1. Stir the white chocolate sauce and macadamia syrup into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in the milk.
3. Add the espresso mixture.
4. Top with whipped cream, shavings and crushed macadamia nuts.

Tip: No macadamia syrup? Use a little extra white chocolate sauce and top with chopped nuts.

10. Almond Joy Latte

Chocolate, coconut and almond, just like the candy bar. Light, tropical and a little nutty.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• ½ cup almond milk
• ½ cup coconut milk
• 1½ tbsp chocolate syrup
• 1 tbsp coconut syrup or cream of coconut
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream, toasted coconut flakes and sliced almonds

Instructions

1. Stir the chocolate and coconut syrup into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the almond and coconut milk.
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the top.
4. Top with whipped cream, toasted coconut and almonds.

Tip: Toast the coconut flakes in a dry pan for 1 to 2 minutes until golden.

11. Maple Pecan Latte

Warm maple sweetness with crunchy pecans. A cozy flavor that works all year round.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream and chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Stir the maple syrup and brown sugar into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the maple espresso over the top.
4. Top with whipped cream, pecans and a little extra maple syrup.

Tip: Use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup. The flavor is much better.

12. Irish Cream Breve

Smooth, creamy and a little sweet. Made with non-alcoholic Irish cream syrup, so anyone can enjoy it.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup half-and-half (or ½ cup milk and ½ cup cream)
• 2 tbsp Irish cream syrup (non-alcoholic)
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream and chocolate shavings (optional)

Instructions

1. Stir the Irish cream syrup into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the half-and-half.
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the top.
4. Finish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Tip: Cannot find Irish cream syrup? Use 1 tbsp vanilla syrup and 1 tbsp chocolate syrup instead.

Common Questions

Can I make these hot instead of iced?

Yes. Warm the milk, skip the ice and mix the flavor into the espresso the same way.

Do I need an espresso machine?

No. Use ½ cup of very strong brewed coffee, a moka pot, or 2 tsp instant espresso powder dissolved in ¼ cup hot water.

What is a breve?

A breve is a latte made with half-and-half instead of milk. It tastes richer and creamier.

Can I use plant-based milk?

Yes. Oat milk is the creamiest, and almond or coconut milk adds a light nutty flavor.

Are these recipes alcohol-free?

Yes. The Irish cream breve uses a non-alcoholic Irish cream syrup, so every drink here is alcohol-free.

Final Thoughts

With a spoonful of syrup, a splash of milk and a little coffee, you can make any of these 12 drinks at home. Pick one flavor this week, then work your way down the list. Save this post for later, and tell us in the comments which one is your favorite!