14 Trending Coffee Recipes You Need to Try at Home
Café coffee is great, but the price adds up fast. The good news is that most of the drinks everyone is posting about are surprisingly easy to make at home with a jar, a milk frother, or just a spoon.
These 14 recipes cover everything trending right now, from shaken espresso and dalgona to espresso tonic and cold foam cold brew. Each one has a quick nutrition breakdown, who it is best for, and simple steps so you can skip the line and make it yourself.
- 1. Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
- 2. Dalgona Whipped Coffee
- 3. Espresso Tonic
- 4. Iced Vanilla Latte
- 5. Cold Brew Coconut Coffee
- 6. Iced Caramel Macchiato
- 7. Mocha Iced Coffee
- 8. Cold Foam Cold Brew
- 9. Cinnamon Dolce Iced Coffee
- 10. Iced White Chocolate Mocha
- 11. Affogato
- 12. Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
- 13. Honey Oat Milk Latte
- 14. Iced Hazelnut Coffee
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso
This is the drink that made shaken espresso famous. Espresso is shaken hard with ice and brown sugar syrup until it turns frothy, then poured over cold milk for a layered, caramel-sweet coffee.
It tastes like a café drink, but it takes about three minutes at home and costs a fraction of the price.
- Café-quality froth from just a jar or shaker
- Ready in about 3 minutes
- Easy to adjust sweetness
- Contains caffeine
- Needs strong coffee or espresso for best flavor
- 2 shots espresso or 1/2 cup strong coffee
- 2 tbsp brown sugar syrup
- 1 cup ice
- 1/2 cup oat milk or milk of choice
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Add the espresso, brown sugar syrup, and ice to a jar or cocktail shaker.
- Shake hard for 15 seconds until frothy.
- Pour into a tall glass over fresh ice.
- Top with cold milk and a pinch of cinnamon.
Dalgona Whipped Coffee
Three ingredients whipped into a thick, glossy foam is all dalgona needs. The foam sits on top of cold milk like a coffee cloud.
It looks impressive, and stirring it into the milk as you drink gives a different flavor in every sip.
- Only 3 main ingredients
- Looks impressive with little effort
- Great for entertaining
- Needs instant coffee, brewed coffee will not whip
- A hand mixer saves a lot of time
- 2 tbsp instant coffee
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp hot water
- 1 cup cold milk
- Ice
- Whisk the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water with a hand mixer for 3 to 5 minutes until thick and fluffy.
- Fill a glass with ice and cold milk.
- Spoon the whipped coffee on top.
- Stir before drinking.
Espresso Tonic
Espresso poured over tonic water sounds odd, but it is one of the most refreshing coffee drinks around. The bubbles and slight bitterness make it taste crisp and bright.
A twist of lemon ties it together, and the layered look is half the appeal.
- Light and very refreshing
- No dairy needed
- Beautiful layered look
- Not sweet, so it is an acquired taste for some
- Contains caffeine
- 1 cup tonic water
- Ice
- 2 shots espresso, cooled slightly
- 1 lemon twist
- Fill a tall glass with ice and tonic water.
- Slowly pour the espresso over the back of a spoon to keep the layers.
- Add a lemon twist.
- Serve right away before the layers mix.
Iced Vanilla Latte
A classic for a reason. Smooth espresso, cold milk, and a little vanilla over ice make a drink that is easy to love.
Making it at home lets you control the sweetness, which is hard to do at a café.
- Mild and smooth
- You control the sweetness
- Quick to make
- Contains caffeine
- Vanilla syrup adds sugar
- 2 shots espresso or 1/2 cup strong coffee
- 1 tbsp vanilla syrup
- 1 cup cold milk
- Ice
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add the vanilla syrup and espresso, then stir.
- Top with cold milk.
- Stir again and serve.
Cold Brew Coconut Coffee
Smooth cold brew meets creamy coconut milk for a tropical, slightly nutty iced coffee.
It is naturally dairy-free and tastes best with a little toasted coconut on top.
- Dairy-free
- Smooth, low-acid cold brew flavor
- Tropical and refreshing
- Cold brew takes time to prepare ahead
- Higher in fat from coconut milk
- 1 cup cold brew coffee
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- Ice
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Fill a glass with ice and add the cold brew.
- Stir in the maple syrup.
- Pour the coconut milk over the top and let it swirl.
- Top with toasted coconut flakes.
Iced Caramel Macchiato
Layered espresso, milk, and vanilla with a caramel drizzle on top. It is as pretty as it is tasty.
The trick is to pour the espresso last so it sits on top of the milk and makes the layers.
- Beautiful layered look
- Sweet and creamy
- Easy once you know the pour order
- Higher in sugar
- Contains caffeine
- 1 tbsp vanilla syrup
- 1 cup cold milk
- Ice
- 2 shots espresso
- Caramel sauce
- Add the vanilla syrup to a tall glass.
- Fill with ice and pour in the cold milk.
- Slowly pour the espresso on top.
- Finish with a crosshatch of caramel sauce.
Mocha Iced Coffee
Chocolate and coffee were made for each other. This mocha is rich and creamy, with chocolate drizzled right inside the glass.
Whipped cream on top turns it into dessert, but you can skip it for an everyday version.
- Rich chocolate flavor
- Feels like dessert
- Easy to customize
- Higher in sugar
- Contains caffeine
- 1/2 cup strong coffee
- 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
- 1 cup cold milk
- Ice
- Whipped cream and cocoa for topping
- Drizzle chocolate syrup inside a tall glass.
- Add ice, then the coffee and milk.
- Stir well.
- Top with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa.
Cold Foam Cold Brew
Dark, smooth cold brew topped with a thick, velvety cloud of cold foam. You get strong coffee first, then creamy foam.
The foam takes seconds in a milk frother and makes plain cold brew feel special.
- Strong, smooth coffee flavor
- Foam takes seconds with a frother
- Not too sweet
- Needs a milk frother or jar for the foam
- Contains caffeine
- 1 cup cold brew
- Ice
- 1/4 cup cold milk
- 1 tsp vanilla syrup
- Pour the cold brew over ice in a tall glass.
- Froth the cold milk and vanilla syrup until thick.
- Spoon the foam over the coffee.
- Drink without stirring to enjoy both layers.
Cinnamon Dolce Iced Coffee
Warm cinnamon and sweet syrup make this iced coffee taste like a cinnamon roll in a glass.
A cinnamon stick on the side makes it look as good as it tastes.
- Warm, cozy spice flavor
- Easy homemade cinnamon syrup
- Great year-round
- Higher in sugar
- Contains caffeine
- 1 cup strong cold coffee
- 2 tbsp cinnamon syrup
- 1/4 cup milk
- Ice
- Whipped cream and cinnamon
- Stir the cinnamon syrup into the cold coffee.
- Fill a glass with ice and pour in the coffee.
- Add the milk.
- Top with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.
Iced White Chocolate Mocha
Sweet and creamy, this one tastes like dessert. White chocolate sauce melts into the espresso for a smooth, rich flavor.
Shavings on top finish it off.
- Very creamy and sweet
- Feels like a treat
- Looks great with shavings
- Quite sweet
- High in sugar
- 2 tbsp white chocolate sauce
- 2 shots espresso
- 1 cup cold milk
- Ice
- Whipped cream and white chocolate shavings
- Stir the white chocolate sauce into the hot espresso until melted.
- Fill a glass with ice and milk.
- Pour the espresso mixture over the top.
- Finish with whipped cream and shavings.
Affogato
Two ingredients: ice cream and hot espresso. Pouring the espresso over the ice cream melts it into a creamy, bittersweet swirl.
It is dessert and coffee in one, and it takes about a minute.
- Only 2 ingredients
- Ready in a minute
- Impressive for guests
- Eat right away before it melts
- Contains caffeine
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- 1 shot hot espresso
- Chocolate shavings (optional)
- Place a scoop of ice cream in a small glass or bowl.
- Pour the hot espresso over the top.
- Add chocolate shavings if you like.
- Eat immediately with a spoon.
Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
All the cozy fall flavor of pumpkin spice, served cold. Real pumpkin puree gives it a smoother, more natural flavor than syrup alone.
Whipped cream and a dusting of spice make it feel like a seasonal treat.
- Real pumpkin flavor
- Cozy and seasonal
- Easy to make dairy-free
- Needs canned pumpkin puree
- Contains caffeine
- 2 shots espresso
- 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup cold milk
- Ice
- Whisk the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and spice into the warm espresso.
- Fill a glass with ice and milk.
- Pour the pumpkin espresso over the top.
- Add whipped cream and a dusting of spice.
Honey Oat Milk Latte
Honey and oat milk are a perfect pair. The oat milk is naturally creamy and slightly sweet, and the honey adds a gentle floral note.
It is smooth and dairy-free without tasting like a compromise.
- Dairy-free
- Naturally sweet and creamy
- Gentle honey flavor
- Honey is not vegan
- Contains caffeine
- 2 shots espresso
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 cup oat milk
- Ice
- Stir the honey into the warm espresso until dissolved.
- Fill a glass with ice and oat milk.
- Pour the honey espresso over the top.
- Stir and serve.
Iced Hazelnut Coffee
Nutty hazelnut syrup and cold coffee make a simple, satisfying drink. A sprinkle of crushed hazelnuts adds crunch.
It is smooth, lightly sweet, and easy to scale up for a crowd.
- Smooth and nutty
- Easy to scale for guests
- Quick to make
- Contains tree nuts if you add the topping
- Contains caffeine
- 1 cup strong cold coffee
- 2 tbsp hazelnut syrup
- 1/4 cup milk
- Ice
- Crushed hazelnuts
- Fill a glass with ice and pour in the cold coffee.
- Stir in the hazelnut syrup.
- Add the milk.
- Top with crushed hazelnuts.
Tips for the Best Results
Use strong coffee. Iced drinks get diluted by ice, so brew it double strength or use espresso for the best flavor.
Make your own syrups. Equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved, makes a simple syrup you can flavor with vanilla, cinnamon, or brown sugar.
Chill your glass and your milk. Colder ingredients mean less melting ice and a stronger-tasting drink.
Complete Shopping List
- Espresso or strong coffee
- Cold brew
- Instant coffee (for dalgona)
- Milk and oat milk
- Coconut milk
- Vanilla ice cream
- Vanilla, cinnamon, and hazelnut syrups
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate syrup
- White chocolate sauce
- Brown sugar and honey
- Maple syrup
- Tonic water
- Canned pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whipped cream
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Crushed hazelnuts
- Lemons
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Strong brewed coffee, a moka pot, or an AeroPress all work well in these recipes.
Yes. Oat, almond, or coconut milk can be swapped into nearly every recipe here.
The Iced Vanilla Latte and the Affogato are the simplest, with very few steps.
Cold brew and syrups keep well in the fridge, so you can prep those ahead and assemble each drink in a minute.
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