It’s not every day that we are in the mood for a sweet, creamy vanilla latte. But when we are — can we make it at home using our Keurig coffee machine?
The short answer is yes. With a few clever tips, we can make a vanilla latte so good that your nearest barista might even fear for his job! However, the long answer is that we need to carefully consider the ingredients before we set out to make a vanilla latte; otherwise, we can end up with a cup of not-so-good coffee in our hands.
The ingredients we choose are absolutely the key. Before we delve deeper into the ingredients, let’s take a look at the recipe:
- 1 K-cup
- 8 ounces of milk
- A dash of cinnamon
- ½ tbsp condensed milk
- ½ tbsp caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? But the truth is that if you want to make something that actually tastes good, you have to get the ingredients just right. Chefs have a famous saying, “The real battle starts in the supermarket,”—meaning that ingredients can very much break or make a recipe.
Hunting for the Right Ingredients
The first two ingredients are, without a doubt, the most important of all. They are the ones we’re going to have the most trouble looking for and deciding on. And there’s also a small section on condensed milk.
Coffee
The coffee that pairs the best with a vanilla latte is always going to be a medium roast. We should also be looking for slight spice notes (bonus points for clove and nutmeg). Some slight berry flavors or aromas would also be ideal.
Since we know there are countless K-cups out there, we put together a short list of some of the best K-cups for making vanilla lattes:
- Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend
This blend is naturally sweet, has berry notes, and has quite a warm flavor. It is perfect for all types of sweet beverages. - Solimo Colombian Blend
This Colombian blend has a very pleasant acidity and a floral aroma that is enhanced by the sweetness of the vanilla latte. Its berry notes make for an explosion of flavor when combined with the caramel sauce. - Green Mountain Caramel Vanilla Cream
What better coffee than one that’s already flavored with the exact same flavors you’re looking for? Get a caramel vanilla cream for a much more intense, deep flavor. - Peet’s Coffee Sumatra Single Origin
There’s always an exception that proves the rule. This dark roast is rich and has flavors rich in spices and naturally sweet flavors, like caramel and chocolate. Though a little bit darker, it has the ideal flavor profile for making a vanilla latte.
And with that, you have four very solid options to choose from. We do understand, however, that there may be those who want something different or that aren’t completely convinced by these options. In that case, we strongly recommend that you get flavored K-cups. Vanilla, French vanilla, and caramel flavoring are the best ones to choose for this recipe, and they’re usually easy to find.
Milk
Although it might seem like a simple choice to make, it is actually very important that we choose the right kind of milk. Below is a list of all the best types of milk for making a vanilla latte:
- Cashew milk: naturally extra creamy, making it the best candidate for this beverage. It is smooth, delicious, and healthy.
- Coconut milk: this one’s also extra creamy, but unlike cashew, it does have some taste on its own. Coconut flavor does pair well with a vanilla latte, but it might not be for everyone.
- Oat milk: oat milk’s popularity has been rapidly growing in the coffee world thanks to its versatility. It has a lot of texture, and it’s malleable, so it’s always a good choice.
- Whole milk: if you’re going to use cow’s milk, go for the whole. The taste and the texture are hard to beat, and it’s the perfect choice for making any type of latte.
- Soy milk: it depends on the brand. It can be a good choice if you know of a brand that’s good, but generally steer away from soy milk.
Additionally, there are many types of milk that come flavored. Vanilla-flavored vegetable milks are abundant and a great option for infusing your vanilla latte with some vanilla flavor!
Condensed Milk
Condensed milk is an ingredient mostly used in Vietnamese coffee beverages, but it’s the perfect ingredient in this drink. It sweetens the drink and, at the same time, adds a lot of frothiness and texture.
There are some options for condensed milk if you’re not completely on board with the idea of using condensed milk. For one, you might be lactose intolerant. On the other hand, it’s very high in sugar. So there are two options we can go with:
- Light condensed milk: a type of condensed milk that has about half the added sugar contents of regular condensed milk. The flavor is largely the same, so don’t worry about that. The only thing that might change is that it expires sooner.
- Simple syrup: simple syrup can be homemade or store-bought, and it is the perfect substitute for condensed milk. It is just as sweet as condensed milk, so you use the same amount, and the thick texture is very similar.
And finally, here’s the recipe:
Vanilla Latte With Keurig Recipe
This recipe is valid for any and all Keurig machines. Simply use the smallest brew size available on your machine, and you’re all ready to go. Some machines only have one brew size—if that’s your case, use that one.
- Brew your K-cup directly into your mug or, preferably, into a tall clear glass.
- In a small pan or pot, heat up the milk.
- Once the milk is hot, add condensed milk caramel sauce and stir until mixed together.
- Pour into your glass.
- Add whipped cream on top, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Drizzle with a little more syrup if desired, and there you go! A delicious vanilla latte made using your Keurig coffee maker. Enjoy!