Starbucks Caramel Latte is a wonderful and creamy coffee drink with rich caramel flavor. No need to go to the coffee shop when you can make this delicious espresso drink at home with this easy copycat recipe.
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Classic Starbucks Drink
A Starbucks Caramel Latte is a famous coffee shop’s classic drink. It’s made with espresso, caramel syrup, and frothy steamed milk.
Lattes can either be sweet or not. A latte made with espresso and steamed milk is not a sweet drink, but you can make it lovely and more flavorful by adding syrups such as caramel or mocha.
Save money and make this classic Starbucks coffee drink at home!
Why This Starbucks Caramel Latte Recipe is the Best
This is the best Starbucks Caramel Latte recipe. It makes a drink that’s warm, sweet, and smooth. It’s the perfect coffee drink to warm up during cold winter.
Make this comforting, hot, and sweet coffee on chilly fall and winter mornings, or sip it while watching your favorite movie at night. We walk you through exactly how to make it and even help you if you don’t have an espresso machine.
Caramel Latte Starbucks Copycat Recipe Ingredients
Save money and make this classic Starbucks coffee drink at home! So easy and delicious, and all you need are just four simple ingredients:
- Espresso or strong-brewed coffee
- Caramel syrup
- Milk – Starbucks uses 2% milk, you can use whole milk, nonfat milk, or you may want to try a plant-based milk like oat milk
- Whipped cream
Caramel Latte Ingredient Substitutions
Starbucks uses 2% milk for all of its latte recipes because it froths well. However, you can use full-fat, skim, or your favorite non-dairy milk. Just be aware that your choice may not froth as well. I know that any milk you choose to make this copycat Starbucks caramel latte, you will love how good it tastes.
You can also go with sugar-free caramel syrup.
How to Make a Caramel Latte Starbucks Coffee
It’s easy to make one of the tastiest Starbucks espresso-based beverages at home by following a few simple steps.
- Make espresso or strong black coffee.
- Steam milk.
- Pour the espresso or coffee into a cup.
- Add caramel syrup.
- Add steamed milk and stir to combine.
- Spoon on some whipped cream on top, if desired.
Can I make a latte without espresso?
Yes, you have a few different options to get coffee that’s close to espresso.
Brew quite strong coffee in a standard coffee pot. It won’t be precisely the same as their signature espresso, but it will work (using a bigger coffee-to-milk ratio).
A Moka Pot or an Aeropress coffee maker will get you close to regular espresso (follow the same proportions of coffee to milk as in the recipe). The Italians swear by their Moka (or macchinetta). Watch this video on how to use a Bialetti Moka Express.
How to Steam Milk at Home
In a coffee shop, you get steamed, frothed milk in your latte. Here are some ways you can achieve a similar effect at home.
- Warm up your milk and give it a good shake in a jar.
- Place your heated milk in an immersion blender and foam it.
- If you have a French Press, you can use it to froth milk. Check out this article to learn how to froth milk with a French press.
- Invest in a milk frother, either a manual milk frother or an electric milk frother. Here is a video on how to use a manual milk frother.
Caramel Latte Starbucks Recipe Variations
This caramel latte recipe is super versatile, and it’s easy to make it with other flavors.
- Caramel Mocha Latte: Add 1 ounce of mocha syrup.
- Salted Caramel Latte: Add 1/4 teaspoon sea salt to the coffee, then sprinkle some sea salt onto the milk foam when serving.
- Bourbon Salted Caramel Latte: For a fun spin, try making this recipe with bourbon salted caramel sauce.
- Pumpkin Spice Latte: Is perfect for those cool fall days. See my Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.
- Toffee Nut Latte: Try something different with toffee nut syrup.
Turn This Hot Caramel Latte Recipe Into an Iced Latte
You don’t necessarily want a hot coffee drink when the weather warms up. Have no fear, this Starbucks Caramel Latte recipe is incredible when iced! Here’s how to make it:
- Begin with room temperature or cold coffee. Or, you can use cold brew coffee.
- Place the coffee, milk, caramel syrup, and ice in a large mason jar. Screw the lid on tightly and shake everything thoroughly to blend and dissolve the caramel.
- Pour your mixture into a serving glass with plenty of ice. You score bonus points for using leftover coffee ice cubes, so your drink doesn’t water down!
What is the difference between a caramel latte and a caramel macchiato?
The main difference is not in the ingredients but in how these two drinks are made.
A caramel latte is made by pouring steamed milk over a combination of espresso and caramel syrup.
A caramel macchiato is created by mixing vanilla syrup and steamed milk. The espresso is then poured on top, leaving a dark mark on the milk foam (macchiato means marked in Italian). Finally, caramel sauce is drizzled on top of the drink.
What goes well with this caramel latte Starbucks recipe?
You need something delicious to go with your delicious beverage. You can recreate the Starbucks dining experience at home with these copycat recipes for food at Starbucks:
- Starbucks Banana Bread Recipe
- Starbucks Egg Bites Recipe
- Starbucks Sandwiches
- Starbucks Spinach Feta Wrap
Popular Starbucks Drink Recipes
Can’t get enough Starbucks drinks to make in your own home? Try these other copycat Starbucks coffee recipes:
- Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Starbucks Eggnog Latte
- Starbucks Flat White
- Starbucks Mocha Coffee
- Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
And, if you want to branch out from Starbucks:
Why not make your own coffee creamers?
Check out my easy drink recipes and the best Starbucks recipes here on CopyKat!
Starbucks Caramel Latte
Ingredients
- 4 ounces espresso or strong brewed coffee
- 2½ tablespoons caramel syrup divided use
- 4 ounces milk warmed and frothed. (2% recommended)
- 2 tablespoons whipped cream. optional
Instructions
- Pour the espresso into a coffee cup.
- Add some of the caramel syrup (adjust according to your desired sweetness level).
- Add the milk.
- Spoon whipped cream on top of the latte if desired.
- Drizzle additional caramel syrup on top of the milk or whipped cream (if using).
Video
Notes
- 🌡️ Temperature Control: Heat your milk to 150-155°F (65-68°C) for optimal sweetness and foam. If it’s hotter, you’ll scald the milk, affecting taste and texture.
- ☕ Cup Preparation: Always pre-heat your coffee cup with hot water before making your latte. This keeps your drink hotter longer and ensures the espresso doesn’t cool too quickly when it hits the cup.
- 🍯 Syrup Strategy: Add the caramel syrup to your espresso shots while they’re still hot before adding the milk. This helps the syrup dissolve completely and distribute evenly throughout the drink, preventing any sugary settling at the bottom.
Frank
I love Starbucks caramel latte! It’s my favorite coffee drink.