This delicious cardamom latte is super fragrant, ultra smooth and just perfectly spiced. Absolutely amazing to enjoy in the morning or as an afternoon treat. Also very easy to make, whether you have an espresso machine or not!
This cardamom latte was such an amazing discovery for me, so I am super excited to share it here with you guys.
I see cardamom latte recipes once in a while on social media platforms (and even at Starbucks a few times!), but was a bit skeptical about it.
I actually like adding cardamom when I make a matcha chai latte as part of the chai spice mix, but having cardamom as the prominent flavor in a drink, I just was not sure at all. So, I decided to give it a try and oh wow, I totally get the hype now.
I'm definitely late to the party as cardamom is a classic spice to flavor sweet milk recipes and with good reason: it is so shockingly delicious! And here, the sweet fragrant and subtle spice profile is amazing paired with coffee.
You will love how the cardamom, when mixed in with the milk and a little sweetener, makes the latte SO smooth, super creamy, almost caramelized, and so much deeper in flavor. The flavor is actually hard to describe, you might just have to trust the process and give it a try!
Plus, I don't even have an espresso machine at home, but this didn’t stop me! You can make strong coffee similar to espresso without it and I'll show you how easy it is, so everyone can make this homemade spiced latte drink right in the comfort of their home without any fancy equipment.
Please let me know what you think of this recipe, I want to hear if you liked it as much as I did! ❤️
Why you'll love this recipe
- Makes for a fun change to your regular latte.
- Can be made hot for a cozy winter drink vs cold to help you cool down in the summer.
- Very versatile and can be paired with more spices.
- Accessible for all: can be made without an espresso machine!
What you'll need
- Coffee: if you have an espresso machine, then make 2 shots of espresso coffee (about 2.5 ounces). If you don't have an espresso machine, then simply make a small batch of strongly brewed coffee. Aim to get about ½ cup or so. I'll show you below how I make it without a machine.
- Plant-based milk: use your favorite milk! In this case, I used unsweetened oat milk, which I find froths very well.
- Cardamom: you will need ground cardamom for this recipe (not the whole cardamom pods).
- Sweetener: use to taste or omit, I like maple syrup in lattes, but any sweetener will work.
As for the equipment, here is what you will need:
- Espresso machine OR French press OR regular coffee machine to make drip coffee. If you use a regular coffee machine, then be sure to make the coffee stronger than usual.
- Small pot to warm up the milk. I love using this frothing mini pitcher (works on an induction oven!).
- Frother to foam the milk. The hand-held frothers are not expensive, super convenient and easy to use. Or use the frother on your espresso machine, if you have one. If you don't have a frother, then you can simply shake the warm milk in a sealed jar vigorously to get some foam. It works!
How to make it
Prepare the coffee
Per serving, you will need 2 shots of espresso (about 2.5 ounce) or about ½ cup of strongly brewed coffee. I don't have an espresso coffee machine, so I love using a French press to brew a small portion of strong coffee for lattes. In that case, I use about 2 heaping tablespoons of ground coffee + ½ cup of hot water.
Make the foamy cardamom milk
Combine the cardamom with the milk in a small pot and warm up while stirring often. You don't want to boil the milk or cook it, remove from the heat once warm enough and steamy.
Once hot, then use a hand-held frother to foam the milk to your liking.
If you have an induction oven like me, then these metal frothing mini pitcher are great to flavor the milk, warm it up directly on the stove and to froth too.
Assemble
In a serving mug, pour the espresso coffee and then pour the warm cardamom frothed milk over.
Add sweetener to taste and enjoy right away.
Watch how to make it
Helpful tips
- If you want to make an iced cardamom latte, then skip on warming up the milk and don't froth it, simply combine the milk with the cardamom. Then, fill a tall glass with ice cubes and pour the espresso over. Then, top with the cardamom milk and add sweetener to taste.
- For an ultra creamy latte, use coconut milk!
- For a drink with less caffeine, then simply use caffeine-free coffee ground or swap the espresso for black tea (black tea contains almost half the amount of caffeine compared to coffee).
More flavoring ideas
- Vanilla: add about ¼-1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract alongside the cardamom to the milk just before warming up.
- Spiced: add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground ginger to the milk along the cardamom. Or add a pre-made mix of chai spices.
- Mocha: Add about 1 teaspoon of raw cacao powder to the milk when warming it up. You might need to add a little more sweetener in this case since raw cacao powder is a little bitter. Or add a drizzle of this vegan chocolate syrup!
- Turmeric: add a pinch of turmeric for extra flavor, but also a boost of antioxidants!
FAQ's
It is an Indian spice that comes from a plant from the Zingiberaceae family. It look like a pod that has a funny looking elongated triangular shape of about ½ inch long. You can find cardamom whole or ground in grocery stores.
Cardamom has an intense floral and almost peppery sweet flavor. It also has hints of mint flavor in the background, although very subtle. It is complex in flavor and very unique!
Cardamom has a very particular flavor, which would be hard to substitute and have the same result. BUT, I think that a combo of nutmeg + some cinnamon would give you a rich and aromatic spiced taste similar to cardamom.
More lattes and warm drinks you might like
- Turmeric hot chocolate
- Matcha chai latte
- Vanilla matcha latte
- Lemongrass ginger tea
- Lavender milk tea
- Butterfly pea flower latte
- Pink latte
- Oat milk hot chocolate
- Peanut butter coffee
- Strawberry latte
- Iced dirty chai latte
- Hot bubble tea
I hope you like this cardamom latte recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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Cardamom Latte
Equipment
- Espresso machine (optional), see below
- Milk frother (optional), see below
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso (about 2.5 ounces) - or about ½ cup of strongly brewed coffee
- ¾ cup plant-based milk
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- sweetener of your choice to taste - such as maple syrup
Instructions
- Prepare the espresso coffee or make about ½ cup of strong brewed coffee.
- Also, combine the milk with the cardamom and warm up until steamy (but not boiling). Then, use a hand-held frother to froth the milk to your taste(optional).
- In a serving mug, pour the espresso coffee, then top with the frothy cardamom milk and add sweetener to taste. Sprinkle with more cardamom and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- To make it without a frother: you don't have to froth the milk if you don't have a frother. But, to get some foam without using a frother, then you could transfer the warm cardamom milk in a sealed jar (like a mason jar) and shake vigorously until foamy. It is not as efficient as a frother, but it will work well enough to get some foam and texture to the milk.
- I don't have an espresso machine, so to make strongly brewed coffee for a latte, I like using a French press (as seen in the video). To make it that way, brew a heaping 2 tablespoons of ground coffee with about ½ cup of hot water, let sit for 4-5 minutes and strain before pouring into your mug.
- To make an iced cardamom latte, then do not warm up the milk but instead, keep it cold and combine with the cardamom. Fill a tall glass with ice cubes, then pour the espresso coffee over and top with the cold cardamom milk. Sweeten to taste, stir and enjoy.
Pin it for later!
Wow this was good. Made it also with a French press, work out well.