How To Make Cold Foam

Cold Foam Key Ingredients:

• Arla Barista milk
• Sugar, syrup or sweetener

Equipment needed:

• Coffee machine
• Milk jug
• Milk frother or steam wand
• Spoon or stirrer

Cold Foam Jargon Explained

• Aerate – Adding micro-bubbles or air to milk to increase its volume. Aeration helps to create a silky, light texture.
• Steaming – Adding steam to the milk for the aeration process.
• Dispense time - How long it takes to brew your coffee – from the second you push the button to brew to the espresso being dispensed into the cup.

How To Make Cold Foam At Home

Cold Foam Recipe

• Step 1: Mix away

  Combine Arla Barista Milk and a syrup or sweetener of your choice in a small measuring jug.

• Step 2: Get your equipment ready

  Place the milk frother or steam wand into the milk, no more than 2cm deep. Choose a position that will allow the milk to spin a little inside the jug. You might need to tilt the jug slightly.

• Step 3: Start to froth

  After turning on the frother or steam arm, listen for a gentle chirping/paper-tearing noise. This lets you know you’re adding tiny micro-bubbles correctly. You do not need much foam at all for cold foaming and creating iced lattes, so be careful not to over-foam this here. Around 15-20 seconds should be enough.

• Step 4: Pour on your delicious drink

  Whether cold brew or an iced latte, simply pour your foam on top. Sprinkle with some cinnamon for an extra touch of flair and flavour.

Cold Foam Milk Aeration

If steaming the milk for cold foam, ensure that you add the tiny micro-bubbles of air right away and stop the steaming process before the milk jug gets warm to the touch. Aim to aerate the milk to grow it by around a quarter on top of its starting volume. For a deeper cold foam, aim to aerate the milk to grow it by around two-thirds. Experiment until you find just the right level of aeration for your tastes.

Cold Foam Without A Coffee Machine

For cold foam without using steam from a coffee machine, you can use handheld frothers or a countertop milk foamer with the Arla Barista. Simply froth the milk to your desired volume. These devices are often able to foam without heating the milk at all, so can prove useful for cold foam. Texture can be deceiving with such devices though, and milk often appears thicker and more voluminous than it will feel by taste, so you can safely overshoot the aeration target a little with these devices.

Cold Foam FAQs

What is cold foam?

Cold foam is a fluffy, frothy topping of aerated (but not steamed) milk that tops an iced latte or a cold brew. It’s like the frothy milk you have on top of a latte or cappuccino, just at a cooler temperature.

Is cold foam just whipped cream?

No, they’re not the same thing. The primary ingredient of whipped cream is of course cream, whereas the primary ingredient of cold foam is milk.

Can you make cold foam with regular milk?

Yes, you can make cold foam with regular milk. But we recommend using Arla Barista, as it contains the optimal ratio of fat and protein for the perfect velvety foam – whether cold foam or hot.