Description
Warm, comforting homemade latte with aromatic cardamom spice. Customize with your favorite milk, sweetener, and toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy, I prefer oat milk!)
- 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee or 2 shots of espresso
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey, agave, or your favorite sweetener, adjust to taste)
- Pinch of sea salt
- Optional: Whipped cream or frothed milk for topping
- Optional: A sprinkle of ground cardamom for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the Milk: In a small saucepan, pour in your milk of choice. Place the saucepan over medium heat. You want the milk to get warm, but not boiling. Watch it carefully! If you’re using a non-dairy milk, be extra cautious as some can scorch easily.
- Add the Cardamom and Salt: Once the milk is warm (steaming, but not bubbling), add the ground cardamom and a pinch of sea salt. The salt helps to enhance the sweetness and bring out the cardamom flavor.
- Infuse the Milk: Reduce the heat to low and let the milk simmer gently for about 5-7 minutes. This allows the cardamom to fully infuse into the milk. Stir occasionally to prevent a skin from forming on top. The longer you infuse, the stronger the cardamom flavor will be. If you prefer a more subtle flavor, stick to the shorter end of the time range.
- Strain the Milk (Optional but Recommended): For the smoothest latte experience, I recommend straining the milk through a fine-mesh sieve after infusing. This will remove any small particles of cardamom that didn’t dissolve completely. This step is especially important if your ground cardamom is a bit coarse. If you don’t mind a little texture, you can skip this step.
- Brew the Coffee: Brew your coffee according to your chosen method. Aim for a strong brew, as the milk will dilute the coffee flavor. If you’re using espresso, pull two shots. If you’re using another method, brew about 1/2 cup of coffee. Keep it warm.
- Sweeten the Milk: After infusing and straining (if you chose to strain), add your sweetener of choice to the cardamom-infused milk. I like maple syrup because it adds a subtle caramel-like flavor that complements the cardamom beautifully. Start with 1 tablespoon and adjust to your taste. Stir well to ensure the sweetener is fully dissolved.
- Combine Coffee and Milk: Pour the brewed coffee into a mug. Then, gently pour the cardamom-infused milk over the coffee. You can adjust the ratio of coffee to milk to your liking. I prefer a 1:2 ratio (1 part coffee to 2 parts milk), but feel free to experiment!
- Froth the Milk (Optional): If you want to add a layer of frothed milk on top, now’s the time to do it. You can use a milk frother, a French press, or even a whisk to froth the milk. Gently spoon the frothed milk over the top of the latte.
- Add Toppings (Optional): For an extra touch of indulgence, top your latte with whipped cream. A sprinkle of ground cardamom adds a beautiful aroma and visual appeal. You could also add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
- Enjoy Immediately: Your cardamom latte is best enjoyed immediately while it’s warm and the flavors are at their peak. Take a moment to savor the aroma and the delicious combination of coffee, cardamom, and sweetness.
Notes
- Adjust the sweetness to your preference.
- Experiment with other spices like cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg.
- For an iced latte, cool the coffee and milk before combining over ice.
- Cardamom pods can be used instead of ground cardamom (crush 3-4 pods).
- Add a few drops of vanilla extract for enhanced flavor.
- Easily made vegan with non-dairy milk and vegan sweetener.
- Consider making a cardamom simple syrup for a more intense flavor.
- Try using chai tea instead of coffee for a different flavor profile.
- Infuse your cold brew coffee with cardamom for a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes