Top 5 Homemade Cold Foams | CopyCat Starbucks

Ready to level up your iced coffee with homemade cold foam, Starbucks copycat style? I’m counting down my Top 5 flavors in reverse order so we can have a bit of fun. Each foam is creamy, easy to whip up at home, and perfect for cold brew, iced espresso, and even hot drinks as well (I’ve added cold foam to my vanilla lattes). You’ll get simple ingredients, quick steps, and flavor tips so your next drink tastes like it came from your favorite coffee shop without leaving the kitchen. Let’s make the best cold foam recipes and turn every sip into a treat.

I have limited this list to my top 5 favorites, and I include step-by-step recipe videos so you can easily make these at home. I even included some inspiration for drinks that you can pair with this cold foam, so you’ll have plenty of options.

Note: I have made all of these homemade cold foams myself and include the videos below … to help verify I’m not a robot 🙂

TOP 5 HOMEMADE COLD FOAMS

I’m doing this the same way I’ve done past lists with a twist that keeps it fun. We’re counting down in reverse order from #5 to #1. Your personal cold foam favorite might land somewhere else on the list and that’s totally fine. Drop a comment and share it! I promise my feelings can handle it and your tip will help other readers. Taste is personal, but every pick here is a crowd pleaser and super easy to make at home. Start anywhere and you’re in for a delicious cold foam sip.

Recipe #5: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam

Vanilla cold foam is the classic for a reason, and this is actually the first cold foam I attempted to create. It is creamy, lightly sweet, and lets your coffee shine. A quick blend of milk and vanilla syrup turns into a silky topping that floats over iced coffee or cold brew like a sweet cloud. I love it because it adds coffee shop texture without overpowering your drink. It earns a spot on this list for its versatility and that clean vanilla flavor that makes every sip taste polished and balanced. If mine turned out very delicious on the first try, you know it’s easy.

Watch the video above to see my full vanilla cold foam recipe in action!

Recipe #4: Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam

It’s actually the beginning of fall as I type this, and pumpkin cold foam brings instant fall vibes to any glass. Think smooth pumpkin spice notes whipped into a fluffy cap that meets your cold brew with just the right warmth and sweetness. It is easy to make with pumpkin spice or even a quick pumpkin syrup, and it tastes amazing on day one or day two if you batch your cold foam. This pumpkin spice cold foam belongs here because it gives you that seasonal flavor without needing an espresso machine and it always makes your cup feel special.

Watch the video above to see my fun Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam Recipe, or you can see more powerful pumpkin flavor with my Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Recipe #3: Brown Sugar Cold Foam

Brown sugar (as a flavor) has grown on me a lot lately. This brown sugar cold foam is all about caramel tones and cozy depth without being heavy. A little brown sugar or brown sugar syrup transforms simple milk into a velvety topping with hints of molasses and toffee. I like it on strong iced espresso because it softens the edges and adds that gentle bakery sweetness. It makes the list because the ingredients are simple, the texture is dreamy, and it turns any iced drink into a smooth treat.

Watch my fun video above or check out my Homemade Brown Sugar Cold Foam (Starbucks Copycat) for the full recipe!

Recipe #2: Salted Caramel Cold Foam

I love salted caramel, and the flavor is great year round.

Salted caramel cold foam hits that sweet and salty balance that keeps you going back for one more sip. The light salt brings out the buttery caramel flavor while the foam keeps everything airy and refreshing. It is fantastic on cold brew or an iced Americano when you want flavor that pops without weighing down the drink. This belongs on the list because it is crowd pleasing, quick to whip up, and always delivers coffee shop flavor at home. You can tell in the video how awesome this flavor really is.

Check out my video above for the full Salted Caramel Cold Foam recipe!

Recipe #1: Mocha Salted Caramel Cold Foam

Mocha salted caramel cold foam is the showstopper. Cocoa plus caramel plus a pinch of salt turns the foam into a chocolatey, butterscotch kiss that sits right on top of your coffee. I love it on bold iced espresso since the foam melts in and creates a layered sip that tastes like a mocha with dimension. It earns the top spot because it is rich yet balanced, super easy to make, and it gives you that premium mocha finish with every pour.

Watch the video above for the Mocha Salted Caramel Cold Foam recipe (it includes the salted caramel and mocha salted caramel cold foam recipes)!

Full Recap

I also created a full video roundup where I discuss all of these flavors mentioned in the post today, so if you want more cold foam fun, you can click to watch this video above 🙂

It does give a different perspective on these recipes, and in contains video for all 5 of them in one place. Now let’s look at an option to enjoy with these cold foams.

A Perfect Pairing: Iced Shaken Espresso

Iced Shaken Espresso is the perfect base for any cold foam on this list because it brings big coffee flavor without the heaviness. A quick shake with ice chills the espresso fast, softens any sharp edges, and adds natural microbubbles that play so well with a fluffy foam cap. The result is a crisp, refreshing sip with room on top for creamy flavor. It is like building a better latte in layers. Strong espresso at the bottom, silky sweet foam on top, and every shake keeps the drink bright and lively.

It is also super customizable, which is why my iced shaken espresso recipe is so popular. Keep it classic and unsweetened to let Vanilla or Pumpkin foam shine, or add a touch of syrup in the shaker if you want a little extra sweetness underneath Brown Sugar or Salted Caramel. Mocha Salted Caramel on top of a bold, icy espresso is a total treat, and the contrast stays delicious from the first sip to the last. Watch the quick video right below to master the shake, then pick your foam and make your new favorite coffee shop drink at home.

Watch the video above to create this delicious shaken espresso, and you can also check out my related post for the Starbucks CopyCat Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso!

All Great Recipes

All five cold foams earn a spot because they are simple to make, wildly versatile, and add coffee shop flavor to just about any drink. Vanilla keeps things smooth and balanced, Pumpkin brings seasonal spice, Brown Sugar adds caramel depth, Salted Caramel hits that sweet-and-salty note, and Mocha Salted Caramel is the bold, dessert-style topper. Whip one in minutes with easy ingredients, spoon it over cold brew, iced lattes, iced Americanos, or my iced shaken espresso, and you have a fresh way to customize every cup without changing your routine. Mix and match flavors with different coffees and you will never get bored.

Bonus Tip: How to Make Cold Foam work on Hot Drinks

Before I started making all these cold foam recipes, I wondered if it was possible to add to hot coffee drinks in addition to cold brews and iced coffee drinks and espressos. The answer is that it is definitely possible and can boost the flavor of hot lattes, macchiatos, and many other hot coffee drinks!

How to add cold foam to any hot drink:

• Treat it like a true topping, not simple foam. Pour the hot coffee/espresso first, then spoon the foam on top.
• Make the foam thicker so it holds a bit longer. Use 2 parts milk to 1 part heavy cream, or barista oat with a splash of cream.
• Keep the foam cold. Whip it straight from the fridge and serve right away. This is a great tip for all cold foam.
• Wait until the temperature of the hot coffee or espresso has cooled a bit before adding the cold foam.

Using just 1-2 of the tips above will definitely help optimize your use of cold foam on any hot coffee drink. Feel free to add any tips that you know down below.