Learn how to make foam for coffee without a frother in 3 easy ways
If you've wanted to learn how to make cold foam for coffee, this post will teach you three different ways to do so! Depending on what equipment you have on hand, you'll be able to make different variations of cold foam - bubbly, frothy, or in between. This guide will walk you through different ingredient options as well.
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I think we can all agree that cold foam makes almost any cold brew coffee so much better! It adds a decadent and creamy touch that blends so perfectly with coffee's bitter notes.
If you've been following along in our coffee series, chances are you love finding new ways to drink your morning coffee. This guide is going to help you explore a whole new way to drink coffee with cold foam.
What Is Cold Foam?
Cold foam is a popular dairy product typically poured on top of cold brew coffee. It creates a dramatic effect on not only the appearance of the drink but also the flavor.
If you've ever had cold foam from Starbucks, it was likely made from nonfat milk then whipped up in a blender. There are also other variations of this type of cold foam, like the sweet cream cold foam made with heavy cream and 2% milk.
The key to any cold foam is creating good texture. Through each of these methods we discuss today, you will achieve various level of air, bubbles, and creaminess. It's up to you to decide which ingredients and equipment creates the cold foam you like best!
How To Make Cold Foam At Home
Up first let's chat through three ways to make cold foam without a frother. Each of these methods will get you very different results depending on what type of dairy you use.
Mason Jar
Grab a mason jar. Add 3.5 ounces (100 milliliters) of your dairy product of choice (options below) and 2 pumps (½ ounce) of simple syrup.
Shake the jar for a full 60 seconds, then pour over cold brew coffee.
Whisk
Add 3.5 ounces (100 milliliters) of your dairy product of choice (options below) and 2 pumps (½ ounce) of simple syrup to a metal or glass bowl. Be sure not to use ceramic dishes as the whisk may scratch them up.
Hand whisk for 45 seconds, then pour over cold brew coffee.
Blender
Grab your favorite high powered blender. Add 3.5 ounces (100 milliliters) of your dairy product of choice (options below) and 2 pumps (½ ounce) of simple syrup.
Blend on high for 45 seconds, then pour over cold brew coffee.
As you can see from the photo below, each method results in a very different texture, depending on the type of dairy product you use. The cold foam in the glasses on the left is made from a mason jar, in the middle from a hand whisk, and on the right from a blender.
What Ingredients Do I Need?
While the Starbucks cold foam is generally made with nonfat milk, I wondered what results I would get from various dairy products. Since we aren't using a frother to achieve the perfect consistency, I wondered if the traditional nonfat milk would be the best option.
In order to find the perfect cold foam at home, I wanted to test three different ingredients using each of the methods listed above - with a mason jar, hand whisk, and blender.
For this experiment, I tested out:
- Nonfat milk
- 2% milk/heavy cream
- Heavy cream
Below, you'll find a photo result of each experiment, as well as the ingredients used.
Nonfat Milk
- 3.5 ounces (100 milliliters) nonfat milk
- 2 pumps (½ ounce) of simple syrup
From this test, the blender option achieved the consistency most like Starbucks. It was creamy, smooth, and had the perfect number of bubbles.
The mason jar and whisk resulted in too many bubbles and not enough creaminess. These were a fail in my opinion.
2% Milk and Heavy Cream
- 1.5 ounces (50 milliliters) 2% milk
- 1.5 ounces (50 milliliters) heavy cream
- 2 pumps (½ ounce) of simple syrup
The additional fat in this recipe helped achieve better results than the nonfat version, in my opinion. Each of the methods nicely incorporated air into the 2% milk and heavy cream mixture. The result was a light, smooth and airy texture for the cold foam no matter what type of equipment you use.
The combination of 2% milk and heavy cream was my personal favorite taste and texture for the experiment of how to make cold foam without a frother.
Heavy Cream
- 3.5 ounces (100 milliliters) heavy cream
- 2 pumps (½ ounce) of simple syrup
Last, but not least, I tested out heavy cream. To my surprise, the hand whisk resulted in my favorite cold foam. Though, all the options were good, the hand whisk had a slightly different texture that combined the right amount of air and cream.
I noticed that each of cold foams made with heavy cream seemed more thick than the milk versions. This is due to the higher fat in heavy cream.
Overall Results
Depending on what ingredients and equipment you have on hand, you can make very different types of cold foam. Here is an overall chart with a description for each type of cold foam discussed above.
While everyone has different taste preferences, I've marked the fan-favorites (based on taste and consistency) in the chart below.
| Nonfat Milk | 2% Milk & Heavy Cream | Heavy Cream | |
| Mason Jar | Light layer of bubbles | Creamy and silky smooth (fan favorite) | Thick and airy |
| Whisk | Very bubbly | Smooth but airy | Creamy and silky smooth (fan favorite) |
| Blender | Creamy and silky smooth (fan favorite) | Fairly smooth but still airy | Thick and creamy |
More Coffee Recipes
If you've enjoyed learning about this coffee topic, here are some recipes you should try:
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