Make a barista-style creamy, sweet, vanilla soy latte at home with a few simple steps and ingredients!
Every morning I start my day with a latte. When I feel like a splurge I’ll head to Starbucks. But most of the time I make my own at home. It’s so easy to prepare and tastes like something you’d order from a barista! I make my lattes with a variety of non-dairy milk, including oat milk, and almond milk. Buy soy milk is probably my favorite!
The secret to a super frothy, lightly sweet, vanilla-flavored latte is all about using the best tools. There are numerous methods you can use to create a latte at home depending on what you have available. But if you’re a coffee connoisseur, or enjoy your lattes as much as I do, I strongly suggest investing in a milk frother. They are much less expensive than an espresso machine and will save you money on your daily latte orders!
🥛Reasons to Choose Soy Milk
Soy milk is one of many milk alternatives you can use in your lattes. It’s super creamy and has some added fat which helps the milk froth nicely. If you’re looking for a non-dairy option, there are several types of milk to choose from including almond milk, oat milk, and coconut milk, so why use soy milk?
In order for dairy-free milk to froth, your milk needs to have a good fat to protein ratio. Soy milk has a higher fat content and is also high in protein. One cup of soy milk has approximately 3 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein. Which makes for an excellent composition for frothing.
💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Vegan Friendly
- Low in Sugar
- Low in Calories
- Variety of Flavor Options
- Soy Milk Creates Frothy Lattes
☕️ Ingredients and Notes
Espresso or Strong Coffee: If you have an espresso machine at home, go ahead and use it! You’ll need 2 shots of espresso for this recipe. If you don’t have an espresso machine, then use your drip coffee maker, coffee press, or Keurig to brew a strong cup of coffee.
Soy Milk: I recommend using regular unsweetened soy milk. Look for soy milk with a good fat to protein ratio.
Vanilla Extract: Add vanilla flavor to your latte with vanilla extract.
Pure Maple Syrup: For a touch of sweetness add a teaspoon of maple syrup. I like using a liquid sweetener because it easily steams and foams. You could also use agave or honey.
📋 Soy Latte Instructions
Brew Coffee: Brew coffee or prepare espresso according to your machine’s directions.
Steaming and Frothing Methods
Frother Method: Add soy milk to your milk frother. Add vanilla extract and maple syrup. If using a milk frother, press the button and let your frother steam and froth the milk.
Stovetop Method: Add soy milk to a small saucepan. Add the vanilla and maple syrup. Heat over medium heat. Once the milk is warm, whisk vigorously to create foam or transfer the heated milk to a blender. Blend on medium speed to create a foam.
Frothing Wand: Add cold soy milk to a small pitcher or jar. Place the frothing wand into the pitcher and hold it at an angle. Place the wand just below the top of the milk. Turn the wand on, keeping it towards the edge of the pitcher. Move the pitcher slowly in a circle, and then up and down. When the milk creates small bubbles and doubles in size it is ready.
Add Soy Milk to Coffee: Pour the espresso shots or strong coffee into a mug. If using coffee, pour into the mug about ⅔ of the way full. Add the steamed soy milk scooping the foam to add to the top. Stir and enjoy!
📖 Vanilla Soy Latte Tips
- Use fresh and cold soy milk before frothing.
- It’s best to use unsweetened soy milk, and add your own sweetener to your preferred taste.
- A soy creamer is also an option. It will have a richer texture.
- If possible use espresso rather than brewed coffee. Espresso has bold and complex flavors that when paired with the creaminess of the milk provides a nice balance.
- The best way to froth the milk is to use a milk frother, or a frothing wand. This method will create the smallest bubbles in your milk.
❓ Recipe FAQS
You may want to use soy milk in your latte if you suffer from lactose intolerance, or follow a vegan diet. Soy milk is naturally creamy and has a well-rounded flavor.
Yes, when making lattes or cappuccinos it is best to use espresso. Espresso has deep rich, complex flavors. Lattes use quite a bit of milk, so the flavor is better and more balanced when you use espresso. Traditional lattes from coffee shops always use espresso.
There is a variety of non-dairy milk choices you can use to prepare your favorite coffee drinks. You can use any type of milk you prefer, but some froth better than others. The key to a creamy non-dairy latte is to use milk that has a high fat and protein content. This is what creates the creamy texture and little bubbles that create the foam.
👩🍳 Flavor Variations
You can easily change the flavor of this latte by swapping vanilla extract for another type of extract of syrup. I suggest hazelnut, peppermint, or cinnamon extract.
☕️ More Latte Recipes!
Recipe
Soy Milk Latte | 3 Methods
Equipment
- Espresso Maker or coffee maker
- Milk Frother or saucepan and whisk
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso or ⅔ cups of strong brewed coffee
- ½ cup unsweetened soy milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup or agave syrup
Instructions
Frother Method
- Brew coffee or prepare espresso according to your machine's directions.
- Add soy milk to your milk frother. Add vanilla extract and maple syrup. Press the button and let your frother steam and froth the milk, it will stop when the milk is ready.
- Pour the espresso shots or strong coffee into a mug. If using coffee, pour into the mug about ⅔ of the way full. Add the steamed soy milk scooping the foam to add to the top. Enjoy!
Stovetop Method
- Brew coffee or prepare espresso according to your machine's directions.
- Add soy milk to a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the vanilla and maple syrup. Whisk together to combine. Once the milk is warm, whisk vigorously to create foam or transfer the heated milk to a blender. Blend on medium speed to create a foam.
- Pour the espresso shots or strong coffee into a mug. If using coffee, pour into the mug about ⅔ of the way full. Add the steamed soy milk scooping the foam to add to the top. Enjoy!
Frothing Wand Method
- Brew coffee or prepare espresso according to your machine's directions.
- Add the cold soy milk to a small pitcher or jar. Add the vanilla extract and maple syrup. Place the frothing wand into the pitcher and hold it at an angle. Place the wand just below the top of the milk. Turn the wand on, keeping it towards the edge of the pitcher. Move the pitcher slowly in a circle, and then up and down. When the milk creates small bubbles and doubles in size it is ready.
- Pour the espresso shots or strong coffee into a mug. If using coffee, pour into the mug about ⅔ of the way full. Add the steamed soy milk scooping the foam to add to the top. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use fresh and cold soy milk before frothing.
- It’s best to use unsweetened soy milk, and add your own sweetener to your preferred taste.
- A soy creamer is also an option. It will have a richer texture.
- If possible use espresso rather than brewed coffee. Espresso has bold and complex flavors that when paired with the creaminess of the milk provide a nice balance.
- The best way to froth the milk is to use a milk frother or a frothing wand. This method will create the smallest bubbles in your milk.
Sophia
Yum, this was delicious and easy. I used some sugar-free vanilla syrup I had in mine and it tasted just like my local coffee shop (but so much cheaper!). Thanks for the recipe!
Sharon
This soy latte is so easy to make right at home and tastes even better than the coffee shop lattes.