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Cold Foam

This creamy, velvety cold foam topping transforms any iced coffee into something that feels like a treat. Made with just two ingredients in about 90 seconds, it sits on your drink like a cloud and slowly melts into the coffee below, creating layers of flavor with every sip.
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Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Drinks and Beverages
Cuisine: American
Calories: 25
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 1/2 cup nonfat milk or 2% milk very cold
  • 1 tablespoon superfine sugar or 1 tablespoon simple syrup optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
For Sweet Cream Cold Foam Variation
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream very cold
  • 1/4 cup 2% milk very cold
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup or 2 teaspoons superfine sugar plus 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

  • Handheld milk frother
  • Tall, narrow cup or jar
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Spoon for scooping foam

Method
 

  1. Place your frothing cup or jar in the freezer for 5 minutes while you gather ingredients. A cold vessel helps maintain the low temperature that keeps foam stable.
  2. Pour exactly 1/2 cup of cold milk into your chilled cup. Fill the cup no more than one third full, as the milk will expand significantly during frothing.
  3. Add your superfine sugar or simple syrup to the cold milk now, before frothing. Stir briefly with a spoon to begin dissolving the sweetener into the liquid.
  4. Add vanilla extract or any other liquid flavorings to the milk mixture now. Use a light hand, as flavors concentrate in foam and can easily overpower the drink below.
  5. Submerge your handheld milk frother into the milk at a slight angle, with the whisk head fully below the surface. Position it just off center in the cup to create a vortex effect.
  6. Turn on the frother and hold it steady, letting the vortex do the work. Move the frother slowly up and down through the milk in small movements of about half an inch.
  7. Continue frothing for 30 to 45 seconds total until the milk has approximately doubled in volume. The foam should look thick and creamy, not thin and bubbly.
  8. Turn off the frother and lift it slowly from the foam. Tap the cup gently on the counter 2 to 3 times to pop any large surface bubbles.
  9. Let the foam rest for 15 to 20 seconds before spooning onto your drink. This brief rest allows the foam to stabilize and any remaining liquid to settle to the bottom.
  10. Use a spoon to gently scoop the foam from the top and place it onto your iced coffee or cold drink. Start from the edges and work toward the center for the thickest foam.

Notes

For the most stable foam that lasts the longest, add a tiny pinch of xanthan gum (less than 1/8 teaspoon) to your milk before frothing. This is the secret coffee shops use to make foam that holds for 10 minutes or more. Cold foam should be made fresh because it begins breaking down within 10 minutes.