Kat's Kitchen

Craving a Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte but want to enjoy it from the comfort of your home? Look no further! This easy recipe will show you how to make both the hot and iced versions of this popular drink. Whether you prefer it hot to warm you up or iced to cool you down, this recipe has got you covered.

How to Make an Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte

Ingredients:

• 2-3 shots blonde espresso
• 1-2 tablespoons Homemade Vanilla Syrup (or Torani Vanilla Syrup)
• 8 ounces 2% milk (or your choice of milk)
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Brew the Espresso: Start by brewing 2-3 shots of blonde espresso using your espresso machine or preferred method.
2. Add Vanilla Syrup: Pour 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup into a glass.
3. Combine Ingredients: Add the freshly brewed espresso to the glass with the vanilla syrup, then pour in the milk, and fill the glass with ice.
4. Mix and Serve: Stir to mix all the ingredients together and to chill the latte, and enjoy your refreshing Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte!

How to Make a Hot Blonde Vanilla Latte

Ingredients:

• 2-3 shots blonde espresso
• 1-2 tablespoons Homemade Vanilla Syrup (or Torani Vanilla Syrup)
• 8 ounces steamed 2% milk (or your choice of milk)

Instructions:

1. Brew the Espresso: Start by brewing 2-3 shots of blonde espresso using your espresso machine or preferred method.
2. Combine Vanilla Syrup and Milk: Pour 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup into a milk frothing pitcher along with 8-10 ounces of cold milk.
3. Steam the Milk: Steam the milk until it’s hot and frothy. You can use an electric milk frother or the steam wand on your espresso machine.
4. Combine and Enjoy: Add the freshly brewed espresso to your favorite coffee mug, and then pour the steamed milk into the mug. Enjoy your cozy Hot Blonde Vanilla Latte!

What Makes It Blonde?

The term “blonde” in a coffee sense simply means the beans are a light roast.

A blonde roast is a lighter roast coffee which tends to have less intense flavor, higher acidity, and higher caffeine than medium or dark roast coffees.

Since this drink is a Blonde Vanilla Latte, it means it is a latte with vanilla syrup, and uses “blonde” or a light roast espresso.

How Can I Make Espresso At Home?

There are five ways to make espresso at home:

• Instant Espresso Powder
• Nespresso Machine
• Moka Pot
• Aeropress
• Espresso Machine

See my 5 Ways To Make Espresso At Home blog post for step by step instructions of each espresso making method!

Best Blonde Roast Espresso To Use?

My absolute favorite blonde espresso is the Press Coffee Spitball.

These beans are absolutely delightful. They have strawberry, chocolate, creamy notes. Also, they are roasted to order, so you get them at peak freshness. I guarantee, if you are a Starbucks blonde roast lover, you will fall in love with these beans/grounds. They are worth every penny!

The Press Coffee Spitball are great if you have an espresso machine, an Aeropress, or a Moka Pot to make espresso!

Best Blonde Roast Nespresso Pods

If you’re a Nespresso user, my favorite Nespresso pods for this recipe are the Nespresso Double Espresso Dolce Pods. **Note, these are for the Vertuo line.

I find these pods are sweet and light, and very similar to a blonde roast espresso. Note, these are a double espresso pod so they are TWO shots of espresso each. I recommend using 2 pods for this recipe, and keeping everything else the same for a perfect Blonde Vanilla Latte at home!

Do They Have Blonde Instant Coffee Powder?

Yes they do! My favorite blonde instant espresso is the Nescafe Gold Roast Instant Coffee Powder. For a double shot of espresso, mix together:

• 1/2 tablespoon instant espresso powder
• 2.5 ounces warm water

Once you have your double shot of espresso, add your vanilla syrup and milk!

What Ratios Does Starbucks Use?

I like my lattes to be a bit more coffee tasting than milky tasting, so my ratios are a slightly different from Starbucks. If you want to most accurately replicate the Starbucks ratios for a blonde vanilla latte, follow these ratios:

ICED BLONDE VANILLA LATTE

	TALL	GRANDE	VENTI
SYRUP	3 PUMPS (1.5 TBSP)	4 PUMPS (2 TBSP)	6 PUMPS (3 TBSP)
ESPRESSO SHOTS	1	2	3
MILK	8 OUNCES	10 OUNCES	12 OUNCES
ICE	TO TOP OF CUP	TO TOP OF CUP	TO TOP OF CUP

HOT BLONDE VANILLA LATTE

	SHORT	TALL	GRANDE	VENTI
SYRUP	2 PUMPS (1 TBSP)	3 PUMPS (1.5 TBSP)	4 PUMPS (2 TBSP)	6 PUMPS (3 TBSP)
ESPRESSO SHOTS	1	1	2	2
STEAMED MILK	6 OUNCES	8 OUNCES	10 OUNCES	12 OUNCES

What is a “Shot” of Espresso?

A common espresso term you’ll see a lot is a “shot” of espresso. When you brew espresso using an espresso machine, the liquid that comes out of the machine is considered a shot, since the machine pushes out the liquid at high pressure.

• A single shot or one shot of espresso is roughly 1.25 ounces of liquid.
• A double shot is roughly 2.5 ounces of liquid.
• A tripe shot is roughly 3.75 ounces of liquid.
• A quad shot is roughly 5 ounces of liquid.

How To Steam Milk For a Hot Latte

To steam milk at home, you have a few options:

1. Steam Wand: If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand attached to it, watch this Milk Steaming Video Tutorial for how to steam milk! You simply add milk to a milk frothing pitcher, insert the tip of the steam wand into the milk, and create air bubbles, heat and texture to create perfect, velvety steamed milk at home!
2. Electric Milk Frother: Simply add your vanilla syrup and your milk to an electric milk frother, and select the hot setting. The milk frother will heat the milk as well as create a thick and foamy texture. The texture will be a little different than a. typical steam wand, but it’s very similar and pleasant, and a great option if you don’t have an espresso machine with a steam wand.
3. Handheld Milk Frother: Add cold milk to a large coffee mug and place the mug in the microwave for 60 seconds. Alternatively, you can heat up milk in a pot on the stove until warm, just make sure to constantly stir it so it doesn’t burn. Once your milk is warm, add in your vanilla syrup, and then insert a handheld milk frother into the warm milk. Froth the mixture until the milk doubles in size and becomes bubbly and frothy, and you have steamed milk for your hot latte!

More Recipes You May Enjoy

Helpful Tips

• Adjust the Sweetness: Customize the sweetness level by adding more or less Torani Vanilla Syrup to your taste.
• Milk Options: Feel free to use any type of milk you prefer. Almond, soy, oat, and regular dairy milk all work well in this recipe.
• Espresso Shots: For a stronger coffee flavor, add an extra shot of espresso.
• Add a Topping: Add a little extra flair to your Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte by adding Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam, whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or some caramel drizzle.

Shop This Recipe