Honey Latte
Cozy up with this rich and creamy Honey Latte. Lightly sweetened and sprinkled with just a bit of cinnamon, this drink will warm you from the inside out!
Plus, learn how to make lattes without an espresso maker!
Dreamy Creamy Honey Lattes
Is a Honey Latte really just an excuse for me to drink warm milk and honey? Yes, it is, and I’m not ashamed of that.
Warm honey milk is a gift from the heavens. I mean, have you ever smelled steamed milk? It instantly transports me to a cozy chair surrounded by old books. Add a little espresso (decaf for me, because I’m a sensitive Sally who can’t sleep if she has caffeine), honey, and cinnamon, and you’ve got the ultimate cozy drink.
Today, I’ll be sharing how I make my favorite rich and creamy winter latte, including tips on how to make espresso without an espresso machine and how to adjust milk and sweetness levels to craft your own perfect Honey Latte.
What’s the difference between lattes and cappuccinos (and does it really matter)?
Before we dive in, let’s chat a little bit about what a latte actually is, and how it’s different from a cappuccino.
Both drinks are made with espresso, which are measured in shots. A standard shot of espresso is 1.5 ounces.
Lattes are typically made by combining espresso and steamed milk at a 1:3 ratio, meaning for 1.5 ounces of espresso (equivalent to 1 shot), you’d need 4.5 ounces of steamed milk, or a generous ½ cup. I always double this, because momma needs more than 6 ounces of a latte in the morning.
Cappuccinos are made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam, so 1 shot of espresso would be combined with 1.5 ounces of steamed milk and 1.5 ounces of milk foam.
Note: coffee drinks are measured by weight (ounces) not volume (cups). Since most of us in the U.S. use cup measurements, I’ve included both ounces and cups in the recipe below.
Now that we’ve got all the official ratios out of the way, you can forget about them. They’re a nice guideline, but the fun thing is, when you make a drink at home, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
For me, a latte at a 1:3 ratio is a tad too milky, so I use less milk. You’ll see that reflected in this honey latte recipe. You might want to use even less milk for a stronger latte
When you’re your own barista, you get to make your own perfect drink.
Here’s What You’ll Need
- Strong brewed coffee or espresso– We love to grind our own coffee (this Oxo coffee grinder is excellent), but you can use your favorite whole bean or ground coffee. We use an Aeropress to make excellent concentrated coffee (more on that below).
- Milk– I usually use 2% milk at home, but for a super rich and creamy latte, choose whole milk.
- Honey Syrup– This 2-ingredient syrup is super easy to make and incorporates into drinks much easier than straight honey.
- Cinnamon– Totally optional, but a little sprinkle of cinnamon goes so well with a honey latte!
Helpful Tools
We get a little more bougee with our coffee making each year. Here are some tools that might enhance your at-home-barista experience, but aren’t 100% necessary.
- Coffee grinder– We love this Oxo conical burr coffee grinder. Nothing beats the smell or quality of fresh ground beans!
- Aeropress– This is our tool of choice for making smooth concentrated coffee at home. It tastes the closest to espresso without dropping $600(!!) on an espresso machine.
- Milk steamer/frother– An automatic steamer and frother saves you a bit of time, but you can just as easily steam milk on the stove and use a $10 frother like this one.
How to Make a Honey Latte
- Heat 1 cup of milk on the stove top until steaming. Do not boil. Alternatively, place the milk in a jar in the microwave and microwave for about 1 minute, or until steaming.
- Stir in honey and salt. Use a milk frother to froth the milk until foamy, if desired.
- Add two shots of espresso or 3-4 ounces very strong brewed coffee into a mug. Pour the milk mixture over top.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!
How to Make Honey Lattes without an Espresso Maker
If you don’t have an espresso machine (me neither!), you have a couple of options.
- First, you can just brew a very strong cup of coffee to use for the espresso. You might want to add more coffee than the suggested 3 ounces.
- Second, and this is our personal favorite, is to use an Aeropress. An Aeropress makes a concentrated coffee by using the pressure of your hand to force coffee through a thin paper filter directly into a cup.
In our opinion, it makes the smoothest coffee and tastes the closest to espresso without actually being espresso. It’s also extremely affordable!
To make espresso with an Aeropress:
- Add two Aeropress scoops of ground coffee to the Aeropress (Make sure it’s lined with a filter!).
- Heat water to just under boiling (about 205 degrees). Pour water over the coffee in the Aeropress to about the 2 line. Allow it to sit for about 5 seconds, then stir for about 15-20 seconds.
- Place the plunger in the Aeropress and force it down with the palm of your hand. You’re left with a smooth, concentrated coffee with a delightful crema on top.
Alternatives and Adjustments
- Make a dairy free honey latte by substituting oat milk for the cow’s milk. Oat milk makes a really creamy latte, just be aware that you may need to adjust the sweetener if you’re using sweetened oat milk.
- If you don’t want to bother with the honey syrup, lower the sweetener to 1-2 teaspoons of straight honey.
- Make a Honey Cappuccino by combining 3 ounces espresso, 3 ounces steamed milk, and 3 ounces milk foam.
- Use less milk for a stronger latte with a more concentrated coffee flavor.
More Coffee Shop Drinks to Make at Home
- Matcha Latte
- Homemade Tea Lattes
- Vanilla Iced Coffee with Coconut Milk
- Chai Tea Concentrate for Lattes
- Bailey’s Irish Coffee
- Homemade Hot Chocolate
Honey Latte
Rich and creamy honey sweetened lattes are sprinkled with cinnamon for an extremely cozy and delicious drink.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces (generous ⅓ cup) espresso or strong concentrated coffee
- 6-9 ounces (¾-generous 1 cup) milk, cows or oat milk preferred
- 1 Tablespoon honey syrup
- Teeny pinch sea salt
- Sprinkle of cinnamon, optional
Instructions
- Heat 1 cup of milk on the stove top until steaming. Do not boil. Alternatively, place the milk in a jar in the microwave and microwave for about 1 minute, or until steaming.
- Stir in honey and salt. Use a milk frother to froth the milk until foamy, if desired.
- Add two shots of espresso or 3-4 ounces very strong brewed coffee into a mug. Pour the milk mixture over top.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!
Notes
Adjust sweetness and milk levels to make your drink as sweet and strong as you like! If you don't have honey syrup, lower the sweetener to about 2 teaspoons honey.
Oat milk can be used to make a dairy free honey latte.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 165Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 117mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 3gSugar: 22gProtein: 8g
Please note nutritional information for my recipes is calculated by a third party service and provided as a courtesy to my readers. For the most accurate calculation, I always recommend running the numbers yourself with the specific products you use.