Cold Foam Customizations
I’m a cold coffee drinker year-round. No matter the weather, I will always prefer something over ice to something hot. Because of that, sometimes I feel like I’m missing out on the warm and cozy Starbucks beverages that tend to appear during the cold months. Oppositely, sometimes in summer I want to sip on a refreshing cold brew instead of indulging in a blended drink.
All of that aside, I never want to miss out on the flavors each season brings. So a while back I started finding out ways to customize my Starbucks order to tailor cold brew more to my preferences. These are a few customizations that are simple for everyone—easy to order and easy to make. Keep in mind that product availability can vary so always be open to your barista’s suggestions; they know best!
Remember Dalgona Coffee? Brush up on that trend and try it here.
“These are a few customizations that are simple for everyone—easy to order and easy to make.”
A couple pro tips: You can get either classic Cold Brew or Nitro Cold Brew with any of these modifications added. On its own, you can order plain Cold Foam or Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam; the difference is the latter is richer and has the sweetness of vanilla already incorporated, great for indulging!
At home? There’s some tips and tricks at the end for making cold brew and cold foam right in your own kitchen.
Pistachio
A new seasonal flavor currently available (as of January 2021) for a limited time, this one grew on me fast. In a latte, pistachio is subtly sweet and has a buttery taste. And it’s great in my cold customization. Order it like this:
Grande Cold Brew with 2 pumps of vanilla
Add Cold Foam with pistachio syrup
Add Salted Brown Butter topping
Peppermint Mocha
If you didn’t know, peppermint is a year-round syrup at Starbucks. While the signature Peppermint Mocha combo is around for the holidays, peppermint can always be added to a drink. This might be my favorite custom drink:
Grande Cold Brew with 2 pumps of mocha
Add Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam with peppermint syrup
S’mores
A fun summer drink that’s been offered as a Frappuccino in years past, s’mores is a flavor that I’ve loved in everything from coffee to Oreos. While there’s no guarantee seasonal beverages return, here’s how I ordered it:
Grande Cold Brew with 2 pumps of milk chocolate
Add Cold Foam with marshmallow syrup
Add Graham Cracker topping
Cold Foam at Home
Pictured: Iced Vanilla Cold Foam Cappuccino
There’s nothing like pulling up to a Starbucks and getting that perfect drink made fresh, but sometimes cold foam magic of sorts can be done the homemade way.
To make Cold Foam:
Start with a coffee press, any size. Fill the press ¼ full with milk of choice (whole or 2% dairy works best, but you can try anything). Add a dash of flavor. This can be syrup, vanilla extract, or even a teaspoon of sugar. Place the top on the press and quickly plunge up and down for 30-60 seconds until the milk is frothy. Pour over your favorite cold brew or pour on top of ice with a float of espresso (shown here).