17 Coffee Shop Drinks to Make at Home
Most coffee shop drinks follow the same simple pattern: 2 shots of espresso, about 1 cup of steamed or cold milk, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of a syrup or sauce. Change the syrup and you change the drink. That is why a home coffee bar with a milk frother and two or three homemade syrups can cover almost everything on a café menu.
Below are 17 coffee shop drinks to make at home, from everyday lattes to iced drinks, seasonal favorites and a few fun ones. Each one has the key amounts right here and a link to the full recipe with step-by-step photos. None of them need an espresso machine. Strong moka pot coffee or instant espresso works in every drink on this list.
What You’ll Need
Handheld milk frother – foams hot or cold milk in about 20 seconds
Stovetop moka pot – strong, espresso-like coffee with no machine
Cocktail shaker – for shaken espresso and espresso martinis
Glass syrup bottles with pumps – one pump per drink keeps flavors consistent
Tall iced coffee glasses – a 16 ounce glass fits most iced drinks here
Glass latte mugs – shows off layers and foam
Coffee Shop Drinks at a Glance
| Drink | Base | Flavor | Hot or iced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latte | 2 shots + 1 cup milk | Optional syrup | Both |
| Iced coffee | Double-strength brewed coffee | Simple syrup | Iced |
| Cold brew with cold foam | Cold brew concentrate | Vanilla sweet cream | Iced |
| Iced caramel macchiato | 2 shots + 1 cup milk | Vanilla syrup and caramel | Iced |
| Brown sugar shaken espresso | 2 shots + oat milk | Brown sugar syrup and cinnamon | Iced |
| Vanilla latte | 2 shots + 1 cup milk | Vanilla syrup | Both |
| Lavender latte | 2 shots + 3/4 cup milk | Lavender syrup | Both |
| Chai latte | Chai concentrate + milk | Spices | Both |
| Matcha latte | Matcha + milk | Sweetener or strawberry | Both |
| Pumpkin spice latte | 2 shots + 1 cup milk | Pumpkin and spice | Both |
| Peppermint mocha | 2 shots + 3/4 cup milk | Cocoa and peppermint | Both |
| Gingerbread latte | 2 shots + 1 cup milk | Gingerbread syrup | Both |
| White chocolate mocha | 2 shots + 1 cup milk | White chocolate sauce | Both |
| Eggnog latte | 2 shots + eggnog and milk | Nutmeg | Both |
| Espresso tonic | 2 ounces espresso + tonic | Citrus, optional | Iced |
| Whipped coffee | Instant espresso + sugar | Whipped topping | Iced |
| Espresso martini | Espresso + vodka + liqueur | Coffee liqueur | Cold |
Everyday Coffee Shop Classics
1. Latte
The drink everything else builds on: 2 shots of espresso and about 1 cup of steamed milk with a thin layer of foam. Whole milk gives the creamiest foam. Pour it over ice instead for an iced latte. Get the full latte recipe, including the no-machine method.
2. Iced Coffee
Brew double-strength coffee, using 4 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 8 ounces of water, and chill it. Pour 1 cup over 1 cup of ice with 1/4 cup of milk and 1 to 2 tablespoons of simple syrup. Brewing it strong keeps the ice from watering it down. See the easy iced coffee recipe for 8 variations.
3. Cold Brew with Sweet Cream Cold Foam
Make a cold brew concentrate at a 1 to 4 ratio (1 cup of coarse coffee to 4 cups of cold water) and let it steep in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. For the foam, froth 3 tablespoons of heavy cream, 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 1/2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup for 20 to 30 seconds, then spoon it on top. Here is how to make cold brew coffee at home and our sweet cream cold foam recipe.
4. Iced Caramel Macchiato
The order is what makes the layers: 2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup in the glass, then ice, then 1 cup of cold milk, then 2 hot shots of espresso poured slowly on top. Finish with a caramel drizzle and do not stir until you drink it. Get the full iced caramel macchiato recipe.
5. Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
Shake 2 shots of hot espresso with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and a handful of ice until frothy. Strain over fresh ice and top with about 3/4 cup of barista oat milk. Here is the brown sugar shaken espresso recipe and the brown sugar simple syrup that goes in it.
6. Vanilla Latte
Stir 2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup into 2 shots of espresso, then add 1 cup of steamed milk. Homemade vanilla syrup is 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and one batch sweetens about 12 lattes. Get the vanilla syrup for coffee recipe.
Flavored Lattes
7. Lavender Latte
Simmer 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water, then steep 2 tablespoons of culinary lavender in it for 15 to 20 minutes and strain. Use 1 tablespoon of that syrup with 2 shots of espresso and 3/4 cup of frothed milk. Always use culinary grade lavender. Get the lavender latte recipe.
8. Chai Latte
Mix equal parts spiced chai concentrate and hot frothed milk, about 1/2 cup of each. The concentrate is black tea simmered with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black pepper, and it keeps for about a week. Add 1 shot of espresso and it becomes a dirty chai. Get the chai latte recipe.
9. Matcha Latte (or Strawberry Matcha)
Whisk 1 teaspoon of sifted matcha with 2 ounces of water at about 175°F, then top with 6 ounces of milk and 1 to 2 teaspoons of sweetener. For the layered strawberry version, put mashed strawberries in the glass first, then ice, cold milk and the matcha. Get the matcha latte recipe.
Seasonal Coffee Shop Favorites
10. Pumpkin Spice Latte
Whisk 2 tablespoons of real pumpkin puree, 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice into 1 cup of hot milk, then pour it over 2 shots of espresso. Use plain pumpkin, not pie filling. Get the pumpkin spice latte recipe.
11. Peppermint Mocha
Stir 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract into 2 shots of hot espresso until smooth, then add 3/4 cup of steamed milk. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane. Get the peppermint mocha recipe.
12. Gingerbread Latte
Use 2 tablespoons of gingerbread syrup with 2 shots of espresso and 1 cup of steamed milk. The syrup is brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla simmered for about 10 minutes, and it keeps for about 2 weeks. Get the gingerbread latte recipe.
13. White Chocolate Mocha
Melt white chocolate chips with half-and-half, vanilla and a pinch of salt for a quick sauce. Use 2 tablespoons of it with 2 shots of espresso and 1 cup of steamed milk, then add whipped cream. The sauce keeps for up to a week. Get the white chocolate mocha recipe.
14. Eggnog Latte
Steam 1/2 cup of eggnog with 1/2 cup of milk and pour it over 2 shots of espresso, then grate a little nutmeg on top. Heat the eggnog gently, since it scorches and curdles faster than milk. Get the eggnog latte recipe. For more holiday ideas, see our Christmas coffee drinks.
Something a Little Different
15. Espresso Tonic
Fill a tall glass with ice and 4 ounces of cold tonic water, then slowly pour 2 ounces of cooled espresso over the back of a spoon so it floats on top. It is bright, fizzy and bittersweet, with no alcohol. Get the espresso tonic recipe and 6 variations.
16. Whipped Coffee
Whip 2 tablespoons each of instant espresso, sugar and hot water with a handheld frother for 2 to 3 minutes until it holds soft peaks. Spoon it over 1 cup of iced milk and stir before drinking. Equal parts is what makes it whip. It is one of our Nescafé Gold Espresso recipes.
17. Espresso Martini
For adults of legal drinking age: shake 2 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of coffee liqueur and 1 ounce of fresh espresso hard with ice, then strain into a chilled glass. The hard shake makes the foam. Get the espresso martini recipe, including a non-alcoholic option.
Make Three Syrups and Cover the Whole Menu
A batch of plain, vanilla and brown sugar syrup covers more than half of this list. All three start the same way: equal parts sugar and water heated until dissolved. Add vanilla extract or swap in brown sugar, then bottle and refrigerate. Our homemade coffee syrup recipe shows one base with 7 flavors, and the holiday coffee syrups cover the seasonal drinks. If you would rather buy them, a coffee syrup variety pack with pumps is the fastest way to start.
No Espresso Machine? Here Is What to Use
- Moka pot. Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup of moka pot coffee in place of 2 shots. See the best stovetop espresso makers.
- Instant espresso. Dissolve 2 teaspoons in 2 ounces of hot water for a double shot. It is also the base for whipped coffee.
- Strong brewed coffee. Brew at double strength and use 1/2 cup. It works best in flavored drinks where the syrup carries the taste.
If you plan to make these drinks every day, a home espresso machine pays you back in convenience. Our guide to the best home espresso machines is a good place to start, and a good milk frother is the next most useful tool.
Marcus’s Pro Tips
- Syrup goes in first. Stir syrup into hot espresso before the milk so it dissolves fully.
- Cool espresso for iced drinks. A minute or two of cooling keeps the ice from melting into a watery drink, except in a macchiato, where hot espresso makes the layers.
- Make coffee ice cubes. Freeze leftover coffee in a tray for iced drinks that never water down.
- Stop milk at about 150°F. Hotter milk tastes flat and loses its sweetness. A milk frothing thermometer takes out the guesswork.
- Prep on Sunday. One syrup, one batch of cold brew and one jar of chai concentrate set you up for the whole week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest coffee shop drink to make at home?
Iced coffee and a basic latte. Iced coffee needs only strong coffee, ice, milk and syrup. A latte needs espresso or strong coffee and frothed milk, which a handheld frother handles in seconds.
Can I make coffee shop drinks without an espresso machine?
Yes. Every drink on this list works with moka pot coffee, instant espresso or double-strength brewed coffee in place of the espresso shots.
What syrups should I make first?
Vanilla and brown sugar. Vanilla covers lattes, macchiatos and cold foam, and brown sugar covers shaken espresso and iced coffee.
What milk works best for coffee shop drinks?
Whole milk foams the creamiest. For dairy-free drinks, a barista-style oat milk foams better than regular oat or almond milk.
How do coffee shops get thick foam?
Cold milk, a steam wand or frother, and stopping before the milk gets too hot. Start with milk straight from the fridge and froth until it roughly doubles in volume.
Start with one syrup and the drink you order most often, then work through the list. For more ideas, browse our coffee bar ideas to set up a station that makes all of this easy.
Marcus Webb writes about home coffee for BrewElevate. He researches and compares brewing gear, beans and recipes so home brewers can make a better cup without overspending. His rule: if he wouldn’t be comfortable buying it himself, it doesn’t make the list.
