The Best Espresso and Milk Drinks (With Recipes You Can Make at Home)

Espresso and milk—two simple ingredients, endless possibilities. From silky lattes to bold cortados, espresso-based milk drinks are a cornerstone of coffee culture worldwide. Whether you like your coffee creamy, strong, foamy, or sweet, there’s a drink for you.

So today, for something different, we're going to provide you with some ideas of drinks you can make at home.  Of course, we can also provide the beans, both regular and decaf.

1. Espresso & Milk - Caffè Latte

Smooth, mellow, and creamy

What it is:
A latte is made with one shot of espresso and a generous amount of steamed milk, finished with a light layer of foam. It's smooth, balanced, and customizable—perfect for adding syrups or flavor infusions.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso (1 oz / 30 ml)
• 6–8 oz steamed milk
• Optional: flavor syrup (vanilla, hazelnut, caramel)

How to Make It:

1. Brew one shot of espresso and pour it into your mug.
2. Steam your milk until hot and slightly foamy.
3. Pour the milk into the espresso, holding back the foam with a spoon.
4. Spoon a little foam on top. Add syrup if desired.

Try it iced: Use cold milk and espresso over ice for a refreshing iced latte.

2. Espresso & Milk - Cappuccino

Bold and foamy with equal parts magic

What it is:
A classic cappuccino features equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. It’s stronger than a latte and has a rich, velvety texture with a frothy top.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso
• 2 oz steamed milk
• 2 oz milk foam

How to Make It:

1. Pull your espresso shot into a small cup.
2. Steam and froth milk until it doubles in volume.
3. Pour steamed milk into the espresso, then top with a thick layer of foam.
4. Optional: dust with cinnamon or cocoa powder.

3. Espresso & Milk - Flat White

Strong, creamy, and smooth—an Aussie favorite

What it is:
Originating in Australia and New Zealand, the flat white is made with ristretto espresso and steamed milk with little to no foam. It’s like a stronger, smoother latte.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot ristretto espresso (more concentrated than regular espresso)
• 4 oz steamed milk (microfoam, not frothy)

How to Make It:

1. Brew a shot of ristretto espresso (use less water).
2. Steam your milk to a creamy consistency with fine bubbles.
3. Pour the milk into the espresso without creating a large foam cap.

4. Espresso & Milk - Macchiato

A bold espresso kissed with foam

What it is:
The word "macchiato" means "stained" in Italian. A macchiato is espresso “stained” with a dollop of milk foam—ideal for those who like strong coffee with just a hint of milk.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso
• 1–2 tsp milk foam

How to Make It:

1. Brew a shot of espresso.
2. Froth a small amount of milk until it’s very foamy.
3. Place a spoonful of foam directly on top of the espresso.

Modern twist: The “latte macchiato” flips the method—milk first, then espresso, for a layered effect.

5. Espresso & Milk - Cortado

Balanced and bold, with just enough milk

What it is:
A cortado is a Spanish-style drink made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk. It tones down espresso’s sharpness while preserving its strength.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso
• 1 oz steamed milk (no foam)

How to Make It:

1. Brew a shot of espresso into a small glass.
2. Steam a small amount of milk—warm, not frothy.
3. Gently pour it over the espresso.

Pro tip: Use a Gibraltar glass for the classic presentation.

6. Espresso & Milk - Mocha (Caffè Mocha)

Espresso meets chocolate

What it is:
The mocha is a sweet treat that combines espresso, chocolate syrup, and steamed milk—like a grown-up hot chocolate with a caffeine boost.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso
• 1 tbsp chocolate syrup or cocoa powder
• 6 oz steamed milk
• Optional: whipped cream or chocolate shavings

How to Make It:

1. Add chocolate syrup to your cup.
2. Brew espresso over the chocolate and stir.
3. Steam the milk and pour it into the cup.
4. Top with whipped cream or cocoa dust for extra indulgence.

7. Espresso & Milk - Iced Latte

Cool, creamy, and endlessly customizable

What it is:
An iced latte is just espresso over ice with cold milk. Simple, refreshing, and great for hot days.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso
• 1 cup ice
• 6 oz cold milk

How to Make It:

1. Brew espresso and let it cool slightly.
2. Fill a glass with ice.
3. Pour espresso over the ice, then add cold milk.
4. Stir and sweeten as desired.

Flavor boost: Add caramel, vanilla, or cinnamon syrup.

Bonus: Choosing the Right Milk

The type of milk you use affects texture, taste, and foam. Here’s a quick guide:

Final Sips

Espresso and milk are a match made in coffee heaven. Whether you like it bold and foamy like a cappuccino, smooth like a latte, or daring like a macchiato, there’s a drink for every taste and mood.

With just a few tools and the right technique, you can skip the café and enjoy your favorite espresso and milk drinks at home. Try out different recipes, experiment with milk types, and most importantly (like experimenting with making your own pour overs) —enjoy the process!

Ready to Make Your Perfect (or imperfect - we all start there!) Cup?

If you're serious about crafting café-quality drinks at home, make sure you're using fresh, high-quality espresso beans. Explore our selection of organic, Fairtrade espresso roasts.

So give it a run, it's a good day to have a good day and a good day to try something new, like making your own espresso and milk drink.  None of us get it perfect the first time, but there's needs to be a first cup to get to the perfect cup.