Sugar
1 cup
Drinks
Flavored coffee syrups and café lattes.
Make a small bottle of vanilla syrup, then use a spoonful in a warm espresso-and-milk latte.
- Makes
- About 1½ cups syrup; 1 latte
- Hands-on
- 10 minutes
- Total time
- 30 minutes including syrup cooling
- Effort
- Easy
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For About 1½ cups syrup; 1 latte.
Water
1 cup
Ingredient is drinking water; use household filtered drinking water.
Vanilla extract
1½ tablespoons
Brewed espresso
1 shot, about 40 ml
Semi-skimmed milk
175 ml
Amounts are what the recipe uses, not package sizes. Compare quantities and product details before buying.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Tools & supplies
Small saucepan
Dissolves the syrup.
Clean bottle
Stores cooled syrup.
Milk frother
Foams warm milk.
Espresso maker
Brews the coffee shot.
STEP BY STEP
Make it
Simmer
Bring sugar and water to a boil, then simmer gently for 5 minutes.
Cool
Let syrup cool, stir in vanilla and transfer to a clean covered bottle. Refrigerate.
Brew
Make one espresso shot and pour into a mug. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the syrup.
Froth
Warm the milk without boiling, then froth until lightly foamy.
Combine
Pour milk into the espresso, spoon foam over it and serve.
Good to know
- Refrigerate the syrup for up to two weeks.
- This guide starts with vanilla; other syrup flavors need their own recipe.
SAVE THE MAKING
Prefer it ready-made?
Compare these finished options with making your own.
Bottled vanilla latte
A finished coffee-and-milk drink; check whether refrigeration is required.
Links go to the selected products. Availability and delivery vary by location; check the current listing and package size before ordering.
Sources & further reading
Independent instructions informed by the sources below. No affiliation or endorsement is implied. These instructions have not been kitchen- or workshop-tested by DIBuyIt.
- Starbucks at Home: Vanilla Syrup — Syrup formula and two-week refrigerated storage.
- Starbucks at Home: Vanilla Latte — Single latte quantities and assembly.