Cardamom Latte

This easy homemade cardamom latte recipe combines espresso, warm milk, honey, and fragrant ground cardamom for a cozy coffee drink that’s surprisingly simple to make at home. If you love lightly spiced coffee drinks, this cardamom latte is a delicious way to switch up your usual morning coffee.

A cardamom latte? Moi?! Well, I’m usually a pretty straightforward coffee gal. Normally iced. Always with a bit of sweetness with sugar or simple syrup and, if it’s hot or straight iced coffee, a splash of milk. That’s it. So when “fancy” drinks are offered on the menu, I usually read them out of interest and order my go to…

That was until cardamom started appearing on the specialty drink menus. Then I couldn’t resist. A cardamom latte sounds super fancy, but it’s actually very straightforward and adds plenty of flavor without turning your coffee into an overly sweet drink.

Cardamom Latte Recipe

I fell in love with cardamom a few years ago, never before understanding what it was. Whenever I have a new spice on my hands, I like to just close my eyes and smell it. More often than not, I immediately get images and flavors of familiar dishes that I never knew included the spice.

Cumin is the spice I associate most with the widest variety of foods and cuisines – Mexican, Indian, and even American on seared and roasted chicken!

Cardamom, however, was another fun discovery as I pictured chai tea, puddings, and pretty much everything with cinnamon (a funny association, I know).

Cinnamon is such a familiar flavor to me that I was excited to “taste” cardamom in all the same dishes and started adding it upon occasion. It isn’t sweet itself, but it is so easily paired with sweet flavors you almost think it is (just like cinnamon). You can see it in this cardamom cake and these cardamom cookies!

In this cardamom latte, it’s an ideal boost of flavor to the espresso and milk without making your coffee overwhelming or a dessert (as so many special coffee drinks are).

Sometimes with lattes, I also want a little less milk, so I can taste the coffee more OR if I’m enjoying it with food. I often order cappuccinos for just this reason. If you love the cardamom latte flavor profile but want a smaller drink or need that stronger coffee flavor, feel free to adjust the quantity of milk as necessary. It is your drink after all!

What Does a Cardamom Latte Taste Like?

Cardamom has a warm, fragrant flavor with subtle citrusy and floral notes. In a latte, it adds spice and complexity to the espresso without making the drink taste as sweet or heavy as many flavored coffee drinks. If you enjoy chai or cinnamon-spiced coffee, you’ll probably love cardamom in your latte.

How to Make a Cardamom Latte

1. Make the espresso. Brew 2–4 shots of espresso and stir in warm honey.
2. Prepare the cardamom milk. Whisk ground cardamom into the milk, then heat and froth.
3. Combine and serve. Pour the espresso into mugs, top with the frothed milk, and finish with a little cardamom.

How to Keep a Cardamom Latte From Being Gritty

Ground cardamom doesn’t completely dissolve in liquid, so you may notice some texture in your latte. For a smoother drink, try brewing the cardamom with the espresso rather than whisking it directly into the milk. The cardamom flavor will be a little more subtle, but you’ll avoid the gritty texture.

How to Make an Iced Cardamom Latte

To make an iced cardamom latte, follow the directions as written, but don’t warm and froth the milk. Add the espresso to the cold cardamom milk and pour over ice.

Want  something a little more indulgent? Try this eggnog latte or go all out with a homemade affogato!

And you should absolutely try this Iced Mexican Mocha

What to Have with Your Cardamom Latte?

I personally think this cardamom latte would pair nicely with a morsel. Why not a scone? These chocolate rolls would be ideal. But then cherry scones and champagne grape scones are both SOOO delicious! And savory scones for a treat might be a good balance with this latte.

Print Recipe

5 from 12 votes

Cardamom Latte

A delicious, homemade cardamom latte is the perfect solution to spicing up your morning coffee or a weekend treat. This drink is surprisingly simple and full of loads of delicious flavor!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: coffee, drinks, holidays

Servings: 2

Calories: 137kcal

Author: Luci Petlack

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 2 to 4 shots of espresso
• 2 teaspoons of honey or more to taste, warmed
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
• Extra ground cardamom for garnish

Instructions

• Whisk together the espresso and warm honey in a heatproof measuring cup with a pour spout. Pour an equal amount of the sweetened espresso into each of two serving mugs.
• Whisk the milk and the cardamom together and then froth and heat the milk using a milk frother. If your frother doesn’t have a heating mechanism simply warm the milk in the microwave before adding the cardamom, 30 to 45 seconds on high, until it reaches your desired temperature.
• Pour the frothed milk into the mugs with the espresso. Sprinkle with ground cardamom before serving.

Notes

Ground cardamom doesn’t completely dissolve in liquid, so you may notice some texture in your latte. For a smoother drink, try brewing the cardamom with the espresso rather than whisking it directly into the milk. The cardamom flavor will be a little more subtle, but you’ll avoid the gritty texture.

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Nutrition

Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 302mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 296IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 233mg | Iron: 0.3mg