Strawberry Latte

by Katrina Bahl

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Indulge in the perfect balance of sweetness and caffeine with this delicious strawberry latte recipe. This pink velvet macchiato coffee is perfect for a cozy morning at home or a mid-day pick-me-up. Enjoy a hot strawberry latte or an iced strawberry latte at home today!

Strawberry coffee uses fresh strawberries or strawberry milk, making for a stinkingly gorgeous beverage. Try our Strawberry White Hot Chocolate or Strawberry Milk Bubble Tea if you like pink drinks.

a bowl of strawberries and a glass of iced coffee and hot coffee next to each other

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The seasonal Dunkin’ Donuts pink velvet macchiato drink inspired this recipe. The great news is that by making this popular latte at home, you can customize every detail and enjoy it year-round.

Quick and easy recipe– Once you gather your ingredients for this strawberry latte recipe, it will take minutes to make from start to finish!
Only three ingredients– Strawberry milk or cream, espresso shots or strong coffee, and ice; that’s it! Add homemade whipped cream or a handheld frother to make cold foam.
Stunning results– Treat yourself to this gorgeous coffee or serve it at brunch. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or any Spring gathering. Your guests will swoon over this Pinterest-worthy drink, which will surely make the rounds on Instagram!

a person pouring coffee into a jar with strawberries and pink milk

Ingredients and Substitutions

You can use fresh, ripe strawberries to make homemade strawberry syrup. Add sweetener or a splash of maple syrup or vanilla extract to enhance the natural sweetness of the berries. Blend in a high-speed blender. Strain seeds if desired.

Alternatively, you can use strawberry syrup, which is found in most grocery stores, or splurge for red velvet syrup. The red velvet flavor differs by adding a hint of chocolate.

You can use any dairy that you prefer. Consider using half-and-half or creamer mixed with milk for a thick strawberry milk consistency. Make this a vegan latte using non-dairy milks; however, we only tested cow’s milk and cream for dairy. Popular options include almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and oat milk.

This recipe is most successful when using your favorite coffee beans. Of course, many stores carry great quality cold brew coffee. We use a Nespresso espresso machine for shots of espresso, but any strong brew will work. If preparing larger quantities of iced coffee, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

How to Make a Strawberry Latte

Scroll to the recipe card below for full instructions and an ingredient list. The prep time for iced and hot lattes is nearly the same.

pink layered iced coffee with strawberries next to it

Iced Strawberry Latte

Fill your glass with ice. Larger ice cubes will not melt as quickly as crushed ice, leaving your drink less diluted.
Pour approximately 6 ounces of strawberry milk (or milk with strawberry syrup mixture) over the ice.
Top with a cold brew coffee or a double shot of espresso.
Froth milk and add on top if desired.
Stir with a glass straw before enjoying!

a pink layered cup of coffee with a strawberry on top

Hot Strawberry Latte

Pour about 6 ounces of strawberry milk (or milk with strawberry syrup mixture) into your coffee mug.
Use your favorite coffee beans to brew strong coffee or an espresso machine for a double shot directly on top of the strawberry milk. You will need about 2-3 ounces of coffee in total.
Top with fresh whipped cream if desired.

two glasses of iced coffee with strawberries next to them

What is a Latte? What is a Macchiato?

A quick discussion about coffee-to-cream ratios and what is the difference.

Latte– 1 part espresso with 2 parts steamed milk, topped with foam

Machiatto– espresso with a dollop of foam

Latte Machiato– steamed milk with espresso shots poured on top

The proteins in milk are whey and casein, both of which help create the froth. The structure of the froth depends upon the structures of these proteins. Keep that in mind when choosing a dairy to froth or foam.