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If you love trying new coffee recipes at home, this Smoked Latte Recipe is such a fun one to make.
It starts with two shots of espresso and your favorite syrup, then the espresso is frothed and smoked with oak or hickory wood chips. Once it has a subtle smoky flavor, you add cold milk and ice for an iced latte.
I especially love making this as an iced latte in the fall. Looking for more cozy fall drinks? Check out these seasonal favorites from the blog, including homemade Pumpkin Spice Maple Syrup, a refreshing Creamy Apple Cider Slushie, and a rich Pumpkin Cookie Butter Breve. There’s something delicious for everyone!
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Why You’ll Love This Smoked Latte
There are plenty of coffee recipes you can make at home, but this one is a little different.
It’s simple. You only need a few ingredients and a cocktail smoker.
It’s fun to make. Watching the smoke fill your glass is part of what makes this coffee so enjoyable.
It has a unique flavor. Smoking the espresso adds a subtle smoky flavor that you won’t get from a traditional latte.
It’s easy to customize. Use maple, vanilla, brown sugar, or another syrup you love.
You can make it hot or iced. Both versions are delicious, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this smoked latte.
Espresso
You’ll need 2 shots of espresso for one latte. If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can use strongly brewed coffee instead.
Syrup
You’ll need 2 tablespoons of syrup. Maple syrup is one of my favorite options for this recipe because its warm, slightly sweet flavor pairs so well with the smoky espresso. You can also use vanilla syrup, brown sugar syrup, or your favorite homemade coffee syrup.
Milk
You’ll need ¾ cup of milk. Whole milk makes a rich and creamy latte, but you can use any milk you prefer. Oat milk, almond milk, and other dairy-free options work well too.
Ice
If you’re making an iced smoked latte, you’ll need ice.
Wood Chips
The wood chips are what give this latte its smoky flavor. I recommend using oak or hickory wood chips. Oak gives a smooth, mild smoky flavor, while hickory has a stronger, more noticeable smokiness. I like this variety pack since it gives you different options to experiment!
Cocktail Smoker
You’ll also need a small cocktail smoker, the kind commonly used to smoke drinks like an Old Fashioned. The smoker should fit over the top of your drinking glass so the smoke can collect inside.
How to Make a Smoked Latte
The process is simple, and once you’ve made it once, you’ll probably have it memorized.
1. Add the syrup
Start by adding 2 tablespoons of syrup to the bottom of the cup you’re going to use for your latte.
I recommend using the same cup for brewing, frothing, and smoking the espresso. This keeps the process simple and means you don’t have to transfer the coffee to another glass.
2. Brew the espresso
Brew 2 shots of espresso directly over the syrup.
The hot espresso will warm the syrup and help it blend together.
Give the espresso and syrup a quick stir.
3. Froth the espresso
Use a handheld milk frother to froth the espresso and syrup together.
You only need to froth it for a few seconds. The goal isn’t to create a huge amount of foam, but simply to combine the syrup with the espresso and give it a little texture.
4. Smoke the espresso
Now comes the fun part.
Place your cocktail smoker over the top of the cup.
Add a small amount of oak or hickory wood chips to the smoker.
Light the wood chips according to the instructions for your smoker, then close the top.
Let the espresso smoke for 1–2 minutes.
The smoke will collect around the espresso and give it a subtle smoky flavor.
I recommend starting with just 1 minute of smoking time. If you want a stronger smoky flavor, you can let it smoke for another minute.
5. Add the milk
Once the espresso has finished smoking, remove the smoker.
For an iced smoked latte, fill the glass with ice and pour in ¾ cup of milk.
Give everything a gentle stir. For a hot smoked latte, warm ¾ cup of milk and pour it into the smoked espresso. You can froth the milk first if you want a little extra foam. And that’s it! Your smoked latte is ready to enjoy.
How Long Should You Smoke the Espresso?
I recommend smoking the espresso for 1–2 minutes.
You don’t need to smoke it for a long time to get the flavor. In fact, too much smoke can overpower the coffee.
If this is your first time making a smoked latte, start with 1 minute.
After you add the milk, taste your latte. If you’d like more smoky flavor next time, you can increase the smoking time slightly.
Oak vs. Hickory Wood Chips
Both oak and hickory are great choices for this latte, but they have slightly different flavors. Oak has a smoother, more subtle smoky flavor. It’s a good place to start if you’re new to smoking drinks. Hickory has a stronger, deeper smoky flavor. If you really enjoy the flavor of smoked foods and want the smoke to be more noticeable, try hickory. You can experiment with both to find which one you like best.
Tips for Making a Smoked Latte
Don’t use too many wood chips.
A little goes a long way when you’re smoking a drink. You only need enough wood chips to create the smoke that will collect inside your glass.
Start with less smoke.
It’s much easier to add more smoky flavor than it is to take it away. Start with about 1 minute of smoking time and increase it from there if needed.
Use a strong espresso.
Since you’re adding ¾ cup of milk, two shots of espresso give you a nice coffee flavor without it getting lost.
Don’t skip the syrup.
The sweetness helps balance the smoky flavor. Maple syrup is especially good with oak or hickory smoke, but vanilla and brown sugar are also delicious.
FAQs
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Ready to make it?
Print the recipe below and enjoy a smoky, cozy latte made right at home with espresso, syrup, milk, and your favorite wood chips.
Smoked Latte Recipe
A smoky twist on a classic latte made with espresso, your favorite syrup, creamy milk, and oak or hickory wood chips.
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso
- 2 tablespoons syrup of your choice
- 3/4 cup milk
- ice
- Small amount of oak or hickory wood chips
Instructions
- Add syrup. Add 1 tablespoon of your favorite syrup to the bottom of your serving glass.
- Brew espresso. Brew 2 shots of espresso directly over the syrup. Stir to combine.
- Froth. Use a milk frother to froth the espresso and syrup together until slightly foamy.
- Smoke. Place a cocktail smoker over the top of the glass. Add a small amount of oak or hickory wood chips to the smoker. Light the chips according to your smoker's instructions and close the top. Let the espresso smoke for 1–2 minutes.
- Add milk. Remove the smoker. For an iced latte, fill the glass with ice and add ¾ cup milk. For a hot latte, warm the milk before adding it to the smoked espresso.
- Enjoy. Give the latte a gentle stir and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 176Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 123mgCarbohydrates: 30gSugar: 12gProtein: 7g
Final Thoughts
This Smoked Latte Recipe is such a fun way to make your coffee at home.
With just two shots of espresso, a tablespoon of syrup, milk, and a little smoke from oak or hickory wood chips, you can turn a simple latte into something that feels like a coffee shop treat.
I love that the smoking process doesn’t make the recipe complicated. You simply brew the espresso over the syrup, froth it, smoke it for a minute or two, and then add your milk.
The smoky flavor is subtle but noticeable, and it pairs especially well with maple and other warm flavors.
If you already have a cocktail smoker at home, give this recipe a try the next time you’re making your morning coffee.
It might just become your new favorite way to make an iced latte.
