Cold foam is the easiest café trick to pull off at home. It is simply cream and a little milk whipped until soft and pourable, so it perches on top of your drink and slowly drifts down with every sip. Fold in some fresh strawberry and it turns the prettiest shade of pink.
What sets cold foam apart
Unlike steamed milk, it is whipped cold so it holds its shape over ice, and that splash of milk keeps it airy instead of dense like whipped cream. A handheld frother works wonders, but a jar with a tight lid and a good shake does the job too.
Fresh strawberry or a quick syrup
Simmering berries with a spoonful of sugar for a few minutes gives you the truest flavor and a natural blush of color. In a hurry? A tablespoon of good strawberry syrup blends right in.
Building the drink
Spoon a little strawberry sauce into the glass, add ice and cold milk or cold brew, then float the foam on top. A fresh berry on the rim and that first frothy sip make it feel like a treat.
Cool the strawberry mixture before frothing
If your strawberry component is heated during preparation, let it cool before combining it with the cold foam ingredients. Warm liquid can change the foam and melt the ice quickly.
Froth close to serving and pour the foam gently over the drink. Different dairy and plant-based products foam differently, so check whether your chosen product is suitable for frothing.
Can I make it without coffee?
Use the milk-based serving option for a coffee-free drink. It changes the flavor balance, so taste before adding extra sweetener. Check any additional flavoring ingredients if avoiding caffeine.
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Editorial note: RecipeLeaf has not independently kitchen-tested this recipe. Preparation times and yield are estimates; use visual doneness cues and applicable food-safety guidance. The featured image is an illustrative representation.