Skip the coffee shop and whip up a luxuriously creamy pistachio latte at home for a fraction of the price! Made with just five ingredients, it’s nutty, rich, and ready in minutes.
I love pistachio everything and often infuse it into recipes like pistachio macarons, pistachio eclairs, and cranberry pistachio biscotti.
So, when I first discovered a pistachio latte in Australia, I was instantly obsessed. (No, it’s not an Australian drink. I just happened to try it there for the first time!)
Sweet, nutty, and rich, they’re incredibly delicious! I knew I had to recreate it at home, and now it’s my absolute favorite way to enjoy my morning coffee.
Why you’ll love this recipe
It turns out it’s not hard to make a pistachio latte at home, especially if you have an espresso machine. If you don’t have an espresso machine (I don’t!), keep on reading, as I’ve shared other ways to make this latte just as good!
- Flavor – Creamy and sweet, every sip offers a nutty taste with deliciously rich, buttery notes.
- Simple – Just heat your milk, combine the ingredients, and enjoy. From start to finish, you only need about five minutes.
- Versatile – My favorite thing about making pistachio lattes at home is that I can adjust the ingredients, adding more coffee, and adjusting the sweetness to suit my preferences on any given day.
Pair your latte with a slice of ham and cheese quiche or a cherry cheese danish for the perfect morning!
Key Ingredient Notes
- Milk – You can use any kind of milk. I’ve used whole milk and almond milk. 2% milk also works, and so does any dairy-free milk.
- Pistachio paste – I use my unsweetened homemade pistachio paste, but store-bought works just as well. Choose unsweetened version, like this one.
- Sweetened condensed milk adds sweetness and creates a thicker, creamier consistency. Be careful not to confuse condensed milk with evaporated milk! While they are similar, evaporated milk doesn’t contain any added sugar.
- Espresso – Use any kind of regular or decaf brewed espresso you like best. If you don’t have an espresso machine, try this latte with coffee concentrate instead.
- Brown butter – This is optional, but I highly recommend including it! It adds an extra layer of rich, nutty flavor that makes this pistachio latte recipe the best you’ll ever taste.
How to make a pistachio latte recipe
If using it, make your brown butter before you begin and set it aside to cool slightly while you prepare the rest of the latte.
- Heat the milk in a microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat on the stove.
- Combine the hot milk, espresso, pistachio paste, sweetened condensed milk, and brown butter (if using) in a 2-cup liquid measuring cup.
- Blend the mixture with a handheld milk frother until frothy.
Skip frothing
If you don’t have a milk frother, don’t worry! You can just whisk the ingredients together, pulse them in a blender, or add them to a cup with a lid and give them a vigorous shake. Your latte won’t be quite as fluffy, but it will still taste great!
- Pour the latter into a cup.
- Garnish with crushed pistachios, if desired, and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Use a high-quality pistachio paste. If you’re not up for making DYI pistachio paste, this store-bought unsweetened 100% pistachio paste is perfect!
- Froth well. Take your time frothing the milk mixture. This ensures that all the ingredients blend evenly and that there are no clumps of pistachio paste in your latte.
- Adjust the sweetness. Sweetened condensed milk adds both sweetness and creaminess, but you can adjust the amount based on preference. This latte is on the less sweet side as written.
Pistachio Latte Variations
I love this recipe as-is, enjoying the nutty, indulgent flavor. However, if you want to switch it up, popular flavor variations include:
- Unsweetened cocoa powder or a splash of chocolate syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Using chai tea instead of espresso
- Unflavored or vanilla protein or collagen
FAQs
Yes! Mix the hot espresso with sweetened condensed milk, pistachio paste, and brown butter until well combined. And pour it over the milk with ice.
I love to enjoy this drink as a breakfast treat or an afternoon pick-me-up. It pairs well with any breakfast or snack. However, some of my favorite options include lemon creme puffs, almond yogurt cake, or a homemade croissant.
Yes, I’ve made this recipe with regular coffee, but I used 1 tablespoon of heavy cream instead of milk. I’ve also made it with coffee concentrate, following the recipe as written, but instead of 2 shots of espresso, I use 1-2 teaspoons of the coffee concentrate.
More Drink Recipes
Pistachio Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk Note 1
- 2 oz espresso shots
- 1 tablespoon (12 g) pistachio paste Note 2
- 1 tablespoon (18 g) sweetened condensed milk
- ½ tablespoon brown butter optional
Instructions
- Heat the milk in a microwave, or in a saucepan on the stove.
- In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup, combine hot milk, espresso, pistachio paste, sweetened condensed milk, and brown butter, if using. Using a handheld milk frother, blend the mixture until frothy.
- Pour the latte into a cup and garnish with pistachio, if desired.
Tips & Notes
Nutrition
