What is the best milk temperature for latte (What is the best temperature for making latte + more information)?

When making lattes at home, milk temperature is often the difference between a good and an unpleasant drink. So, what is the best milk temperature for lattes? Read on to find out.

The best milk temperature for a hot latte is between 140 and 155°F (60 and 68 °C). There is, however, no ideal milk temperature for iced lattes as it does not need to froth. I only learned this a few months ago when I wanted to recreate barista-quality lattes at home and avoid expensive coffee shop trips. For this reason, I found myself searching and experimenting, before finally settling on this range. Initially, I had tried making lattes, but only got bland-tasting outcomes. I wrote this article to share my findings on the correct milk temperatures for a perfect latte and perhaps save you a pretty penny, so keep reading.

What is the best temperature to add milk to your latte?

The best temperature to add milk to your hot latte is between 145 and 165°F (63 and 74°C). The ideal latte temperature is around 160°F (71°C). Latte temperatures beyond 165°F (74°C) can scorch the milk; any temperature below 145°F (63°C) would make the latte too chilly.

There is, however, no optimum temperature to add milk to an iced latte. After being poured onto the ice, hot or cold espresso rapidly cools down. Most people pour in cold milk immediately after the espresso. It all depends on personal preferences. You need to experiment with different temperatures to determine what suits you the best. 

What is the best temperature of milk to add to hot latte?

For a hot latte, the best milk temperature is between 140 and 155 °F (60 and 68 °C). If the milk becomes too hot or boils, it won’t produce good froth.

If you want to create latte art, the usual guideline is that you shouldn’t heat the milk above 145°F (63°C). You get a small layer of milk froth at this point, which dissipates quickly. You can raise the temperature to 160°F (71°C) if you desire extra milk froth. A latte becomes foamier and has a thicker coating of froth from hotter milk.

Note, however, that milk starts to scald at temperatures higher than 170°F (76°C). Beyond this, milk will taste burned, become too bubbly to produce decent froth, and acquire brown off-colors.

What is the best temperature of milk to add to iced latte?

Although a latte is often a hot beverage, there is nothing that prevents you from drinking a cold one on a hot day. There is no perfect milk temperature for an iced latte. Any temperature around or below the milk storage temperature of 40°F (4°C) is acceptable. Use cooler milk and about 8 ice cubes per cup if you prefer your iced lattes very chilled.

FAQ SECTION

Can you add cold milk to hot latte?

You should never add cold milk to a hot latte. It ruins the coffee flavor.

Can you add hot milk to iced latte?

There is no need to add hot milk to an iced latte, as iced lattes don’t need frothed milk. Hot milk will just melt your ice.