Caramel Latte Recipes for Café Quality Drinks at Home

A caramel latte is one of the most comforting and classic coffee shop drinks you can make at home. With its silky milk, rich espresso, and sweet caramel flavor, it’s a treat that feels indulgent without being complicated. Whether you prefer a classic caramel latte, an iced caramel latte recipe, or a version made with cold brew coffee, you can create a café‑quality drink in your own kitchen using high‑quality Hawaiian coffee.

This guide walks you through several easy caramel latte recipes, each featuring Kauai Coffee that brings smooth, island‑grown flavor to every sip. You’ll learn how to make a caramel latte with brewed coffee, how to froth milk without special equipment, and how to customize your drink using dairy milks or oat milk.

Choosing the Best Coffee for a Caramel Latte

A caramel latte is only as good as the coffee you use. Because caramel is naturally sweet and buttery, it pairs beautifully with Hawaiian Coffee.

Here are a few Kauai Coffee options that work especially well:

Kauai Coffee Medium Roast – Smooth, balanced, and ideal for a classic caramel latte.

Estate Reserve Poipu Estate Espresso Roast – Delicate acidity and natural sweetness that complement caramel.

Estate Reserve Kauai Blue Mountain – Fruit-forward, smooth, and refined, excellent for a more luxurious latte.

Toasty Banana Nut Cream – Our 100% Hawaiian Coffee with a hint of added tropical banana flavor, combined with creamy vanilla and a hint of hazelnut.

Whether you’re using a shot or two of espresso, a cup of strong-brewed coffee, or cold brew, starting with 100% Hawaiian Coffee will make your caramel latte exceptional.

Classic Caramel Latte Recipe

This easy caramel latte is warm, comforting, and simple enough for everyday brewing. You can use store-bought caramel, caramel-flavored syrup, or caramel sauce, depending on what you have on hand. Each recipe makes one 12 ounce latte.

Ingredients

• 2 shots of espresso or ½ cup strong brewed coffee
• 1 cup milk (any dairy milk or oat milk works well)
• 1–2 tablespoons store-bought caramel syrup or caramel sauce
• Optional: whipped cream for topping

Instructions

1. Brew your espresso or strong coffee.
2. Warm the milk over medium heat until steaming or use a milk frother for a creamier texture.
3. Stir the caramel syrup or sauce into the hot coffee until fully mixed.
4. Pour the milk over the caramel‑coffee mixture.
5. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel if you like.

Homemade Caramel Sauce Latte

If you prefer a richer, deeper caramel flavor, making your own caramel takes the drink to another level. This recipe uses a quick stovetop caramel that blends beautifully with the milk and coffee.

Ingredients

• 2 shots of espresso or ½ cup of strongly brewed Poipu Estate Espresso Roast.
• 1 cup milk or oat milk
• 2 tablespoons homemade caramel

Quick Homemade Caramel

Makes one serving

•  ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

How to

1. Heat sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted and amber in color.
2. Stir in butter, then cream.
3. Cool slightly before using.

Instructions

1. Brew your coffee.
2. Add homemade caramel to the bottom of your mug.
3. Pour in the hot coffee and stir until smooth.
4. Froth or heat your milk and add it to the mug.
5. Finish with a light caramel swirl.

Iced Caramel Latte Recipe

When you want something refreshing, the iced version is just as easy and even more delicious with cold brewed coffee.

Ingredients

• ½ cup cold brewed Kauai Coffee or chilled brewed coffee
• 1 cup milk or oat milk
• 1–2 tablespoons caramel syrup
• Ice

Instructions

1. Add ice to a tall glass.
2. Add caramel syrup to cold brew coffee and pour over ice.
3. Top with milk and stir gently.
4. Optional: finish with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
   
5. Pour over ice.

Caramel Variations to Try

Caramel is endlessly adaptable, and changing the flavor of your caramel can transform your latte into something completely new. Whether you prefer something salty, floral, or tropical, these variations pair beautifully with the smooth, balanced flavor of Kauai Coffee.

Salted Caramel Latte

Salted caramel has more depth and contrast than regular caramel. It balances sweetness with a subtle savory edge that tastes great with Hawaiian Coffee.

How to Make It

Use the Classic Caramel Latte recipe and replace the caramel syrup with salted caramel sauce. If you’re making caramel at home, add a pinch of flaky sea salt after removing the caramel from the heat.

Best Coffee Pairings: Poipu Estate Espresso Roast or Kauai Coffee Medium Roast

Lavender Caramel Latte

Lavender caramel brings a soft, floral sweetness that feels calming and aromatic.

How to Make It

Warm your caramel sauce over low to medium heat and stir in ½ teaspoon of culinary lavender or a drop of lavender extract. Strain before using.

Best Coffee Pairings: Kauai Blue Mountain

Guava Caramel Latte

Guava caramel is a tropical twist that feels right at home with Hawaiian coffee.

How to Make It

Whisk 1 tablespoon of guava puree or guava jam into warm caramel sauce until smooth. Add a splash of hot water if needed to thin.

Best Coffee Pairings: Estate Reserve Peaberry and Polihale Sunset

Banoffee Caramel Latte

This recipe highlights one of our most distinctive and surprising flavored coffees – Toasty Banana Nut Cream. With its notes of tropical banana, creamy vanilla, and toasted hazelnuts, it’s the perfect base for a banoffee‑inspired caramel latte.

Ingredients

• ½ cup brewed Toasty Banana Nut Cream Coffee
• 1 cup milk or oat milk
• 1–2 tablespoons caramel sauce
• Whipped cream
• Optional: crushed graham crackers or a sprinkle of cinnamon

Instructions

1. Brew a strong cup of Toasty Banana Nut Cream Coffee.
2. Warm your milk over medium heat or froth until creamy.
3. Add caramel sauce to the bottom of your mug.
4. Pour in the hot coffee and stir until smooth.
5. Add the steamed milk.
6. Top with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle.
7. Finish with crushed graham crackers for a pie‑like finish.

Taste Paradise in Every Cup

Making a caramel latte at home is simple, satisfying, and even more delicious when you start with Kauai Coffee. From smooth Medium Roast to refined Estate Reserve selections, our coffees bring island‑grown flavor to every recipe.

Shop our full collection of 100% Hawaiian Coffee and bring café‑quality caramel lattes to your kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a caramel latte without espresso?

Yes. A cup of strong coffee made with Kauai Coffee Medium Roast works beautifully. You can also use cold brew for an iced version.

What’s the difference between caramel syrup and caramel sauce?

Caramel syrup is thinner and dissolves easily in hot or cold drinks. Caramel sauce is thicker and richer. Both work well in a caramel latte recipe.

Can I use oat milk or other dairy‑free milks?

Absolutely. Oat milk froths especially well and adds natural sweetness. Almond, soy, and coconut milk also work, though they may froth differently.