The summer season is upon us, and the warmer temperatures likely mean hot beverages are the last thing you want in your hand. You could whip up your basic iced coffee or cold brew to beat the heat. But we recommend thinking outside the box and sipping something a bit sweeter. Perhaps even go for something with a hint of chocolate?
That’s where this drink comes in. We know cold coffee beverages are summertime must-haves. So does international coffee giant Starbucks Coffee. That’s why the company introduced the chocolate cream cold brew. Between the robust chocolate taste and caffeine-induced energy boost it provides, this iced drink is the perfect summer beverage. And we’re going to teach you how to make it at home!
Meet the Chocolate Cold Brew That’s Taking Over the World
OK, so maybe the drink isn’t taking over the whole world, per se, but the chocolate cream cold brew is taking over the java world, and it has been since its introduction in spring 2022.
The nostalgic feel this drink gives, courtesy of the chocolate malt powder Starbucks uses to create the layer of chocolate sweet cream that tops it, makes it lovable. Malt flavoring is responsible for the deep, complex flavors you taste when you slurp a chocolate milkshake or pop a handful of malted milk ball candies into your mouth. It adds the same depth and complexity to the Starbucks chocolate cream cold brew.
Because the chocolate cream tastes rich, sweet, and not artificial, the cold drink has become quite the popular pick at Starbucks — so popular that it wouldn’t be shocking if your local Starbies struggled to keep ingredients to make it in stock.
Fortunately for all of us who like our cold brew coffee served with a hint of sweetness, it’s not hard to make this drink at home. So, even if Starbucks can’t get the job done or you’ve already bought coffee one too many times this week (no shame — we’re in the coffeehouse drive-thru a little too often, too), you can still get your chocolatey coffee fix.
About Cold Foam
Starbucks Coffee has topped its hot drinks with a layer of milk foam for years, but the cold drinks had to go without it. That is, until 2018 when the Seattle-based company added cold foam to its menu.
This smooth layer of bubbles occurs when non-fat milk or sweet cream is frothed cold instead of hot. Then, Starbucks customers can choose which cold drink they want a dollop of the stuff plopped onto. Now, you can enjoy a frothy chocolate version of cold foam, but other flavors include the super-popular vanilla sweet cream cold foam and cascara cold foam.
How to Make Cold Brew
Cold brew is the most important ingredient of this drink. So, before creating a homemade chocolate cream cold brew, be sure you’ve got some readily available. We’ve got a detailed guide to cold brewing you can check out here, but if you don’t feel like doing much extra reading, here’s the short version:
- Scoop coarse coffee grounds into a lidded airtight container, like a mason jar or cold brew maker, and pour cold water over them. (To find out how to measure coffee grounds, check out our guide to calculating the perfect coffee-to-water ratio.)
- Let the ground coffee and water mixture steep in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. The longer it steeps, the stronger your brew will be.
- When time is up, remove the container from the refrigerator, and use a mesh strainer or piece of cheesecloth to filter out the coffee grounds.
@roastycoffee Making this every day now #starbiesathome #coldbrew #coffeetok ♬ Angeleyes (Sped Up Version) – tuna (DAR+LING)
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Copycat Starbucks Chocolate Cream Cold Brew Recipe
You’ll Need:
- chocolate syrup
- chocolate milk
- creamer
- cold brew coffee
- vanilla syrup
- ice cubes
- two tall glasses
- milk frother
The Process:
Step 1
Start by pouring ice, cold brew, and a splash of vanilla syrup into one of your glasses. We always recommend drinking the freshest joe possible, whether enjoying it black or filling it with add-ins, so be sure to make a new batch of cold brew the night before you plan to replicate this Starbucks drink.
Step 2
In the second glass, pour a drizzle of chocolate syrup, creamer, and chocolate milk*. Then, use the handheld or electric milk frother to mix all the sweet cream ingredients until fluffy, bubbly chocolate foam forms. Don’t forget to use good-quality chocolate syrup here; you don’t want something that tastes artificially flavored and weak.
Step 3
Finally, top the iced coffee and vanilla mixture with the chocolate cream foam, stir it all, and enjoy!
*Coffee drinkers who steer clear of regular milk can easily use a non-dairy version of chocolate milk here. We used dark chocolate almond milk, but chocolate-flavored oat milk works just as well.
Cool Down with Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
It’s fine to splurge at Starbucks from time to time, but when you want to get a caffeine kick at a lower price, pull out a recipe like this one and start sharpening your home-brewing skills.
P.S. There are plenty of other Starbies copycat drink recipes for you to try out. After you’ve tried chocolate cream cold brew, click over to our Starbucks recipe round-up to see what drink to try next.
Chocolate Cream Cold Brew Recipe
Chocolate Cream Cold Brew is a delicious and refreshing chocolate malt-flavored coffee drink, sweetened with vanilla syrup and topped with chocolate cream cold foam.
Ingredients
- chocolate syrup
- chocolate milk
- creamer
- cold brew coffee
- vanilla syrup
- ice cubes
- two tall glasses
- milk frother
Instructions
- Pour ice, cold brew, and a splash of vanilla syrup into one of your glasses.
- Pour a drizzle of chocolate syrup, creamer, and chocolate milk into the second glass.
- Use the handheld or electric milk frother to mix all the sweet cream ingredients until fluffy, bubbly chocolate foam forms.
- Top the iced coffee and vanilla mixture with the chocolate cream foam, stir it all, and enjoy!
