As the holiday season quickly approaches, premium Italian espresso brand illy has crafted two unique coffee recipes to add a little more holiday festiveness to your coffee cup. The Caramellow takes a caramel twist on a classic latte for those who prefer a sweeter indulgence, while the Vanilla Clove Caffe Latte delivers a lighter option. Heidi Rasmussen, Senior Manager of Education & Quality Assurance for illycaffè North America and accredited illycaffe Università del Caffè Professor, shares how to craft these two holiday favorites at home.
Vanilla Clove Caffe Latte
Rasmussen crafted the Vanilla Clove Caffè Latte as a play on fall and winter flavors, built around an uncommon sweet-and-spicy combination.
“It’s important to follow the measurements closely – cloves are strong and can become unpleasant if too much is used,” she shares. “This recipe is designed for an 8-oz glass. Measure the ground cloves (1/4 tsp) directly into the milk before steaming to ensure even integration. Add the vanilla syrup to the serving glass and pour in the espresso. Give it a gentle swirl or stir to incorporate the syrup. Steam and froth the milk, then pour it over the espresso. Garnish with a tiny pinch of ground cloves,” she advises.
Ingredients
- 6 to 8-ounce glass or paper cup
- illy espresso (single shot)
- 4 ounces whole milk
- 2 pumps of vanilla syrup (about 1/2 ounce)
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- Raw sugar, to taste
Method
- Put 6 oz (180 cc) cold whole milk into a steaming pitcher.
- Add 1/4 tsp ground cloves to the milk and set aside.
- Add 3 pumps (3/4oz) vanilla syrup bottom of the serving glass.
- Prepare a double espresso (50 cc) directly into a 3-ounce pitcher.
- While coffee is pouring, steam and froth milk.
- Swirl the milk and froth in the pitcher to eliminate big bubbles and keep it mixed.
- Pour espresso into a glass and stir or swirl to mix in the syrup.
- Holding the pitcher approximately 3-4” above the glass, pour the frothed milk over the espresso until the glass is full.
- Garnish with a tiny pinch of cloves (just a little goes a long way)
Caramellow
“The Caramellow recipe was created to highlight our Illy Certified Regenagri Brazilian single-origin coffee,” says Rasmussen. “This coffee naturally carries caramel notes, and this recipe draws out those flavors to deliver a creamy, caramel-forward sweet treat. It is served in an espresso cup (2.5 – 3 oz).”
“Before preparing the espresso, add 2 oz of heavy cream to a mixing cup. I prefer cream at 36% fat, as it floats more easily. Add 1/3 oz of caramel sauce and gently whisk to blend it into the cream. The mixture should be pourable, not thick. Prepare a single espresso shot, then slowly pour the cream over the espresso. To ensure it floats, pour over the back of a spoon, aiming for the center of the coffee. Then, garnish with a single coffee bean.”
Ingredients
- 1 oz illy espresso (freshly brewed)
- 1/3 oz caramel sauce
- 2 oz heavy cream
- 8 oz cocktail shaker or mixing glass
- Spoon & glass
- 1 coffee bean (for garnish)
- 2.5 oz (70ml) espresso cup
Method
- Prepare caramel cream: Pour 2 oz (60cc) heavy cream and 1/3oz (10cc) caramel sauce into a single cup (8oz) cocktail shaker or mixing glass.
- Gently whisk or shake until it reaches a thick but pourable consistency.
- Prepare a single espresso directly into the espresso cup.
- Pour the caramel cream slowly over the back of a spoon onto the surface of the espresso
- Garnish with a coffee bean.
