Popcorn Latte: What’s The Trick?

You’ve heard of vanilla lattes and caramel lattes. But the popcorn latte demands your attention, too. The trick is simple: add a bit of popcorn syrup to your standard latte and reap the buttery rewards while you sit down for a movie night. I’ve tried many odd kinds of coffee, and not all of them are worth considering. But the popcorn latte is.

We worked on this recipe to bring you the best and easiest popcorn latte, accompanied by a caramel popcorn latte. So let’s get straight into it.

How To Make Popcorn Latte

It’s relatively simple to make a popcorn latte, and you’ll recognize many of the steps from a classic latte recipe. Once you have all the ingredients handy, let’s get brewing this treat of a coffee drink.

Step 1: Pop Some Popcorn And Set Aside

We prefer using classic popcorn with butter and salt. However, caramel popcorn works too.

Step 2: Brew Your Double Espresso Shot

You’ll need a double shot of espresso for each latte you make. You can make a tasty popcorn latte with a single espresso shot, but you’ll need to add more milk to make it more creamy.

Step 3: Add Popcorn Syrup

Ever wondered what popcorn syrup is? Popcorn syrup is a flavouring syrup designed to have hints of the popcorn you’d get at the movies or a carnival. We recommend 1883 Maison Routin syrup for its wonderful taste and heavy popcorn aroma.

If you’re used to pumps rather than measured servings, one pump is about 1 tablespoon (1). Add the syrup to the same latte glass as the espresso.

Step 4: Froth The Milk

Dairy milk is the easiest to work with, but you can use any milk alternative and get similar results for this popcorn latte.

It would be best if your espresso machine has a steam wand. You need to get your milk or cream to around 65 degrees C (2). Any higher and the milk will burn, any lower and you won’t get the full effect of the froth. Nobody wants big, visible milk bubbles.

Step 5: Top With Popcorn And Enjoy

Yes, you can toss some popcorn on top of the coffee. But be sure to leave some popcorn on the side to munch on after you finish your drink!

Alternative: An Iced Caramel Popcorn Latte

You can also make an iced popcorn coffee drink. To do that, you’ll follow some of the same steps. Here’s a quick rundown:

1. Brew an espresso as normal (a double espresso works best for most lattes).
2. Add 1 tablespoon each of popcorn syrup and caramel syrup to espresso and mix the ingredients.
3. Pour cold milk or cream into a glass half full of ice.
4. Add espresso over the top.

That’s all! Because it’s a cold coffee-based drink, there’s no need to froth the milk. You can even add all that to a blender to make a frappuccino.

Adding raspberry syrup to the mix would be a buttery twist on the classic cotton candy frappuccino and caramel for a great caramel popcorn latte.

Final Thoughts

The popcorn latte is admittedly a bit strange. It conjures up thoughts of popcorn-flavoured jelly beans. But it’s a wonderfully buttery and sweet alternative to the classic latte. Plus, it’s as easy as making a regular latte with just one simple extra step. Enjoy with popcorn on the side!