We all know there's nothing quite like a creamy iced coffee on a hot, sunny day. These coffees are a great option during an office workday break, and they're perfect for a day's work from home.
Running to Starbucks for an iced coffee can be a hassle, so we've also put together a copycat recipe for an at-home Starbucks coffee favorite. The Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew Coffee is beloved by many, and it’s so simple and affordable to make yourself. Here are all the ingredients explained in this creamy caramel cold brew coffee.
Starbucks Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew (Ingredients Explained)
First, let's cover some of the vocal ingredients in this coffee that make the taste so delicious. The cold brew coffee is prepared by Starbucks baristas making large batches daily by steeping coffee beans in cold water for 20 hours. It’s mixed with the sweet vanilla syrup and then topped with a fluffy layer of salted caramel cream cold foam and salt sprinkles.
The salted caramel cold foam is what sets this cold brew drink apart. The salted cold foam is basically just frothed vanilla sweet cream, milk, vanilla syrup, caramel sauce or caramel syrup, and salt. The mixture of strong, caffeinated cold brew with the cold foam makes it an irresistibly smooth and drinkable coffee. Plus, the salted cold foam doesn't even have many calories, so you can enjoy this sweet cold drink guilt free.
Cold-brew beverages are among Starbucks' most caffeinated drinks, and they have more caffeine in them than a regular iced coffee or an iced Americano. So, one of these caramel cream cold brew drinks will have you ready for the day. Here are the typical ingredients used by Starbucks baristas.
Remember, there are 4 sizes of the caramel sweet cream cold brew available at Starbucks (Tall, Grande, Venti, Trenta), so the quantities of cold brew, cold foam, caramel syrup and other ingredients will differ upon size.
Starbuck Ingredients List | |
|---|---|
1. Vanilla Syrup | 2 pumps on average for a grande. |
2. Cold Brew Concentrate | Varies in size. A grande has 4 ml of cold brew concentrate. |
3. Cold, Filtered Water | Varies in size. A grande has 16 oz. capacity. |
4. Ice | Asked if preferred during order. |
5. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Foam | Varies on size. |
6. Salt Topping | Typically served with a salt topping. Alternative options are available. Some are: Cinnamon Dolce Sprinkles Caramel & Mocha Drizzles Cinnamon Powder |
7. Whipped Cream | Asked if preferred during order. |
*(The above is in the order the barista adds them to the cup)
Starbucks Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew - Nutritional Facts
As we mentioned earlier, there are four sizes of salted caramel cream cold brew coffee you can get at Starbucks. These are Tall 12 fl oz., Grande 16 fl oz, Venti 24 fl oz, and a Trenta 30 fl oz. The size, and what you add to your salted caramel cold brew will make an impact on the nutritional factors of this beverage. There are slightly different amounts of vanilla sweet cream cold foam, caramel syrup, and other extras in the different sizes of each Starbucks cold brew coffee.
Below, we’ve listed the calories per size of this cold foam cold brew drink from the Starbucks website. This is with no modifications to the Starbucks Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew order.
Drink Sizes, Calories & Caffeine Content | ||
|---|---|---|
Tall 12 fl oz. | 160 Calories | 145 mg of caffeine |
Grande 16 fl oz. | 220 Calories | 185 mg of caffeine |
Venti 24 fl oz. | 270 Calories | 185 mg of caffeine |
Trenta 30 fl oz | 310 Calories | 185 mg of caffeine |
With all of the calories put aside, you’re probably wondering, is this caramel cream cold brew drink healthy? Well, cold brew coffee is one of the healthier coffee drinks on the market. On its own, cold brew coffee has no sugar and has a very low-calorie count, but as you can see from the table above, there’s a high concentration of caffeine in every order.
Enjoying the sweet cream cold foam version listed on the Starbucks menu can add a lot of fats, calories, and carbs to your diet. The most popular size for a salted caramel cream cold brew is Grande. This size serving is 16 fl oz., and the following nutritional facts are accompanied by this beverage. There's a total of 13 grams of total fats (8g of those are saturated), 40 mg of cholesterol, 300 mg of sodium, and a total of 24 g in carbohydrates.
This actually isn't too bad for Starbucks drinks, and the salted cold foam isn't as bad as the whipped cream which is on a lots of Starbucks orders. In fact, the salted caramel cold brew only has about 110 calories, so it's far less than a Starbucks Frappuccino.
If you are worried about the nutritional value of the salted cold foam cold brew then there is some good news. You can control the amount of sugar, fats, and carbs if you customize the caramel cream cold foam cold brew recipe yourself.
Ordering This Popular Drink (App Vs Instore)
There are three ways of ordering a salted caramel cold foam coffee from Starbucks, all pertain to being online or in-store. The first way is to visit your local Starbucks directly. Here, you can customize your salted caramel cream cold brew exactly how you want, and it will be ready ASAP.
Another option is to download the Starbucks app and click and collect your salted cold foam beverage. You'll still receive points with the Starbucks Rewards on the app and you can you can find your salted caramel cold brew on their menu and order for it to be picked up under your name. You also have the option to add extra caramel syrup, caramel sauce, vanilla syrup, or other extras to your cold brew.
In some areas, you can even have Starbucks cold brew delivered right to your door via popular companies like DoorDash or Uber Eats.
Making Your Own (Copycat Recipe For At-Home)
This recipe is for one 16-ounce salted caramel cream cold brew, so make it in a cup that size. Once you have all the ingredients on hand, here's how to make this salted cold foam cold brew coffee.
Cold Brew Or Cooled Coffee (1 ¼ cup)
The quickest method for getting cold brew is to buy store-bought cold brew from Starbucks at your local grocery store. Here, you can get concentrated cold brew or a regular watered-down option. However, if you want to avoid store bought options you can make your own cold brew at home in a French press or mason jar - but French press is easier.
Start by pouring some coffee grounds into a French press and submerging in cold water. Leave the French press for about 20 hours while the coffee steeps, and then press the plunger to filter out the grounds. You can then pour out and enjoy your cold brew, or store it in a mason jar for later use.
If you aren't sure or you run out, you can just use espresso machine coffee which has cooled down instead of cold brew coffee.
Caramel or Vanilla Syrup (2 pumps)
The Starbucks recipe has vanilla syrup in their cold brew coffee, but they don't add any caramel sauce or caramel syrup because you get the salted caramel taste from the cream foam. That can be done at home, or you can pour caramel sauce or caramel syrup to a half and half cream as a cheaper and easier result. Add that sea salt topping to get that balance of salty and sweet taste in the frothed vanilla sweet cream cold foam.
Heavy Cream & Milk Or Dairy-Free Alternatives (¼ cup)
We recommend using both heavy cream and milk together in a 7:3 ratio (70% milk and 30 % cream) to make about ¼ cup of sweet cream cold foam base. Then I whisk to create milky vanilla sweet cream foam. I do this as it’s quite similar to how Starbucks makes the sweet cream layer on their salted caramel cream cold brew. However, there are dairy-free alternatives on the market for milk. A great alternative that will lower your fat intake is soy milk or vanilla milk.
Clean, Filtered Water, and/or Ice
Have a sip after you mix your cold brew or regular brewed coffee, syrup, vanilla sweet cream, and milk. How does it taste? Now’s the time to add water if it’s too strong in taste. Add ice if it’s too warm or sweet in taste.
Add Sea Salt as a Topping
Now that most of your copycat Starbucks salted caramel cream cold brew is mixed together, don't forget that sea salt is a topping. If you like cream and chocolate shavings, then add them! It's your treat, after all. Once complete, relax and enjoy your finished salted caramel cold brew.
Common Starbucks Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew Questions
Can I make this drink with hot brewed coffee instead of cold brew?
Yes, you can. If you'd like your beverage to be cold, simply allow time for the coffee to cool on its own. Or you can make a hot version of this beverage by adding caramel syrup, sea salt, and cream on top.
Does salted caramel cream cold brew taste more like coffee or caramel?
That’s quite difficult to say. As it’s cold brew being used instead of a simple shot of espresso, you can taste the coffee inside the drink. By adding cream and caramel syrup, you’re masking the intense coffee taste, but it’s still there for many coffee drinkers.
Is salted caramel cold brew vegan?
As you order it from the menu, the answer is no. However, it can easily be modified to fit the bill. Simply request and confirm for dairy-free alternatives to be used before you pay for your drink.
Can you get sugar-free Cold Brew drinks at Starbucks?
Cold brew is sugar-free before you mix in any sweeteners or syrups. There are both sweetened and unsweetened cold brews available to buy in Starbucks stores and on their website for delivery.
Conclusion
Remember when you’re assembling your copycat Starbucks salted caramel cream cold brew coffee, be sure to pour all of your ingredients in nice and slowly to create the cold foam layer on top. Mix accordingly, and enjoy with your heart’s delight. We hope you enjoy our recipe!
