6 Holiday Coffee Drinks to Make at Home (No Espresso Machine Needed)
You do not need an espresso machine to make café-style holiday drinks at home. A strong cup of brewed coffee works as the base, and you can froth milk with a whisk or a jar. Below are six easy holiday coffee recipes, each for one mug, plus how to set up a coffee bar when you are hosting.
The two basics: a strong base and frothy milk
Make your coffee stronger
Café lattes use espresso, which is much more concentrated than drip coffee. To get close at home, brew with less water. With a drip bag, pour only about 150 ml of water through it instead of the usual 200 to 250 ml. If you brew with ground coffee, use about one and a half times your normal amount. A medium or dark roast holds up best against milk and spices.
Froth milk without a frother
- Jar method: warm 150 to 200 ml of milk until steaming but not boiling. Pour it into a jar no more than half full, close the lid tightly, hold the jar with a tea towel and shake hard for 20 to 30 seconds. Open it slowly, pointed away from you.
- Whisk method: whisk the warm milk in the saucepan, tilted slightly, until foamy.
- French press method: pour warm milk into a French press and pump the plunger up and down about 15 times.
Whole milk and barista style oat milk foam the best.
1. Peppermint mocha
You need: a strong cup of coffee (a Chocolate Mood drip bag adds extra chocolate aroma), 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, 150 ml milk, 1 to 2 drops peppermint extract, crushed candy cane to finish.
- Stir the cocoa and sugar into the hot coffee until smooth.
- Add the peppermint extract. Start with one drop, because it is strong.
- Top with frothed milk and crushed candy cane.
2. Gingerbread latte
You need: a strong cup of coffee, 1 teaspoon molasses, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, a pinch each of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, 150 ml milk.
- Warm the milk with the molasses, sugar and spices, stirring until the molasses dissolves.
- Froth the spiced milk using one of the methods above.
- Pour over the coffee and dust with a little cinnamon.
3. Maple cinnamon latte
You need: a strong cup of coffee (try a True Maple drip bag), 1 to 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 150 ml milk.
- Stir the maple syrup into the hot coffee.
- Froth the milk with the cinnamon and pour it over.
- Using a maple flavoured coffee means you can cut the syrup down, or leave it out, and still taste maple.
More on the difference between maple flavoured coffee and maple syrup in our guide to how flavoured coffee is made.
4. Caramel eggnog latte
You need: a strong cup of coffee (a Caramel Glow drip bag works well), 125 ml eggnog, 50 ml milk, a pinch of nutmeg.
- Warm the eggnog and milk together gently. Do not let it boil.
- Froth, then pour over the coffee.
- Grate a little nutmeg over the top.
5. Vanilla chai coffee
You need: a strong cup of coffee (try Vanilla Comfort), 1 chai tea bag, 150 ml milk, 1 teaspoon honey or sugar.
- Heat the milk until steaming, add the chai tea bag and let it steep for 3 to 4 minutes, then remove it.
- Stir in the honey and froth the chai milk.
- Pour over the coffee. It is a brewed coffee version of a dirty chai.
6. Coconut snowball latte
You need: a strong cup of coffee (try Creamy Coconut), 150 ml coconut milk beverage or regular milk, 1 tablespoon white chocolate chips, toasted shredded coconut to finish.
- Melt the white chocolate into the hot coffee.
- Froth the milk and pour it over.
- Sprinkle with toasted coconut.
Make any of them iced
Brew the strong coffee directly over a glass full of ice, stir in the flavourings while it is still warm so they dissolve, then top with cold milk instead of frothed milk. Our guide to making iced coffee at home has more on getting the strength right.
Hosting? Set up a holiday coffee bar
When you have guests, let everyone build their own drink. Put out:
- A basket of drip bags in a few roasts and flavours, so each guest brews their own fresh cup
- A kettle of hot water and enough mugs
- Warm milk in a jug, and a jar for shaking foam
- Toppings: cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, crushed candy canes, whipped cream
- Decaf for the evening
The 12 Days of Flavour Coffee Gift Box has one drip bag in each of 12 flavours and roasts, which makes an easy starting point for a coffee bar, or a gift for the host. KNDZ flavoured coffees have no sugar added, so the sweetness in these recipes is all from what you add.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a latte without an espresso machine?
Yes. Brew a strong cup of coffee using less water than usual, warm some milk, and froth it by shaking it in a closed jar, whisking it, or pumping it in a French press. Pour the milk over the coffee.
How do I make coffee stronger without espresso?
Use less water or more coffee. With a drip bag, pour about 150 ml of water through it instead of 200 to 250 ml. With ground coffee, use about one and a half times your usual amount.
How do I froth milk without a frother?
Warm the milk, pour it into a jar no more than half full, close the lid tightly, hold it with a towel and shake for 20 to 30 seconds. You can also whisk it hard in the pan or pump it in a French press.
What coffee is best for holiday drinks?
A medium or dark roast holds up well against milk, chocolate and spices. Flavoured coffees like chocolate, caramel, maple or vanilla add extra aroma without adding sugar.
Can I make holiday coffee drinks iced?
Yes. Brew the strong coffee over ice, stir in the flavourings while it is still warm, and top with cold milk.
Do flavoured coffees have sugar?
KNDZ flavoured coffees have no sugar added. Any sweetness in a holiday drink comes from the syrup, sugar, chocolate or eggnog you add.
Related guides
- 12 days of coffee: A twelve day coffee countdown with a flavour for each day.
- How to make iced coffee at home: Three easy ways, no machine needed.
- How is flavoured coffee made?: And does it have sugar?
- Coffee stocking stuffers: Small coffee gifts under $10 and $25.