Horchata is so delicious by itself, but it also makes the perfect base for a horchata latte! If you love coffee and sweet, creamy, and cinnamon flavors, then you need to try this amazing iced coffee. It’s so easy to make and tastes incredible with freshly made horchata. It tastes like Cinnamon Toast Crunch but with coffee.

Here’s how to make a horchata latte at home!

Horchata Latte Takeaways:

• Strain thoroughly or multiple times for the smoothest texture!
• Soak rice, water, and cinnamon overnight for easy blending.
• Add vanilla, almonds, or other flavors to make it your own!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• It’s super delicious and a fusion of Mexican flavors!
• Make homemade horchata and enjoy it over multiple days with or without coffee!
• This recipe makes a cafe-quality drink right in your kitchen.

What is Horchata?

Living in California, I’m most familiar with Mexican horchata, a creamy rice-based version you’ll find at almost every Mexican restaurant or taco stand. It’s made by blending white long-grain rice, water, and cinnamon, then sweetening it with condensed milk. Some versions also add evaporated milk or whole milk for extra creaminess. It can be a little on the sweet side, but it’s so refreshing and nostalgic!

Horchata actually originated in Spain, where it was traditionally made with chufa (also known as tiger nuts). When Spaniards introduced the drink to Mexico in the 16th century, locals adapted it using ingredients that were more readily available, like white rice instead of tiger nuts. That adaptation is what we now know as Mexican horchata, or agua de horchata.

Today, horchata is a staple drink in both Mexico and Spain, though the styles differ. And in the U.S., especially in places like California, it’s everywhere, and sometimes you’ll even find fun variations like strawberry or chocolate.

What is a Horchata Latte?

A horchata latte is an iced latte made with horchata as the milk base. However, you can also combine milk and horchata for a milkier base for espresso if regular horchata is too sweet or not as creamy. It’s a great infusion of Mexican flavors into a coffee drink and super palatable for many people!

You can use homemade horchata or premade horchata for convenience, but the former tastes fresher and smoother.

What Does a Horchata Latte Taste Like?

A horchata latte literally tastes like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk with some coffee. It’s seriously so good; it’s sweet, creamy, cinnamony, and smooth but not heavy. You can’t go wrong with cinnamon and sugar! It also tastes like a cinnamon roll or other cinnamon-spiced baked good.

Horchata Latte Recipe: Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make a horchata latte:

• Homemade Horchata
• Long Grain White Rice — Long grain white rice or jasmine rice is the best to use for horchata because it’s not too starchy and makes a creamy texture. You could also use any other rice, but the more starch in the rice, the thicker the horchata will be.
• Water
• Condensed Milk — Essential for a creamy and sweet flavor! You can find them at most grocery stores in cans.
• Evaporated Milk — Also essential for a creamy flavor and texture. Also found in most grocery stores in cans. You can also make it yourself by boiling milk until it reduces, but it would take forever.
• Whole Milk — Adds a nice milky flavor! You can also use oat or coconut milk to make it dairy-free and still add a creamy texture.
• Cinnamon Sticks — Cinnamon sticks have a brighter flavor compared to ground cinnamon, which oxidizes over time. You can use any type of cinnamon depending on your preferences.
• Horchata Latte
• Espresso — Use your favorite espresso beans! A medium or dark roast works well with sweet and creamy flavors.
• Ice
• Horchata — It tastes better when you let it chill and sit for a little bit in the fridge!
• Ground Cinnamon (Optional) — Use this for garnish and for adding a little extra flavor and speckles to your horchata.

How to Make a Horchata Latte

1. Buy or Make Horchata. You can use store-bought horchata or make your own for the best flavor! For homemade horchata, follow steps 2 through 4.
2. Soak Rice. Combine your rice, 2 cups of water, and cinnamon sticks in a large bowl or pitcher. Let the rice and cinnamon soak for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible on the counter or fridge, covered.
3. Blend Rice. Once soaked, blend the mixture (cinnamon and all) in a blender on medium or high until the rice grains and cinnamon are small and the water is milky. Careful not to overblend!
4. Strain Horchata. Strain the horchata 2-3 times with a strainer or cheesecloth until the remaining liquid has no residue. Some silt is normal.
5. Add Milks. Add evaporated milk, condensed milk, and oat milk to the rice milk. Stir until fully combined and smooth.
6. Brew Espresso. Brew 1-2 shots of espresso using your espresso machine and favorite beans. You can use instant espresso powder or coffee concentrate as a substitute.
7. Assemble Drink. Add ice, horchata, and ground cinnamon to a separate glass, then top with your brewed espresso. Serve with a half stick of cinnamon or a dash of ground cinnamon.
8. Mix and Enjoy! Stir with a straw and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Horchata Latte

• Strain Thoroughly: If you’re blending the rice and the liquid has a gritty texture, try straining it again with a finer sieve or mesh cloth. This will give you a really clean and smooth texture.
• Make a Rice Milk Concentrate: Many cafes will actually use a rice milk concentrate for their horchata lattes, which is just sweetened rice milk blended with cinnamon. That way, you can control the sweetness per drink, and it’s also faster than making a huge batch of horchata and then needing to store it somewhere.
• Add Vanilla: For some extra creaminess, add some vanilla extract to your horchata! It rounds out the flavors and makes it taste sweeter without any extra sugar.

FAQ’s

Can I make this hot?

I’ve heard you can make horchata hot, but personally, I’m not sure if it works since heating up rice (even blended) can cook the starch and make a gummy or sticky texture. I’ve only ever had horchata iced, but it would be so good hot if the texture stays the same. If you want to attempt it, try using a low heat.

How to make this vegan?

To make this vegan, replace all the dairy elements with a non-dairy alternative. I’ve seen oat and coconut condensed and evaporated milk, and of course, the non-dairy milk versions. Those are the best two alternatives, followed by the vegan forms that are lactose-free.

Other Coffee Recipes to Try

This fusion of horchata and coffee is so fun and delicious! If you’re feeling adventurous, here are some other amazing coffee recipes to try next:

• Strawberry Horchata Latte
• Tiramisu Latte
• Tres Leches Latte
• Salted Caramel Latte
• Rose Latte