Kinako Latte

Being a former barista, I know a thing or two about coffee. The taste, the smell, the environment, if I could turn my house into a coffee house, I would truly be in bliss. And of course, I’d love one of those classic, fancy metal espresso machines but…. they’re quite pricy. So, good espresso at home is out of my reach, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy lattes at all!

Kinako is a very popular flavor in Japan, though perhaps a little unusual to the Western palate. What is it? Roasted, ground up soy beans, sweetened with sugar. Soybeans in sweets, you say? Yes, it’s crazy, but it’s crazy delicious. A little nutty, a little toasty, and full of flavor! It reminds me of a malted flavor, but not being a huge fan of malted milk, I find kinako to be highly superior. While kinako usually flavors traditional Japanese wagashi sweets, you can use it in a variety of ways, and what better way than in a latte? Best of all, it’s caffeine free, so go ahead and drink a second cup!

One thing you absolutely have to have in order to make a latte is a good milk frother. While cheap espresso machines generally make cheap espresso,  I was very pleased the first time I used a battery powered frother. I used to have a small espresso machine with a steam wand attached, and it just… wasn’t very good. An electric frother, on the other hand, gives a thicker, richer foam, so if you’re an avid coffee and tea drinker, I highly recommend it! I’ve had mine for 3 years, used at least once a week, and it is still just as great as the day I bought it. Best $10 investment for my kitchen yet. A cheap steam wand dilutes the milk and never creates foam with enough body to really hold up. But with a battery powered frother, it eliminates the water and, if the milk is hot enough, can make some really fantastic foam. Not enough foam for a cappuccino unless you froth smaller amounts of milk and add them to the cup, but… for the price, I can’t complain. Especially if you froth it with some sugar mixed in… I love it!

If you’re interested in making some really great lattes at home, find yourself a good frother and give this kinako latte a try!

Recipe – Kinako Latte:

– Warm the milk in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes until hot, around 160 degrees. Don’t make it too hot, you don’t want scalded milk! Mix in your kinako powder, sugar, and cinnamon and use your frother to blend. To make the milk foamy, use a tall container and keep the tip of the frother at the top of the milk. Foam it for one minute.

– After frothing, let sit few a few seconds and you’ll notice the foam starts to settle on top. Perfect!

– Pour into your favorite mug, sprinkle with a little extra dusting of kinako, and enjoy!