Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte Recipe

Starbucks undoubtedly is the most popular mega-chain around the world.

Starbucks was established in Seattle in the 1971s and currently operates in 80 countries.

This is not an overnight success but the result of a long period of hard work and careful brand curation.

There are almost 40 drinks on the Starbucks menu and uncountable ways for customers to customize their drinks according to their tastes.

The skinny vanilla latte is one of the most popular Starbucks drinks due to its low-calorie count while maintaining the caffeine fix.

What Is A Skinny Vanilla Latte?

Skinny vanilla latte is a latte with non-dairy milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup. It is a Starbucks gift to calorie-conscious or lactose-intolerant people who want to enjoy lattes.

There are various non-dairy kinds of milk to choose from: cashew, Almond, Quinoa, Soy, etc. This drink’s calorie intake is quite low compared to its dairy counterparts, but the caffeine kick and taste are uncompromised.

What Sets The Vanilla Latte Apart From Other Drinks At Starbucks?

At the most basic, the difference between a skinny vanilla latte and any non-skinny drink at Starbucks is the use of non-dairy milk and sugar-free contents of the drink.

Starbucks concocted this drink to target customers who were health conscious and wanted to avoid the calories that came with normal full-fat milk.

 Starbuck’s R&D department was trying to captivate new customers and realized that many people stuck to normal espresso shots or black coffee because they were health conscious or had some issues with normal dairy products.

Thus, they prepared the Skinny line of drinks to engage those customers and provide them the complete Starbucks experience.

Equipment Required To Make A Starbucks Vanilla Latte At Home

Yes, you read it right. You can make a skinny vanilla latte at home as well. Although Starbucks has launched a bottled version of the drink in many stores like Target, Costco, etc.

But if you want that freshly brewed feel and taste, you can make yourself a cup of it at home. You’ll need the following equipment to make one.

1. An Espresso Machine.

Espresso shots are the prime constituents of a vanilla latte. You can use any espresso machine, or if you don’t have one, you can get one online easily.

2. Coffee Beans or Coffee Pods

You can use coffee beans or pods to prepare the espresso shots. Starbucks uses a Blonde roast which is higher in acidity and caffeine.

You can get the blend that Starbucks uses or get any light-roasted coffee according to your taste.

3. Milk Frother

No latte is complete, whether regular or skinny, without the frothy richness of milk. The frothiness of the milk is the signature of the perfect Latte. In order to achieve that perfect frothy Latte, you need a milk frother.

There are two choices for milk frothers, and in my opinion, both work fine. You can use the battery-operated portable one or the electric ones with jars to pour milk in.

What Are The Ingredients Used To Make A Skinny Vanilla Latte ?

1. One cup of milk

The milk type is the ingredient that sets Skinny Vanilla Latte apart from the regular ones. “Skinny” means non-dairy and is supposed to have fewer calories than full milk.

There are various options available at Starbucks, and you can also source them at your local convenience store. Some popular substitutes for regular milk are as under:

I. Soy Milk

Soy milk is the closest-tasting substitute to dairy milk. Soy milk is widely liked due to this characteristic. The transition from dairy to Soy milk is easier for people who want to switch to low-calorie or non-dairy options.

II. Rice Milk

Rice milk is an acquired taste and often not the first choice of people looking to substitute dairy milk. According to some, it has a slight “Ricey” taste and a wheatish aftertaste. 

III. Almond Milk

This smooth and nutty-tasting milk is widely used in coffee. Coffee tastes quite balanced when made with Almond milk. This is the reason why almost all baristas have it at hand.

IV. Cashew Milk

Cashew milk is close to Almond milk with a slight sourness. It has a more polarizing taste than any other milk substitute, but many people opt for it for their cup of coffee.

V. Pea Milk

Quite popular these days due to its great taste in pea milk. This is plant-based milk and is often opted among vegans as being the best substitute for regular milk.

It doesn’t overpower or affect the taste of the coffee like other nut-based kinds of milk.

VI. Low-Fat regular Milk

Low-fat milk has fat artificially removed from it and is great for coffee. Low-fat milk usually has a 1.5 percent fat content, while regular milk has 3.5 percent.

There are other kinds of milk to choose from as well. Those mentioned above are the ones that are more popular and are used more often. But the taste is always subjective, so you can look for what works for you.

2. Coffee Beans or Pods

The second ingredient you will need to prepare your Skinny Vanilla Latte is the perfect type of coffee. The kind of coffee that Starbucks uses is called a Blonde roast.

It is a light-roasted coffee that is more acidic and has strong caffeine content. You don’t need to buy the exact type of coffee. You can use any light-roasted coffee you desire.

3. Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup

It won’t be a Vanilla Latte without Vanilla syrup. So get sugar-free vanilla syrup; you can pick one of your choices or get the one that Starbucks uses in their drinks.

Taste is always subjective, and you can always experiment with different brands. Although the difference is not noticeable to most people. But always use a sugar-free syrup to keep your latte skinny.

What Is The Average Prep Time To Make A Skinny Vanilla Latte?

Although the prep time varies individually. But it takes an average person 5-10 minutes to prepare a cup of Skinny Vanilla Latte.

Step By Step Instructions To Make The Perfect Skinny Vanilla Latte

Step1. Clean Up

Clean your machine thoroughly and make sure all your equipment is clean. Often espresso shots come out a bit weird tasting due to lack of cleaning. When espresso machines are not cleaned for some time, the residue turns the coffee a bit rancid.

Step2. Prepare Your Espresso Shots

Start your machine and keep your cup on the drip tray. You need to prepare two shots of espresso. This would be about 2 fluid ounces of liquid. Baristas usually call this a Doppio.

Step3. Heat Your Milk

Put one cup of milk into the saucepan and add four pumps of Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup. Heat it, but don’t bring it to a boil. Keep stirring while the milk is being heated.

If you want a cold Skinny Vanilla Latte, let this milk cool down and then refrigerate it for about two hours. If you wish to have your Latte hot, you can use the heated milk straightaway.

Step4. Froth Your Milk

Now you pour your milk into the cup and then froth it. Make sure you don’t over froth it. The foam should be just half an inch thick. After frothing your milk, let it sit for a minute.

Step5. Pour The Espresso

This is the last step. Pour the espresso shots over the frothed milk. Do it slowly and in an even stream. Now you can enjoy your Skinny Vanilla Latte.

How To Keep Your Vanilla Latte Skinny?

Follow these tips to keep your Vanilla Latte skinny:

1. Do not add any sweeteners. Because by adding any sugar content, you are just spiking the calorie content.
2. You can choose any milk substitute you like but compare the calorie content per serving with regular milk so that you know the difference properly.
3. Make sure you only use sugar-free vanilla syrup; otherwise, the calories you’ll be cutting down by replacing dairy milk will be back in the form of regular vanilla syrup.

Final Thoughts

The Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte is an excellent option for people wanting the same great taste as a latte minus the calories. This Latte with a healthy twist is perfect for getting your caffeine fix while keeping a strict diet. The zero fat and zero sugar content are the popular reason to help you shed additional pounds that regular lattes add on you.

FAQ’s

How many calories are there in a Skinny Vanilla Latte?

A Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte has 100 calories, while its bottled variant has 110 calories.

How many espresso shots does a Skinny Vanilla Latte have?

A Skinny Vanilla Latte is made with two espresso shots. But if you want more caffeine, you can always add one more.

Is a Skinny Vanilla Latte healthy?

Yes, Skinny Vanilla Lattes are healthier than regular lattes due to reduced fat and sugar content.