A Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Latte
Love is in the air, and so is the rich, chocolatey scent of this red velvet latte. This take on the traditional caffè mocha uses beetroot juice to create a gorgeous red hue that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day. Whip a few up with your significant other, your galentine, or just show yourself a little love with this decadent treat.
Set your Ember Mug² to your preferred temperature, and sip along to our Red Velvet Love Songs by Ember playlist on Spotify!
Drinking Temperature
Served at 138°F (59°C)
Ingredients
- 6 oz very strongly brewed coffee or 4 oz espresso
- 4 oz milk of choice
- 2 Tbsp dark chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp beetroot juice (or ½ tsp red plant-based food coloring)
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Whipped cream or a non-dairy topping of choice
- Red sprinkles (optional)
Music Playlist
Directions
- Brew 6 oz of strong coffee or 4 oz of espresso
- Add chocolate chips and stir until melted
- Add beet juice or food coloring
- Warm milk on stove top or in microwave. Froth using a milk frother, handheld mixer, or French press.
- See our post on making lattes at home for tips on achieving the perfect milk froth without an espresso machine.
- Pour milk over coffee in your Ember Mug²
- Garnish with topping of choice
How to Make a Latte Art Heart
A heart is the perfect design for your Valentine’s Day coffee, especially if you’re showing off the color of your red velvet latte. With a little practice, you can pour one like a barista using this method:
Directions
- After warming and frothing your milk, pour into a metal steaming pitcher (if it’s not in one already). Tap the pitcher on the counter to remove large bubbles and swirl it around to create an even consistency. Ideally, your milk has no visible bubbles and resembles the silky texture of wet paint.
- Start your pour about two inches above your cup. This allows the milk to mix under the surface of the coffee.
- When the cup is about 30-40% full, bring your pitcher closer about one inch from the surface. You should start to see a white spot of foam pooling on the surface of the drink.
- Once your circle is large enough, raise the pitcher by another inch to slow the flow of milk foam and pour a thin stream from the top of the circle to the bottom to “cut” through it and create the heart shape.
If you don’t have a steaming wand to create that perfect microfoam or you’re new to latte art, creating a heart can be tough. Feel free to use a toothpick and extra foam to touch up your design – we won’t tell!
