Vanilla Caramel Latte at Home Using Ground State
A good vanilla caramel latte should taste smooth, creamy, and just sweet enough without feeling heavy. Ground State is the perfect base for this kind of drink because the dark roast brings depth and richness that balances the vanilla and caramel.
You don’t need a fancy machine to make this at home. A few pantry ingredients and some strong brewed coffee are all it takes.
This is the kind of drink that makes cold mornings a little easier and slow weekends a lot better.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 cup strongly brewed Ground State
- 1 cup milk of your choice
- 1 tablespoon caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar or syrup (optional)
-
Whipped cream for topping (optional)
How to Make the Vanilla Caramel Latte
1. Brew Ground State strong
- Use your preferred method, but brew it slightly stronger than usual.
- Drip: Use a 1 to 14 ratio
- French press: Steep an extra 30 seconds
- Espresso machine: 1 to 2 shots works perfectly
Ground State’s caramel tones show up beautifully when it’s brewed with a bit more intensity.
2. Warm your milk
- Heat milk on the stove or microwave until hot but not boiling.
- If you have a frother, use it here.
- If not, shake the warm milk in a sealed jar for 30 seconds to build foam.
3. Mix the flavor base
In your mug:
- Add caramel sauce
- Add vanilla
-
Stir until smooth
This creates the foundation for the latte.
4. Combine everything
- Pour the strong brewed Ground State into your mug and stir it with the caramel vanilla base.
- Then gently pour in the warm milk.
- Hold back the foam with a spoon, then spoon it on top at the end.
5. Finish with extras
Optional but worth it:
- A drizzle of caramel
- A tiny splash of vanilla
- Whipped cream
-
Cocoa dust
The sweetness levels are up to you. Ground State holds its flavor even with toppings, which is why it works so well in lattes.
Why Ground State Works Perfectly for This Latte
Ground State is a dark roast with smooth caramel and cocoa notes. When you add vanilla and caramel, the flavors amplify each other without becoming too sweet.
The roast brings:
- Rich body
- Natural sweetness
- A smooth finish
-
Zero burnt aftertaste
It creates the kind of homemade latte that feels like something from a coffee shop but better, because it’s built around real flavor instead of syrups.
Tips to Make It Even Better
Want it sweeter?
- Add a little vanilla syrup or caramel syrup.
Want it stronger?
- Add an extra ounce of brewed coffee or a second shot of espresso.
Want less sugar?
- Use unsweetened vanilla, then drizzle just a bit of caramel.
Want it iced?
- Let the coffee cool, build it over ice, then add cold foam on top.
Make This Latte With Ground State
Ground State is roasted for richness and balance, which makes it perfect for sweet, cozy drinks like this one.
Shop Ground State: https://dripethos.com/products/ground-state?variant=50045977133341
Try the recipe as written, then tweak it until it feels like your signature drink.