Pistachio Latte
Espresso and steamed milk with a nutty, lightly salted pistachio sauce.
A latte sweetened with a pistachio sauce, so the cup tastes of toasted nut, cream and a little salt alongside the coffee.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 126 mg in one serving (12 oz (355 ml), double shot), a concentration of 35.5 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Espresso, pistachio sauce and steamed milk |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 18 g coffee to 36 g espresso, then 15 g pistachio paste and 220 g milk |
| Base & finished drink | 18g → 282g |
| Grind size | Fine espresso grind |
| Water temperature | 199°F / 93°C |
| Target brew time | Espresso 25-30 sec |
| Serving | 12 oz (355 ml), double shot |
What you need
- 36 g espresso (a double, from 18 g of coffee)
- 15 g pure pistachio paste (100% pistachio)
- 8 g sugar or simple syrup
- 0.2 g fine salt (a small pinch)
- 220 g milk
- 3 g shelled pistachios, crushed, to finish
Required gear
- Espresso machine
- Small whisk or milk frother
- Milk steamer
- Scale
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Put 15 g pistachio paste, 8 g sugar and a small pinch of salt in the cup.
- 0:15Pull a 36 g double espresso onto it and whisk until there are no streaks of paste left.
- 0:45Steam 220 g milk to 60-65°C with a fine microfoam.
- 1:15Pour the milk into the pistachio espresso and finish with crushed pistachios.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
The caffeine count
About 126 mg from the double shot. A single-shot version is about 63 mg and tastes more of pistachio.
Based on about 63 mg per single espresso.
Real nut, less sugar
Pure pistachio paste brings fat and flavour, so the drink needs only about 8 g of added sugar, less than a typical syrup-sweetened café version.
What to watch out for
- Contains pistachio, a tree nut. People with tree-nut allergies should avoid it, and should know that café pistachio sauces may be processed alongside other nuts.
- Contains caffeine and dairy unless made with decaf and a plant milk.
A latte sweetened with a pistachio sauce, so the cup tastes of toasted nut, cream and a little salt alongside the coffee. Real pistachio paste gives a rounder, more savoury flavour than syrups do, and a pinch of salt is what makes it taste of pistachio rather than of generic sweetness.
Origin & Story
Where it comes from
Pistachio has long been a dessert flavour, in Sicilian pastries and gelato, in Middle Eastern sweets such as baklava, and in Indian kulfi. As a coffee shop latte it became a mainstream order in the 2020s. Starbucks put a Pistachio Latte on its US winter menu on 5 January 2021, made with a pistachio sauce and a salted brown butter topping, and press coverage at the time said an earlier version had been served at its Reserve Roasteries since 2019. The drink has returned seasonally since, and pistachio lattes and cold foams are now common on independent café menus too.
Paste, sauce or syrup
What makes a pistachio latte good is mostly the pistachio. There are three ways to get it into the cup:
- Pistachio paste (cream): ground pistachios, sometimes with sugar and oil. Pure paste is the most flavourful and the least sweet; it needs to be whisked into hot espresso so it disperses.
- Pistachio sauce: paste thinned with milk or cream and sweetened, the café approach. It blends evenly and tastes rich.
- Pistachio syrup: sugar syrup with flavouring. It dissolves instantly but tastes more of almond-like flavouring than of nut, and many contain no pistachio at all.
At home, a quick sauce of pure pistachio paste, a little sugar and a pinch of salt gives the café result without a bottle of syrup.
Why the salt
Salt does not make the drink salty in this amount. It sharpens the nut flavour and cuts the sweetness of the milk, which is why the café version is topped with salted brown butter and why salted pistachio desserts taste more of pistachio than unsalted ones. A small pinch, about 0.2 g, is enough.
The colour
Pistachio paste is a muted green, and in a latte it turns the milk only faintly greenish-beige. A bright green pistachio drink usually contains colouring. If yours looks pale, that is normal.
Making it at home
Whisk the paste, sugar and salt into the hot espresso until smooth, then pour in steamed milk. Sprinkle crushed pistachios on top for texture and aroma. Iced, it works the same way: make the pistachio espresso first, cool it with milk, then pour over ice so the paste does not seize in the cold.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 60/100 |
| Acidity | 22/100 |
| Bitterness | 32/100 |
| Body | 72/100 |
| Aroma | 74/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Pistachio Latte?
One serving, 12 oz (355 ml), double shot, contains approximately 126 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Pistachio Latte?
Brew the base at 93°C (199°F). Where the milk is heated, 60–65°C is the target; past about 70°C it tastes scalded and loses its sweetness.
How long should Pistachio Latte be extracted?
Timing: Espresso 25-30 sec. Method: Espresso, pistachio sauce and steamed milk. Ratio: 18 g coffee to 36 g espresso, 15 g pistachio paste, 220 g milk. Grind or leaf format: Fine espresso grind.
Why does my Pistachio Latte taste bitter?
In a milk drink, bitterness comes from the base (espresso pulled too long or tea steeped too long) or from scorched milk. Brew the base to the stated proportion, and if the milk is heated, stop at 60–65°C.
What does a pistachio latte taste like?
Like a sweet latte with a toasted, slightly savoury nut flavour and a touch of salt. Made with real paste it is rich and round; made with syrup it is sweeter and tastes more like almond flavouring.
Why is my pistachio latte not green?
Real pistachio paste is a muted green and only tints milk faintly. Bright green pistachio drinks and sauces usually contain added colouring.
Is there pistachio in pistachio syrup?
Often not. Many syrups are sugar and flavouring only. Check the ingredients for pistachio, or use pistachio paste instead.
Can I make it iced?
Yes. Whisk the paste into the hot espresso first, stir in cold milk, then pour over ice. Adding paste straight to cold milk leaves it in oily clumps.
Who should avoid Pistachio Latte?
Contains pistachio, a tree nut. People with tree-nut allergies should avoid it, and should know that café pistachio sauces may be processed alongside other nuts. Contains caffeine and dairy unless made with decaf and a plant milk. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Breville Bambino Plus Compact Espresso
In this recipe: Espresso machine
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