This Brown Sugar Miso Latte combines the sweet molasses in dark brown sugar with the savory, umami flavor of miso. Its unique combination makes a surprisingly tasty drink that’s also super simple to make!
This drink is inspired by the popular Brown Sugar Miso Latte at Desnudo here in Austin. They have so many creative drinks that are great for adventurous foodies. We highly recommend them if you’re ever in Austin!
If you’re looking to venture outside your usual coffee drinks, this brown sugar miso latte is a great way to explore different flavor combinations. It has a complex sweet and slightly funky flavor from the miso, creating a unique and delicious blend of flavors.
It starts off by making a syrup which is really easy to make then it’s a no brainer from there. If you enjoy miso and sweet things, try our Miso Caramel Millionaire’s Shortbread and these Brown Butter Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Ingredient Notes
The full list of ingredients and their quantities is in the recipe card below. Here you’ll find notes on specific ingredients as well as any substitutions.
- Dark Brown Sugar: The extra molasses gives the drink more depth of flavor.
- White Miso Paste: It’s delicate, sweet and salty flavor pairs well with both sweet and savory foods.
- Espresso: Our favorite espresso is Lavazza Crema e Aroma.
- Milk: Whole milk or any dairy-free milk of your choice will do.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section provides a general overview as well as any pictures to guide you through the recipe. The full detailed recipe instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
STEP 1: Make the brown sugar miso syrup. In a small bowl, whisk together the miso paste and a tablespoon of hot water. Whisk until you get a smooth paste. Set aside then heat the brown sugar and water in a saucepan until simmering. Whisk in the miso paste then strain into an airtight bottle or jar.
STEP 2: Make the latte. Add the milk to a tall glass then fill with ice. Mix 2 tablespoons of the syrup with the espresso then pour it on top of the milk. Stir to combine and enjoy!
Expert Tip
For plant-based milks, we recommend using a barista blend. This is what most coffee shops use to get a richer, creamier latte, similar to the consistency of whole milk lattes.
FAQ
It should keep for 2-3 weeks in the fridge in a well sealed bottle or jar.
Pour the milk into the glass, adding enough ice to peek over the top of the milk. That extra layer of ice sticking out creates a barrier for the espresso. Now, slowly pour the hot espresso/syrup mixture over top. That’s it!
If you made this Iced Brown Sugar Miso Latte recipe, please let us know by leaving a star rating and review down below. We’d love to hear from you!
📖 Recipe
Iced Brown Sugar Miso Latte
Equipment
- Small Saucepan
- Espresso Machine
Ingredients
Brown Sugar Miso Syrup
- 1 tbsp white miso
- 1 tbsp hot water NOT boiling
- ½ cup (100 g) dark brown sugar packed
- ½ cup (125 ml) water
Brown Sugar Miso Latte
- ½ cup (125 ml) milk of choice see notes
- 2 tbsp brown sugar miso syrup
- 2 shots espresso
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the miso and 1 tbsp hot water until a smooth paste forms. Set aside.
- To a small saucepan, add the brown sugar and ½ cup of water. Place over medium heat and stir frequently until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to a simmer.
- Once simmering, turn off the heat and whisk in the miso paste until it has dissolved. It's ok if there are a few small chunks.
- Strain into an airtight container using a fine mesh strainer. Cool completely before using.
- To make the latte, add the milk to a glass and fill with ice. Combine the brown sugar miso syrup and espresso then pour it over the milk. Stir and enjoy!
Notes
- The recipe makes between ¾ and 1 cup or about 200 ml of syrup.
- Milk: We like to use whole milk or oat milk for this recipe. If you’re using a dairy-free milk, we recommend using a barista blend since it has a creamier consistency.
- Nutrition information includes oat milk.
Sisma Chintalapudi says
Made this today and it tastes amazing!
I only had red miso at home so I had to improvise. It tastes amazing though. I wonder if it could be made into a hot drink!?
Fanciful Eats says
Hi, Sisma! We’ve never made this into a hot drink, but it should be just as tasty with steamed milk. If you’re using a plant-based milk, we always recommend going with a barista blend since it froths and tastes better when heated. Thanks for leaving a review!
Cherie says
Thanks for this great recipe! I can taste the subtle miso taste in the syrup, but I can’t really taste miso in the latte, is this normal? 🙂
Fanciful Eats says
Thanks for the review, Cherie! We actually noticed a slight difference in the taste when we mixed the syrup directly in the espresso instead of with the oat milk, so we’ll be sure to update that step in the recipe. Not sure why the miso tastes stronger that way, but maybe give that a try!