Nutella Latte: Getting the Spread to Actually Dissolve
What is in a hazelnut chocolate latte?
Espresso, chocolate hazelnut spread and steamed milk. No syrup and no added sugar, because the spread brings plenty of both.
One heaped tablespoon is enough for a standard latte.
For this, Spectre is the dark espresso roast we developed against a shot rather than a filter.
It is already sweet. Adding sugar makes it undrinkable.
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 2 shots (60 ml) | Must be hot |
| Chocolate hazelnut spread | 1 heaped tbsp | Stir in immediately |
| Steamed milk | 6 oz | 150 F |
| Sugar | None | The spread is sweet enough |
| Cocoa or hazelnut | Optional dusting | For the top |
Now you know what it is. Here is whether it is worth making.
Knowing the definition is the easy half. The part that decides whether you like it is what goes in the cup underneath.
A drink built on mediocre coffee tastes like mediocre coffee with extra steps.
See the lineup →How do you make it?
Pull the espresso directly onto the spread and stir hard until it is completely smooth with no lumps. Then steam the milk to 150 degrees and pour.
The espresso has to be genuinely hot. A cooled shot will not melt the spread.
Stir for longer than feels necessary. Any lumps end up at the bottom.
The ratio is the recipe. The bean is the flavour.
You can follow any of these to the gram and still not enjoy it, because everything downstream of the roast is decoration.
Start with coffee you would drink black, then build on it.
Browse best sellers →What goes wrong most often?
Undissolved spread, and too much of it. Two tablespoons makes it cloying and hides the coffee completely.
If there is a lump at the bottom, the espresso was not hot enough or you stopped stirring too early.
If it tastes only of hazelnut, cut back to one level tablespoon.
One bag you know how to use beats five you do not.
Learn one roast properly. Then make sure you never open the cupboard and find it empty.
- Pick the roast that suits how you actually brew.
- Set it to resupply on a schedule that matches what you drink.
- Stop thinking about it. You do not hit zero again.
What coffee should you use?
A dark or espresso roast with chocolate notes. The spread is assertive, so the coffee needs body to remain part of the drink.
A light roast disappears entirely under chocolate hazelnut spread.
Cold version works too. Use cold brew concentrate and melt the spread into a splash of hot water first.
Brew it. Get after it.
Whatever tomorrow asks of you, it goes better on a cup that was worth the effort.
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Shop the lineup →Questions people actually ask
How do you stop Nutella clumping in coffee?
Stir it into the hot espresso before adding any milk, and keep stirring until completely smooth. A cooled shot will not melt it properly.
How much Nutella goes in a latte?
One heaped tablespoon for a standard latte. Two makes it cloying and buries the coffee entirely.
Do you need to add sugar?
No. Chocolate hazelnut spread is already heavily sweetened. Adding sugar makes the drink almost undrinkable.
Can you make an iced version?
Yes. Melt the spread into a small splash of hot water or hot espresso first, then combine with cold brew concentrate and cold milk over ice.
What coffee works best?
A dark or espresso roast with chocolate notes. The spread is strong enough to bury anything lighter.
