How to Make a Latte With Any Nespresso Machine at Home

Ever wondered if you can make a latte with your Nespresso machine at home—Original or Vertuo?

Whether you’re using a simple model or one with a built-in milk frother, you can make a café-style Nespresso latte with the pods and milk you already have.

I make Nespresso coffee daily and have tested this recipe across different machines, milk types, and frothing tools.

After a lot of trial and error, I’ve refined the method so it works regardless of your setup—even if you don’t own a milk frother.

Quick Answer: Can you make lattes with Nespresso?

Yes! You can make a latte with any Nespresso machine. Just brew a shot of espresso (or a double shot for Vertuo), froth your milk separately using a frother or a simple manual method, and pour the frothed milk over the espresso.

You can also customize it with flavors like vanilla, caramel, or mocha.

In this guide, you will learn:

• How to make a latte with any Nespresso machine
• How to froth milk—even without a frother
• The best Nespresso pods to use for lattes
• How to make it hot or iced
• Flavoring ideas to customize your drink

Ready to upgrade your home latte game?

Let’s get started!

What is a latte?

A latte is a coffee made with steamed milk, espresso, and foamed milk at the top. It can be made with various milks and milk variants and flavored with coffee syrup or sugar.

There are so many ways to make a latte at home; it’s amazing. The best part about a latte is the different layers:

These layers can be found when the milk has been steamed to perfection. The milk is then separated into steamed and foamed milk.

After waiting just a bit, the espresso shot is poured on top.

The espresso coffee will stay between the milk layers and create this amazing-looking coffee that is best enjoyed straight away.

You can flavor this coffee just like any other. Most lattes are flavored with coffee syrups, such as brown sugar or vanilla syrup.

For more information about what a latte exactly is, check out this in-depth article here!

Can you make a latte with any Nespresso machine? (Vertuo & Original)

Nespresso machines are loved by many because they have such a clean and straightforward design.

If you’re a fan of Nespresso, you probably already have a machine in your kitchen.

You can use any Nespresso machine you have at home, but the process depends on your model. Here’s how:

For Nespresso machines with a built-in milk frother:

1. Fill the milk reservoir with fresh milk.
2. Insert a Nespresso capsule and select the “latte” option (if available).
3. The machine will brew the espresso and automatically froth the milk into your cup.

If you have a machine without a milk frother:

1. Brew an espresso (1.35 oz for Original Line, 2.7 oz for Vertuo).
2. Froth the milk separately using an Aeroccino, steam wand, or manual method (e.g., heating milk and shaking it in a jar or whisking).
3. Pour the frothed milk over the espresso.

As you can see, making a smooth latte at home is easy to do and requires just a little bit of your time.

The best thing? You can even make an iced version if you want!

Which Nespresso machine is best for lattes?

Choosing the best Nespresso latte machine depends on how much control and convenience you want:

Nespresso Model	Built-in Frother?	Great for Lattes?	Notes
Creatista Plus	✅ Yes	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Offers full milk control with a built-in steam wand, allowing barista-style customization.
Lattissima One	✅ Yes	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Features a one-touch system for milk-based drinks, simplifying latte preparation.
Vertuo Next + Aeroccino	❌ (Aeroccino sold separately)	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Doesn’t have a built-in frother, but works great for iced or double lattes when paired with the Aeroccino.
Essenza Mini + Frother	❌ (bundle optional)	⭐⭐⭐	Compact and affordable, it can be bundled with a frother to make lattes.

If you’re deciding between Nespresso Original vs. Vertuo for lattes, OriginalLine machines offer more traditional espresso, while Vertuo offers more size options.

Related article: The 7 Best Nespresso Machines for Home-Brewed Coffee (2025)

What milk is best for frothing a latte at home?

One of the two key ingredients of a latte is milk.

So, to ensure that you can make the best latte at home, let’s talk about the different kinds of milk you can use for frothing:

• If you want a full-flavored latte, I suggest using whole milk.
• If you want the strongest foam, it would be best to use low-fat milk.
• You can also use any milk alternative of choice to make a latte.

As you can see, there are many options out there. I like to use whole milk for my lattes most of the time, but you can change this up if you don’t feel like it.

Whole milk has a full flavor that you can’t get from a lower-fat or milk alternative. For me, it makes the perfect base for the latte.

Your Dream Coffee is all about using the ingredients you love to make the best coffee you’ve ever had.

Which Nespresso capsules are best for lattes?

The second most important part of a latte is the coffee. Nespresso capsules come in many different flavors, each unique.

But what is the best capsule to make a latte with?

I suggest using a strong coffee capsule from Nespresso to make a latte.

Because a latte is mostly made up of milk, it’s best to use a stronger-tasting coffee to counterbalance this.

I like to use medium to dark roasted coffee with a rating above intensity level 6 to make my latte with a Nespresso capsule. My absolute favorite is the double espresso Chiaro.

This coffee is so nice and rich in flavor that it best suits the latte, in my opinion.

If you’re unsure what strength rating your coffee cups have, check the Nespresso site. However, you can use any coffee capsule to make this latte recipe.

I might like strong coffee in my latte, but if you want a latte with a sweeter aroma, stick with a coffee capsule that you already have at home or that doesn’t have a dark roast and a high-strength rating.

Related article: 7 Best Nespresso Pods for Latte (Make Better Lattes at Home)

Did you know that it’s super easy to reuse and recycle your Nespresso pods? If you’re interested in learning all about it, then check out this article.

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How to make a latte with Nespresso

Let’s get into the recipe!

Don’t forget to save this recipe for later so you can enjoy this homemade coffee anytime:

How to froth milk with a Nespresso machine (Step-by-step)

Frothed milk is the most important step in making great latte coffee. The right way of frothing the milk creates unique layers.

If you froth the milk the right way, you’ll easily be able to produce a coffee bar quality latte at home only using your Nespresso machine.

To froth the milk, follow the steps listed below:

1. The most important first step is to get the milk you want from your fridge. The colder the milk, the better it will foam.
2. Depending on your machine, you can manually foam the milk using the steamer or the Aeroccino.
3. For the Aeroccino, I suggest pouring in one cup of milk at once. This will ensure that the milk foamer produces the best bubbles and that there is no unframed milk at the bottom.
4. If you’re using a Nespresso machine with a milk steamer, like the Aeroccino, let the machine do all the work.
5. Once the milk has frothed up and the machine is done, you can use it for the recipe listed above. Directly pour the milk onto your cup.

The key takeaways are as follows:

• Make sure you’re using cold milk. It will result in better milk foam.
• Let the milk sit in your glass before adding any coffee to it. It will ensure that the milk layers properly form.

Now that you know how to make perfectly foamed milk, it’s time to use it. Follow the recipe above to make an amazing latte.

How to flavor your Nespresso latte

You can easily flavor your Nespresso latte with a few simple additions. Here are some ideas:

• Make a vanilla latte using vanilla syrup
• A caramel latte can be made with caramel sauce
• You can make a mocha latte using chocolate syrup

If you prefer using spices, you can also add a touch of cinnamon on top of the milk (or use pumpkin spice for a seasonal twist).

• Cocoa powder can also be used to achieve a mocha effect
• Condensed milk is also a great option (this will make a Spanish latte)
• Or top with whipped cream (and make it just like Starbucks!)

The flavor combinations to make a delicious latte are endless, so have fun trying new and exciting flavors at home!

FAQs about making Nespresso lattes

Before I close off this article, let’s quickly go over a few key questions people have when making lattes with their Nespresso machine.

Who knows, maybe this will answer one of the questions you had as well!

Conclusion

Making a latte with your Nespresso is easier than most people think—and with the right pod and milk, it can rival your favorite café drink.

Whether you want it hot or iced, dairy or plant-based, classic or flavored, this recipe adapts to your setup and preferences.

Now that you know how to make a Nespresso latte at home, which version will you try first?

Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear what pod + milk combo you’re using!

More coffee recipes

Ready to try different kinds of coffee? Check out my other recipes below:

• Cinnamon Brown Sugar Latte: How to Make This Latte at Home
• How to Brew Iced Coffee Using a Nespresso Machine at Home
• Proffee (Protein Coffee): What Is It & How to Make It (2025)