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Pandan coconut latte served in a clear glass with a creamy pale green finish

Pandan Coconut Latte with Homemade Pandan Syrup

A fragrant homemade pandan syrup, creamy coconut milk, and espresso come together in a café-style drink you can make in under 30 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Specialty Latte
Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Calories: 185

Ingredients
  

Pandan Syrup
  • 40 g fresh pandan leaves (about 6-8 leaves) washed, cut into 3 cm pieces
  • 120 ml water divided - 60 ml for blending, 60 ml for syrup
  • 80 g white granulated sugar
Latte Assembly
  • 160 ml full-fat canned coconut milk well shaken
  • 120 ml espresso 2 double shots, pulled fresh
  • 30 ml pandan syrup (from above) about 2 tablespoons, adjust to taste
  • 1 cup ice cubes optional, for iced version

Method
 

Make the Pandan Syrup
  1. Add pandan leaves and 60 ml of water to a blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds until the leaves are finely broken down and the water turns deep green.
  2. Strain the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan, pressing the solids firmly with the back of a spoon. Discard the fibrous pulp.
  3. Add the remaining 60 ml of water and 80 g of sugar to the saucepan. Heat over medium-low until the sugar dissolves completely, stirring gently. Do not let it boil - keep the temperature around 85 C / 185 F.
  4. Simmer for 3 minutes, then remove from heat. The syrup should be pale to medium green and coat the back of a spoon lightly. Let it cool for 5 minutes before using.
Froth the Coconut Milk
  1. Pour 160 ml of well-shaken full-fat coconut milk into a small saucepan or milk pitcher. For a hot latte, heat to 60 C / 140 F. For an iced latte, keep it cold.
  2. Froth the coconut milk using a handheld milk frother for 20 to 30 seconds until it's lightly foamy. Full-fat coconut milk won't form stiff peaks like dairy, but it will get creamy and slightly aerated.
Assemble the Latte
  1. For an iced latte: fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Add 15 ml of pandan syrup, then pour in the cold frothed coconut milk. For a hot latte: add 15 ml of pandan syrup to a warmed 300 ml cup, then pour in the hot frothed coconut milk.
  2. Pull 2 double shots of espresso (total 120 ml). Pour the espresso slowly over the back of a spoon or directly down the side of the glass to create a visible layer on top.
  3. Taste and stir. Add the remaining 15 ml of pandan syrup if you want more sweetness or pandan flavor. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Blend pandan leaves with 60 ml water before straining for the most concentrated flavor
  • Do not boil the pandan syrup - gentle simmering at 85 C / 185 F preserves the aroma
  • Use full-fat canned coconut milk only; carton versions are too thin for a latte texture
  • Taste the syrup at room temperature before sweetening further - it reads sweeter when cold
  • Pull the espresso shot last so it's fresh and hot when poured over the cold coconut milk