Brew your coffee or espresso fresh and set it aside. Using freshly brewed coffee gives the latte a richer, cleaner flavor, especially since this recipe relies on simple ingredients rather than sugary syrups. If you plan to make an iced latte, allow the coffee to cool slightly so it doesn’t melt the ice too quickly and water down the drink.

Pour the milk into your blender, then add the protein powder, caramel flavor, vanilla extract, and your preferred sweetener. Adding the liquid first helps the protein powder blend more smoothly and prevents it from sticking to the sides or bottom of the blender.

Blend the mixture on high speed for about 20–30 seconds, or until it becomes completely smooth and creamy with no visible protein clumps. The texture should look slightly frothy and uniform, similar to a café-style latte base.

Add the brewed coffee to the blender and blend again briefly, just 5–10 seconds, to combine everything and create a light foam on top. Avoid over-blending at this stage, especially if the coffee is hot, to maintain a smooth, balanced texture.

For a hot latte, gently heat the mixture on the stovetop or in the microwave until warm, but do not let it boil, as high heat can affect the protein texture. For an iced version, pour the blended latte over ice, stir gently, and enjoy immediately while it’s cold, creamy, and refreshing.