Don't Skip This Step When Adding Coconut Milk To Your Hot Drinks

Thanks to its naturally creamy texture and subtle sweetness, home baristas and professionals alike reach for coconut milk on the daily for crafting knockout hot bevys. Whether you keep it simple and add a splash to your morning cuppa joe, or you use it to pour killer latte art, there's one tip baristas should know for better coconut milk texture: Don't forget to froth it first for a smoother texture.

Coconut milk is made by simmering shredded coconut meat in water. As it cooks, the coconut meat seeps a thick paste, which is diluted in the water. The meat is strained out of the mixture, leaving behind (you guessed it) coconut milk. This is why canned coconut milk tends to naturally separate into distinct layers of semisolids to ultra-watery liquids.

With its heterogeneous composition in mind, the best way to incorporate coconut milk into your luscious hot beverages is to make sure the milk is well-mixed for a smooth, even consistency. To accomplish this, it's time to break out the milk frother. If you happen to have a home espresso machine, simply pour that coconut milk into the metal milk pitcher and froth it using the steaming wand as normal. Alternatively, a handheld tool like the Zulay milk frother wand can come in handy (pun intended). These motor-powered mixers achieve maximum foamy frothiness with minimal dishes to wash, and are typically super affordable, falling in the ballpark of $10-$15 for a decent model.

To use a handheld frothing wand, pour your desired amount of coconut milk into a tall glass, with room to spare for mixing. Then, turn on the wand at low speed and slowly lower it into the middle of the milk in a straight vertical insertion. Once submerged, kick it up to high speed, keeping the wand only about an inch or two below the surface of the milk. You'll be able to visually tell when your coconut milk has reached your desired frothiness, at which point you can turn off the wand and wait for it to stop rotating before pulling it out of the glass (mess-free mixing!).

Admittedly, although super user-friendly and quick, frothing wands do nothing to affect temperature. Your coconut milk might need to be pre-warmed in the microwave or a saucepan on the stovetop before assembling your beverage. Other appliances like the electric milk steamer by Instant Pot can both froth and heat up that coconut milk at the same time for easy one-step inclusion in your hot drinks.

Be sure to opt for full-fat canned coconut milk here. "Light" versions are simply watered down, and don't froth up to a luscious texture; home cooks can dilute their coconut milk themselves for greater control over the thickness, if desired. From there, that frothed coconut milk can make a silky addition to hot cocoa, turmeric golden milk lattes, hot coconut matcha lattes, steamy spiced coconut chai lattes, and more.