Earl Grey Latte Recipe

Heat water

Bring about 6 oz of water to just below boiling (around 200°F / 93°C). If using an electric kettle, stop when small bubbles form but before a full rolling boil.

Place 1 tsp of loose-leaf Earl Grey (or one tea bag) into a teapot or cup. Pour the hot 6 oz water over the tea and steep for 3–4 minutes for standard strength. For stronger bergamot flavor, steep up to 5 minutes but avoid oversteeping to prevent bitterness.

After steeping, remove the tea leaves or bag and transfer the brewed tea to a larger vessel or your serving cup. You should have roughly 5–6 oz of brewed tea after absorption.

Measure 6 oz of cold 2% milk into a small saucepan or milk frother pitcher.

If using a stovetop: warm the milk over medium-low heat until it registers 140–150°F (60–65°C) or is steaming with small bubbles at the edges. Do not boil. If using a microwave: heat in 20–30 second intervals, checking temperature and avoiding scalding.

Froth the warmed milk using a steam wand, handheld electric frother, or French press. Aim for silky microfoam: about 15–25 seconds of aeration then swirling to remove large bubbles. If using a French press, pump the plunger vigorously for 20–30 seconds to create foam.

If using vanilla syrup or simple syrup, add 1 tablespoon to the brewed tea and stir to dissolve. Taste and adjust: add the optional 1 tsp honey or sugar if you prefer a sweeter latte.

Pour the frothed milk into the brewed Earl Grey: hold back the foam with a spoon and pour the warm milk first, then spoon the microfoam on top to create a layered latte. For a 12 oz cup, aim for roughly equal parts tea and milk (about 6 oz each).

If using bergamot oil or a small pinch of finely grated orange zest, add about 1/4 tsp of bergamot oil or a light dusting of zest on top of the foam for extra aroma. Optionally finish with a very light pinch of freshly ground black pepper for a subtly spicy contrast.

Serve immediately while hot. Stir lightly before drinking if the syrup or flavoring has settled. Enjoy as a 12 oz Earl Grey Latte with nutritional info based on 2% milk.