How to Make a Warm Black Sesame Latte

What you need

• Espresso machine
• Steam wand (or microwave or stovetop for home use)
• Milk pitcher
• 13 oz glass cup
• Spoon

Method

1. Steam the milk until hot, taking great care not to introduce any foam

   This is the most important step: foam causes the heavy black sesame cream to sink below it rather than float on top, ruining both the layered appearance and the drinking experience

   Expert tipIf you do not have a steam wand, warm the milk gently in a microwave or on the stovetop — either works as long as no foam forms

2. Pour the foam-free steamed milk into a 13 oz glass cup

3. Hold a spoon face-down just at the surface of the milk, then slowly pour 100 ml of black sesame cream over the back of the spoon so it spreads gently onto the milk and floats

   The spoon must be as close to the liquid surface as possible — pouring from any height will punch the cream straight through the milk and it will sink

   Expert tipOnce poured correctly the cream will sit visibly as a distinct floating layer on top of the milk

4. Pour a shot of espresso gently on top of the floating cream layer to finish

   Adding the shot last keeps it hot and preserves the three distinct layers until the drink reaches the customer

Why this works

Foam-free steamed milk gives the black sesame cream a smooth, unbroken surface to float on; even small foam pockets create gaps that let the denser cream fall through. Pouring over the back of a spoon held close to the surface slows and widens the cream stream, laying it across the milk rather than driving it downward. Placing the espresso shot last, directly onto the cream, keeps all three components visually separated until the drinker combines them. Drinking by using the upper lip to lightly hold back the cream while drawing coffee up from below allows both flavors to arrive on the palate together with every sip.

Where beginners go wrong

1. 1

   Cream sinks instead of floating

   Two causes: foam in the milk, or pouring the cream from too high. Ensure no foam forms during steaming, and press the spoon to the milk surface before pouring so the cream has almost no drop height.

2. 2

   Drink tastes overwhelmingly sweet

   You are drinking only the cream layer. Use your upper lip to lightly hold the cream back while pulling the coffee up from below so both flavors reach your palate at once — this technique takes a little practice.

3. 3

   Layers collapse and mix immediately

   Pour the cream very slowly and keep the spoon pressed as close to the liquid surface as possible to minimize turbulence. Any speed or height will break through the surface tension between the layers.

What you should taste

Warm, deeply nutty, and lightly sweet with a rich roasted sesame character from the cream. The espresso underneath provides a clean, slightly bitter backbone. The flavors are at their best when cream and coffee meet the palate simultaneously, and the drink has a comforting, seasonal quality that suits cool or cold weather particularly well.

FAQ