Coffee Drink
Decaf Latte: Caffeine, Calories and a Simple Recipe
A decaf latte combines decaffeinated espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam. Choose the milk and sweetness separately to get the texture and coffee balance you enjoy.
Drink Snapshot
- Caffeine
- 2–4 mg named exampleOne Nespresso Original decaf preparationThis product example describes Original decaf capsules; ask your roaster about the beans used in the home recipe.
- Calories
- Estimated 95 kcalRecipe ingredient estimateWith 36 g decaf espresso and all 150 g (⅝ US cup) whole milk.
Serving, sugar and sources
- Serving
- 1 decaf latte in a 250 ml (8.5 US fl oz) cup
- Made with
- 36 g decaf espresso + 150 g (⅝ US cup) cold whole milk
- Sugar
- Estimated 7.6 g total. Naturally present in milk; no added sugar.
- Preparation
- About 5 minutes with equipment ready
Nespresso supplies the capsule caffeine example; USDA ingredient data supplies the recipe’s calorie and sugar estimates. See the full calculation or label comparison.
Key Takeaways
- 1Choose decaf beans by the roast and flavor notes you enjoy; the milk texture can be just as important as the coffee.
- 2Specify decaf, milk and sweetness separately when ordering, so each part of the latte suits you.
- 3Steam the measured milk to a glossy texture with fine bubbles, then swirl and pour promptly.
On This Page11 Sections
Does a Decaf Latte Have Caffeine?
Yes, a decaf latte can contain caffeine. For a concrete product example, Nespresso lists 2–4 mg per Original decaf preparation. The National Coffee Association explains that decaffeination happens to green coffee before roasting.
Our home recipe uses 18 g coffee to produce 36 g espresso. Its caffeine needs information specific to those beans and extraction; the capsule figure applies to a different preparation.
What One or Two Decaf Capsules Would Change
Capsule calculation: what changes with a second preparation
Using Nespresso’s stated capsule values:
| Defined capsule example | Caffeine reference before milk |
|---|---|
| One Nespresso Original decaf preparation | Approximately 2–4 mg |
| Two such preparations combined | Approximately 4–8 mg, calculated |
Adding plain milk changes the concentration and taste, not the caffeine already extracted. Two capsules are not automatically equivalent to a café's “double shot.” Use the recipe-specific information from the café or coffee producer when available. The decaf espresso guide explains the coffee preparation in more detail.
Decaf Latte Recipe
Recipe
Plain decaf latte
- Makes:
- 1 serving
- Time:
- About 5 minutes, equipment ready
Ingredients
- 18 g decaffeinated coffee beans, ground for espresso, to produce 36 g brewed espresso
- 150 g (⅝ US cup) cold whole milk, weighed before steaming
Equipment
- Espresso machine and grinder
- Scale
- Thermometer
- Milk pitcher for the steam wand, or small pan and handheld frother
- 250 ml (8.5 US fl oz) heatproof cup
- Espresso basket suited to 18 g and tamper
Method
- Brew the decaf. Prepare 36 g espresso from 18 g ground decaf in the cup. Adjust grind and extraction for your beans and machine.
- Steam the milk. Weigh 150 g (⅝ US cup) cold whole milk into the pitcher. Purge the wand, introduce a little air, then keep the milk rolling until glossy at 60–65°C (140–149°F). Turn off the steam before removing the wand.
- Swirl and pour. Wipe and purge the wand. Swirl the milk and pour into the espresso with a thin foam layer. Leave headroom and serve without syrup.
Estimated nutrition: 95 kcal · 7.6 g total sugar. Per decaf latte, using whole milk and no added sugar.
Recipe notes
Milk is weighed cold. Extra pitcher fill is separate from the measured serving.
Cup: 250 ml (8.5 US fl oz) capacity, with headroom.
Use a heatproof cup and a pitcher suited to the milk portion.
Breville’s latte guidance supports the 60–65°C (140–149°F) milk temperature and swirling before pouring. Use the decaf espresso guide for the coffee preparation. Follow your machine’s minimum-fill and cleaning instructions.
Getting Good Flavor from Decaf Beans
Choose the roast and producer description you enjoy, then adjust the shot for those beans.
Keep the dose and target yield fixed while adjusting grind. Taste a little espresso before adding milk: extra milk can soften an intense shot, but it will not make a poorly extracted shot balanced. For the full method, see espresso brewing.
What Does a Decaf Latte Taste Like?
A decaf latte can have the same soft milk texture and clear roasted finish you look for in a regular latte. Chocolate, nut or fruit notes come from the particular coffee and roast. Warm milk brings gentle sweetness and a smooth, flowing body under a thin foam layer.
I prefer a smaller milk pour when I want a more pronounced decaf coffee flavor because it brings the espresso back into focus.
Decaf Latte vs. Regular Latte and Half-Caf
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| Order | What changes | What the name does not settle |
|---|---|---|
| Regular latte | Regular espresso | Milk quantity, sweetness or exact caffeine |
| Decaf latte | Decaffeinated coffee | Milk type, calories or zero caffeine |
| Half-caf latte | Regular and decaf coffee are combined | A fixed milligram amount or universal mixing recipe |
| Skinny latte | Usually skim milk, with flavoring choices specified separately | Whether the espresso is decaf |
You can combine requests: a decaf latte with skim milk and no syrup. An oat milk latte changes the milk; it does not become decaf unless the coffee changes too. A decaf brewed coffee with warm milk is closer to a caffè misto than this espresso-based recipe.
Ordering a Decaf Latte
Specify size, decaf coffee, milk and syrup. For example: “A small decaf latte with whole milk and no syrup.” Ask how many espresso portions the café uses for that size.
I state decaf and my sweetness preference separately when ordering. One changes the coffee; the other changes the additions. I find that clearer than expecting either choice to imply the rest of the drink.
For a flavored order, ask separately for the flavor and amount. A decaf vanilla latte still includes whatever sugar is in its syrup. At a chain, use the menu for the selected size and customizations rather than copying this page's home-recipe numbers. Starbucks' March 2026 customization guidance likewise treats milk, sweetness and decaf choices separately.
Decaf Latte Calories, Sugar and Iced Variations
The full recipe with 36 g decaf espresso and all 150 g (⅝ US cup) whole milk has an estimated 95 kcal and 7.6 g total sugar, with no added sugar.
Serving calculation and ingredient sources
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| Ingredient | Reference per 100 g | Contribution to this recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Whole milk, 150 g | 61 kcal; 5.05 g sugar | 91.5 kcal; 7.575 g sugar |
| Prepared decaf espresso, 36 g | 9 kcal; 0 g sugar | 3.24 kcal; 0 g sugar |
| Total before rounding | 94.74 kcal; 7.575 g sugar |
The sources are USDA FoodData Central records 171265 (whole milk) and 174125 (prepared decaffeinated espresso). The espresso record supplies the energy and sugar values. Calories are rounded to the nearest five.
The milk supplies almost all the energy, so switching regular espresso to decaf is not a meaningful way to remove milk calories.
Iced version: put 150 g (⅝ US cup) cold whole milk and 100 g (3.5 oz) ice in a 350 ml (11.8 US fl oz) glass, add 36 g decaf espresso and stir. Skip steaming. With the same intended coffee and milk, ice adds no calories or sugar; its melt changes dilution. Use a larger glass if needed.
Plant milk: choose the product separately. Use its own nutrition label: for values per 100 ml (3.4 US fl oz), measure the volume poured. The cup equivalents above are for whole dairy milk. Check sweetened varieties and toppings if avoiding added sugar.
Decaf Latte Troubleshooting
| Problem | Useful next step |
|---|---|
| Thin coffee flavor | Check extraction first; then try 120 g (½ US cup) milk instead of 150 g (⅝ US cup) |
| Sour or harsh espresso | Adjust grind with the same beans, dose and yield before sweetening |
| Dry foam sitting on top | Introduce less air and swirl before pouring |
| Cup fills before the milk is poured | Reduce aeration or use a larger cup; do not force the foam in |
| Unsure whether the order is decaf | Confirm the actual coffee used; flavor and crema cannot prove caffeine content |
Without an Espresso Machine
Use 40 g (1.4 oz) concentrated decaf moka-pot coffee as a home substitute, with 150 g (⅝ US cup) whole milk. Brew normally, then measure the coffee. Its flavor and caffeine basis differ from espresso. Alternatively, dissolve a labeled serving of decaf instant coffee in 40 g (1.4 US fl oz) hot water; use that product's information.
Without a steam wand, gently heat the milk, froth briefly with a handheld frother, then swirl to combine the foam and pour.
Common Questions
Is decaf latte caffeine-free?
Does adding more milk reduce caffeine?
Does decaf taste weaker?
Can I make it vegan?
Can I make a half-caf latte instead?
Editor's Take
Sources and Further Reading
6 references
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