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Soy Latte: Recipe, Calories and How to Avoid Splitting

By Mara EllisonReviewed by Online Coffee Guide editorial teamPublished Updated 5 min read

A soy latte is espresso with steamed soy milk and a thin layer of fine foam. The carton shapes its sweetness, body and mild soy flavor.

Latte with heart-shaped foam in a green cup beside a small dish of soybeans
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Drink Snapshot

Caffeine
~75 mg referenceGeneric prepared espresso, 36 gThe home extraction is unmeasured; soy milk does not remove caffeine.
Calories
Estimated 80 kcalNamed ingredient estimate180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) Alpro UK Barista Soya plus espresso; no syrup.
Serving, sugar and sources
Serving
1 hot soy latte in a 250–300 ml (8.5–10.1 US fl oz) cup
Made with
36 g espresso + 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) cold soy milk
Sugar
Estimated 4.5 g total. From the selected soy-drink label; no extra sugar added in the recipe.
Preparation
About 5 minutes, equipment ready

Nutrition is calculated from product labels and a USDA espresso reference. Milk is measured by volume before heating; cup capacity is not drink yield. See the full calculation or label comparison.

Key Takeaways

  • 1Taste the soy drink with coffee before adding flavoring; its own sweetness and flavor shape the latte.
  • 2If the milk foams well but splits in coffee, look at the carton, coffee and serving temperature rather than adding more air.
  • 3Measure the milk before steaming and pour the whole measured portion into the espresso.
On This Page10 Sections

Which Soy Milk Works in a Latte?

Start with a barista soy drink if your priority is foam and easy mixing. Choose an unsweetened carton if avoiding sweeteners matters more, then check how that specific product behaves in coffee.

Read the ingredients as well as the front label. The Alpro UK Barista Soya ingredients list sugar, while the Tesco label lists apple extract. Both give the same energy and protein values; the calculation below uses Tesco’s 2.5 g total sugars per 100 ml. Check your carton to identify the formulation you have.

Soy Latte Recipe

Simple Hot Soy Latte

Recipe

Hot Soy Latte

Makes:
1 serving
Time:
About 5 minutes, equipment ready

Ingredients

  • 18 g coffee, ground for espresso, to yield 36 g espresso
  • 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) cold barista soy milk

Equipment

  • Espresso machine with steam wand
  • Grinder and tamper
  • Scale
  • Graduated measuring jug
  • Milk pitcher suited to 180 ml milk
  • Thermometer
  • 250–300 ml (8.5–10.1 US fl oz) heatproof cup

Method

  1. Prepare the milk. Shake the closed carton as directed. Measure 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) cold soy milk into a suitable pitcher and set out a 250–300 ml (8.5–10.1 US fl oz) cup.
  2. Brew the espresso. Prepare 36 g espresso from 18 g ground coffee. Adjust the grind for your beans and machine; this 1:2 brew ratio uses mass.
  3. Steam gently. Add a little air near the start, then keep the milk rolling until the bubbles are fine. For the named Alpro Barista Soya, stop at 65°C (149°F); follow your carton if different. Do not boil or re-steam. Turn off the steam before removing the wand, then wipe and purge it.
  4. Pour and serve. Swirl the pitcher to integrate the foam. Pour all the textured milk into the espresso, leave room below the rim and serve promptly.

Estimated nutrition: 80 kcal · 4.5 g total sugar. Per latte, using Alpro UK Barista Soya and no added syrup.

Espresso followed by gently steamed barista soy milk with fine, flowing foam.
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Follow the named carton’s heating guidance and pour while the foam is fluid.

Prepare the shot using the espresso brew guide. The 65°C (149°F) target follows Alpro’s recommendation for its Barista Soya.

Without a steam wand: gently warm 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) soy milk in a saucepan, froth briefly with a handheld frother and swirl before pouring into 36 g espresso. Without an espresso machine: combine 40 ml (1.4 US fl oz) prepared moka-pot coffee with 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) soy milk.

What Does a Soy Latte Taste Like?

A soy latte has a soft, creamy body with a mild soy flavor beside the espresso. Some cartons taste more beany or nutty than others; the barista formulation used here is intended to be mild and brings a little sweetness. Fine foam should blend into the drink, leaving the coffee’s roasted character clear through the finish.

I taste a new soy drink with the espresso before choosing it for a latte because the carton’s own flavor matters even when it foams well.

Soy Latte Troubleshooting

Soy Latte Troubleshooting
Soy Latte Troubleshooting
What you seeWhat to try next
Big, dry bubbles in the pitcherIntroduce less air, keep the milk moving, then swirl and pour promptly.
Milk froths alone but separates in coffeeFollow the carton's heat limit; next time compare a coffee-specific formulation while keeping the quantities fixed.
Separation persistsTry a slightly cooler serving or a different coffee, changing one variable at a time.
Coffee tastes hiddenReduce the cold milk to 150 ml (5.1 US fl oz) next time; keep the espresso unchanged.
Unwanted sweetnessChoose a no-sugars carton before deciding whether any syrup is needed.

Why can soy milk split? A 2019 study of soy milk and instant coffee found that temperature and milk concentration affected separation in the tested system. That supports checking the combination as well as the frother. It does not establish a universal heat threshold or guarantee a fix for every espresso and carton. Do not use appearance alone to decide whether an opened product is fresh; follow its storage directions.

Soy Latte Calories, Protein and Caffeine

This recipe has an estimated 80 kcal, with 4.5 g total sugar, using 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz) of the named Barista Soya and 36 g plain espresso. The milk supplies 5.9 g protein. The espresso supplies a 75 mg caffeine reference.

Nutrition from two soy drinks before coffeeScrollable table
Nutrition from two soy drinks before coffee
Cold soy drink, UK productkcal per 100 mlSugars per 100 mlFor 180 ml: milk only
Alpro Barista Soya422.5 g75.6 kcal; 4.5 g sugars; 5.94 g protein
Alpro Soya No Sugars330 g59.4 kcal; 0 g labelled sugars; 5.94 g protein
Serving calculation and sources

Sources: Barista Soya UK label and Alpro Soya No Sugars UK, reviewed 24 September 2026. Both list 3.3 g protein per 100 ml. Multiply each label value by 1.8 for this recipe's cold milk portion. The No Sugars version saves about 16 kcal in the milk portion.

USDA espresso record 171891 lists 9 kcal and 212 mg caffeine per 100 g. For 36 g, that gives 3.24 kcal and 76.32 mg: about 3 kcal and a 75 mg caffeine reference, not a test of this extraction. Use a named café or capsule’s own serving information when available; see decaf latte for a lower-caffeine choice.

Adding the espresso estimate gives 78.84 kcal for the Barista version, rounded to 80. The No Sugars version is 62.64 kcal, or 65 with the same rounding. No syrup is included. The UK labels give total sugars, not a separately quantified added-sugar amount; “no syrup added” does not make the Barista recipe sugar-free.

Soy Latte vs. Oat and Almond Lattes

Soy latte vs oat and almond lattes
Soy latte vs oat and almond lattes
If you care most about…Compare this
ProteinThe exact carton value and the amount poured. This soy example contributes 5.9 g from 180 ml (6.1 US fl oz).
A grain-like flavorAn oat milk latte; sweetness and texture still vary by product.
A nutty flavor or lighter milk portionAn almond milk latte, checking sweetened versus unsweetened labels.
Less caffeineThe espresso choice, rather than the milk name.

Plant drinks are not nutritionally interchangeable. The FDA's comparison guidance recommends checking protein, calcium, vitamins and added sugars on the label. This plain soy recipe uses plant ingredients; check toppings and syrups separately, and choose another drink if you need to avoid soy.

Iced Soy Latte

Use 36 g espresso, 150 ml (5.1 US fl oz) cold soy drink and 100 g (3.5 oz) ice in a glass of at least 350 ml (11.8 US fl oz). Add milk and ice, pour in the espresso and stir. Skip steaming. With the same Barista label, the smaller milk portion makes this version an estimated 65 kcal and 3.8 g total sugar; the espresso reference is unchanged. Ice dilutes the drink as it melts.

Common Questions

Can soy milk make latte art?
Yes. Start with a barista soy drink, introduce a little air while steaming, then swirl and pour while the foam is fine and flowing. The carton and pouring technique affect the result.
Is a soy latte dairy-free and vegan?
Plain espresso and a dairy-free soy drink make a plant-based latte. Check flavorings and toppings separately, and ask about preparation if cross-contact matters to you.
Is a soy latte automatically healthier than a dairy latte?
There is no single answer from the drink name. Compare the actual portion, protein, fortification, sugars and ingredients against what you need.

Editor's Take

Sources and Further Reading

7 references

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