Strawberry Cold Foam Iced Coffee Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)

There’s something about the combo of sweet strawberries and rich iced coffee that makes this drink feel extra special.

If you’ve ever had vanilla or sweet cream cold foam on a cold brew, you know how that foamy top layer can change the coffee experience.

Now imagine that foam with real strawberry flavor. That’s what this Strawberry Cold Foam Iced Coffee is all about—and it’s way easier to make at home than it sounds.

Whether you’re using cold brew, iced espresso, or even leftover morning coffee, this recipe transforms it into a summer-ready treat.

The strawberry cold foam floats on top and slowly seeps down into the drink as you sip, giving you a mix of coffee and berries that’s smooth, creamy, and really satisfying.

Why Make Strawberry Cold Foam at Home?

I started making this Starbucks drink because I didn’t want to have to pay $$ every day.

Making it at home costs way less, and I get to tweak it to match exactly how I want it to taste.

Here are a few reasons I keep coming back to this one:

• Strawberry + coffee is surprisingly good. The fruitiness softens the bitterness in the best way.
• It feels like a coffee shop drink. The cold foam looks fancy but only takes a minute or two.
• It’s easy to make dairy-free. Oat or almond milk both work really well for the foam.
• You can use fresh or frozen strawberries. So even out of season, it’s doable.

What Kind of Coffee Works Best?

I’ve tested this with everything from espresso shots to store-bought cold brew concentrate, and even instant iced coffee.

It all works—but it depends on your personal taste and how strong you like your coffee.

Here are a few options:

• Cold brew: My favorite. It’s smoother and less acidic, which pairs really well with sweet strawberry foam.
• Iced Americano: If you have an espresso machine, this gives you a bolder flavor and is great when you want a quick version.
• Nespresso iced pods: Convenient and consistent. The iced ones work better than the regular pods since they’re brewed with less volume.
• Leftover brewed coffee: If you’ve got some from the morning, just chill it and pour it over ice. Super practical.

You want the base coffee to be strong enough to hold up against the sweetness of the foam, so don’t water it down too much.

How to Make Strawberry Purée or Syrup

This is where the strawberry flavor comes in, and you have a few ways to go about it.

Fresh Strawberry Purée (My Go-To)

Here’s how to make strawberry puree with fresh strawberries:

• Blend a handful of fresh strawberries with a little sugar or maple syrup.
• Taste and adjust sweetness.
• Optional: strain it if you want it completely smooth (I usually don’t bother).

Note: You can also make strawberry puree with frozen strawberries. Use the same method as above, but thaw first. The flavor is just as good and great when strawberries aren’t in season.

Strawberry Syrup (Store-Bought or Homemade)

If you aren’t up to making your own strawberry puree, a strawberry syrup is a good substitute.

I like using purée for a more natural taste, but syrup will give you that bold coffee-shop flavor.

Best Milk Options for Cold Foam

You don’t need a full barista setup to make cold foam at home, but the kind of milk you use makes a big difference.

Cold foam needs some protein and fat to whip up light and fluffy.

Cold foam milk options:

• 2% milk: Froths really well and holds shape.
• Whole milk: Richer, creamier foam.
• Add cream: A splash of heavy cream with 2% milk makes it extra luxurious.

Non-Dairy Options:

• Oat milk (barista version): Froths great and adds natural sweetness.
• Almond milk: Needs a barista blend or stabilizers to foam properly.
• Coconut milk: Tasty but doesn’t foam much—better in the coffee than in the foam.

You can mix and match depending on what you like and what you have in the fridge.

I usually do 2–3 tablespoons of strawberry purée with about 1/4 cup milk and 2 tablespoons cream.

Tools You Can Use to Froth the Foam

You don’t need a professional steam wand to make strawberry cold foam. These are the tools I’ve used and what I think of each:

• Handheld milk frother: The easiest and most affordable option. Just whisk your mix for 30–45 seconds until it thickens.
• Electric milk frother: If you already have one, many models have a “cold foam” setting.
• French press: Surprisingly good for foam! Just pump the plunger up and down with your foam mix inside until it doubles in size.
• Whisk or jar shake: In a pinch, shaking the milk mix in a jar works—but won’t be quite as fluffy.

Add-Ons and Toppings

If you want to level it up even more, here are some ideas I’ve tried:

• Crushed freeze-dried strawberries: Looks beautiful and adds a little texture.
• Extra syrup drizzle: Let a bit of purée drip down the inside of the glass before adding the coffee.
• Chocolate shavings or white chocolate chips: For a dessert-like version.
• Vanilla or almond extract: A drop in the cold foam gives more depth.

Strawberry Cold Foam Iced Coffee Troubleshooting Tips

Here’s what to do if you run into some of these common cold foam issues:

• My foam isn’t frothing: Check your milk type—too little fat or protein means no foam. Try a barista blend or add a bit of cream.
• Foam is sinking right away: You may need to whip longer or use less liquid. Aim for soft peaks.
• Too sweet or too bland: Adjust the purée-to-milk ratio. You don’t need much sugar if your strawberries are ripe.

Check out more strawberry coffee recipes:

• White Chocolate Strawberry Latte Recipe
• Strawberry Dalgona Whipped Coffee Recipe
• Homemade Strawberry Latte Recipe (Fresh & Creamy)
• The Best Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte Recipe