Lemon Salted Cold Foam Cold Brew Recipe (5-Minute Café Drink at Home!)

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Picture this: you wake up to a sunshine-filled morning, and instead of your regular coffee routine, you pour yourself a glass of citrus-kissed cold brew topped with luxurious honey-salted foam. That’s exactly what this Lemon Salted Cold Foam Cold Brew delivers a sophisticated café-style drink you can easily make at home.

This recipe bridges the gap between traditional lemoncello recipes and modern coffee culture, creating a beverage that’s both refreshing and energizing. The overnight steeping process infuses your cold brew with subtle lemon essence, while the whipped salted foam adds a creamy, sweet-and-savory crown that transforms every sip into an experience.

Whether you’re a fan of seven brew coffee drinks or exploring homemade lemoncello recipes for inspiration, this drink will become your go-to summer refreshment and trust me, once you try it, you’ll be making it year-round.

Why This Lemon Cold Foam Cold Brew Works

The Perfect Flavor Balance

The genius of this recipe lies in its layered approach. The cold brew base, infused with fresh lemon peel, provides a smooth, low-acid coffee foundation with bright citrus notes reminiscent of authentic limoncello recipe traditions. Unlike harsh iced coffee, the overnight steeping method creates a naturally sweet, mellow brew that doesn’t need sugar to taste amazing.

The lemon salted cold foam is where magic happens. By whisking cold heavy cream with raw honey and lemon-infused salt, you create a topping that’s simultaneously sweet, salty, creamy, and tangy. This complexity mirrors what makes lemonchello drinks recipe creations so popular that perfect interplay of flavors that keeps you coming back for more.

Equipment You’ll Need

To make this recipe successfully, you’ll need a few essential tools. A quality electric mixer makes whipping the cold foam effortless, though a hand whisk works too if you don’t mind a little arm workout. For straining your cold brew, a fine colander strainer basket ensures you remove all the grounds for perfectly smooth coffee.

Store your overnight cold brew in a sealable container any airtight jar works perfectly. You’ll also want mixing bowls for preparing the foam and measuring cups and spoons set for precision with your ingredients.

Ingredients Breakdown

Ingredient Notes

Coffee Selection: Choose a medium-roast coffee with naturally sweet notes. Ethiopian or Colombian beans work beautifully, complementing the lemon without overpowering it.

Lemon Zest Salt: If you can’t find pre-made infused lemon salt, make your own by mixing flaky sea salt with fresh lemon zest and letting it dry for a few hours.

Heavy Cream Temperature: Keep your cream cold until you’re ready to whisk. Cold cream whips faster and holds its structure better, creating that perfect soft-peak foam.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Cold Brew (Night Before)

1. Measure 80g of coarsely ground coffee into a sealable container
2. Add 2 cups of cold, filtered water to the coffee grounds
3. Use a peeler to remove the peel from one lemon, avoiding the white pith
4. Add the lemon peel strips to your coffee mixture
5. Seal the container and give it a gentle shake to combine
6. Refrigerate overnight (12-24 hours for best results)

Filtering the Cold Brew (Next Day)

1. Set up your colander strainer basket over a clean container or pitcher
2. Pour the steeped coffee mixture through the strainer to remove large grounds and lemon peel
3. For ultra-smooth results, strain a second time through a coffee filter
4. Store filtered cold brew in the refrigerator until ready to serve

Making the Lemon Salted Cold Foam

1. Pour ½ cup cold heavy whipping cream into a mixing bowl
2. Add 3 tablespoons raw honey and ½ teaspoon infused lemon zest salt
3. Using a hand whisk or electric mixer, whisk vigorously for 2-3 minutes
4. Continue whisking until the mixture reaches a loose soft-peak consistency (it should hold its shape but remain pourable)
5. Be careful not to over-whip, or you’ll end up with butter instead of foam

Assembly and Serving

1. Fill your serving glasses with ice cubes
2. Pour the lemon-infused cold brew over the ice, filling about ¾ of the glass
3. Gently spoon or pour the lemon salted cold foam on top, allowing it to float on the surface
4. Drizzle raw honey over the foam in a decorative pattern
5. Sprinkle a pinch of lemon zest salt across the top
6. Use a peeler to create fresh lemon zest curls as a final garnish
7. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Pro Tips for Perfect Results

Grinding Matters: Coarse grounds are essential for cold brew. Fine grounds will over-extract and create bitter, muddy coffee. If you’re grinding at home, use a food processor on pulse mode or invest in a burr grinder set to the coarsest setting.

Foam Consistency: The key to Instagram-worthy cold foam is achieving that “loose soft peak” texture. It should be thick enough to sit on top of your coffee but fluid enough to slowly blend as you drink. Think of the consistency of DIY limoncello cream pourable but substantial.

Flavor Variations: Once you master this base recipe, experiment with variations inspired by lemoncello desserts. Try adding vanilla extract to the foam, or infuse your cold brew with additional herbs like mint or basil for complexity.

Make-Ahead Convenience: Cold brew concentrate keeps refrigerated for up to two weeks, making this recipe perfect for busy mornings. Prepare a larger batch and have café-quality coffee ready whenever the craving strikes.

Nutritional Highlights

This beverage offers more than just incredible flavor. Cold brew coffee naturally contains less acid than hot-brewed coffee, making it gentler on your stomach. The lemon peel adds vitamin C and aromatic compounds that may support digestion, while raw honey provides natural antioxidants and minerals.

The heavy cream in the foam delivers healthy fats that help stabilize blood sugar and keep you satisfied longer. Unlike sugary coffee shop drinks, this recipe uses minimal sweeteners, letting the natural flavors shine through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular coffee instead of cold brew?
While you can pour the lemon salted foam over regular iced coffee, the flavor won’t be as smooth. Cold brew’s low acidity and natural sweetness complement the lemon much better than hot-brewed coffee that’s been cooled.

How long does the cold brew last?
Your lemon-infused cold brew will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 10 days when stored in an airtight container. However, the lemon flavor is most vibrant in the first 3-4 days.

Can I make this dairy-free?
Absolutely! Replace the heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream for a dairy-free foam that whips beautifully. The texture will be slightly different but equally delicious.

What if I don’t have lemon zest salt?
Simply mix ¼ teaspoon regular sea salt with ¼ teaspoon fresh lemon zest. Let it sit for 15 minutes before using to allow the flavors to meld.

Can I sweeten the cold brew itself?
The recipe is designed to keep the cold brew unsweetened, letting the foam provide all the sweetness. However, if you prefer a sweeter drink overall, add 1-2 tablespoons of honey or simple syrup directly to the cold brew before adding ice.

Is this recipe similar to lemoncello spritzers recipe drinks?
While lemoncello spritzers typically contain alcohol and sparkling water, this coffee version captures that same bright, citrus-forward refreshment in a caffeine-rich format. Think of it as the morning alternative to your evening limoncello cocktail!

This Lemon Salted Cold Foam Cold Brew proves that café-quality beverages don’t require expensive equipment or barista skills. With simple ingredients and a bit of planning, you can enjoy this refreshing, Instagram-worthy drink anytime the mood strikes. The combination of smooth cold brew, bright lemon notes, and creamy salted foam creates a drinking experience that rivals anything you’d pay $7 for at a coffee shop.

Ready to elevate your coffee game? Give this recipe a try and discover why lemon-coffee combinations are taking the beverage world by storm!

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Lemon Salted Cold Foam Cold Brew Recipe (5-Minute Café Drink at Home!)

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A refreshing lemon-infused cold brew coffee topped with honey-sweetened salted foam. This café-style drink combines smooth overnight cold brew with bright citrus notes and creamy topping for the perfect morning or afternoon refreshment.

• Author: Alice
• Prep Time: 12 hours 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 12 hours 5 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings
• Category: Beverage
• Method: Cold Brew
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Cold Brew:

80g coarsely ground coffee

2 cups cold water

Lemon peel of 1 lemon

Lemon Salted Cold Foam:

½ cup cold heavy whipping cream

3 tablespoons raw honey

½ teaspoon infused lemon zest salt

Garnish:

Raw honey for drizzling

Infused lemon zest salt for sprinkling

Zest of 1 lemon

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. In a sealable container, combine coffee grounds, 2 cups cold water, and lemon peel strips. Seal and refrigerate overnight (12-24 hours).

2. The next day, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or coffee filter to remove grounds and lemon peel. Store cold brew in refrigerator.

3. In a mixing bowl, combine cold heavy whipping cream, 3 tablespoons raw honey, and ½ teaspoon lemon zest salt.

4. Whisk vigorously by hand or with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until mixture reaches loose soft-peak consistency.

5. Fill serving glasses with ice cubes and pour lemon-infused cold brew over ice, filling ¾ of the glass.

6. Gently spoon or pour the lemon salted cold foam on top of the cold brew.

7. Drizzle honey over the foam, sprinkle with lemon zest salt, and garnish with fresh lemon zest curls.

8. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

For best results, use coarsely ground coffee to prevent over-extraction and bitterness.

Keep heavy cream cold until ready to whip for optimal foam consistency.

Cold brew concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

If you don’t have infused lemon zest salt, mix ¼ teaspoon sea salt with ¼ teaspoon fresh lemon zest.

For dairy-free version, substitute full-fat coconut cream for heavy whipping cream.