Hot Cafe Drinks Without Coffee: Steamers, Chai and More

The best hot cafe drinks without coffee are the vanilla steamer, the chai latte, the matcha latte, hot chocolate, golden milk and, for kids, the babyccino. Most are built on the same base as a latte, steamed and frothed milk, flavored with syrup, tea, cocoa or spices instead of espresso. Every one of them is easy to make at home with a saucepan or a simple milk frother.

Whether you are cutting back on caffeine in the afternoon, ordering for a friend who does not drink coffee or keeping kids happy, this guide walks through the non-coffee side of the café menu, with recipes in US and metric measurements.

The Non-Coffee Hot Cafe Menu at a Glance

Here is what each drink is made of and how much caffeine to expect. Caffeine varies a lot with the tea or cocoa you use, so the table compares them in general terms.

For a closer look at cocoa, read our comparison of caffeine in chocolate vs coffee.

The Base Skill: Hot, Silky Milk

Almost every hot cafe drink without coffee is mostly milk, so the milk is where quality comes from.

• Temperature: heat milk to about 140 to 155°F (60 to 68°C). It should be hot to the touch and steaming, never boiling. Overheated milk loses its sweetness and can taste cooked.
• Froth: a handheld wand, an electric frother, a French press (pump the plunger) or a shaken jar all work. Our guide on how to froth milk at home compares each method.
• Milk choice: whole milk gives the richest foam. Oat milk “barista” versions are the best plant-based option for froth.

Hot Cafe Drink Recipes You Can Make at Home

Vanilla steamer

A steamer is simply steamed milk with syrup. It is the classic order for kids and for anyone who wants something cozy late at night.

• 1 cup (240 ml) milk
• 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) vanilla syrup, or 2 teaspoons sugar plus 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Heat the milk to steaming in a saucepan or microwave.
2. Froth until it doubles in volume and looks glossy.
3. Stir the syrup into the mug, pour in the milk and spoon the foam on top.

Variations: caramel, hazelnut, cinnamon or honey and lavender. A homemade syrup from our guide to homemade coffee syrups works perfectly here too.

Chai latte

• 1 tablespoon (about 4 g) Masala Chai loose leaf tea
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) milk
• 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar or honey

1. Simmer the tea in the water for 3 minutes.
2. Add the milk and sugar and heat until steaming, without boiling.
3. Strain into a mug. Froth a little extra milk for the top if you want a café look, and dust with cinnamon.

If you drink chai every day, make a batch with our chai concentrate recipe.

Matcha latte

• 1 teaspoon (2 g) matcha
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) hot water, about 175°F (80°C)
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) milk
• 1 teaspoon honey or simple syrup (optional)

1. Sift the matcha into a bowl or mug to avoid lumps.
2. Add the hot water and whisk in a zigzag motion until smooth and foamy.
3. Steam and froth the milk, pour it over the matcha and sweeten to taste.

Avoid boiling water, which makes matcha taste bitter.

Hot chocolate

• 1 cup (240 ml) milk
• 1 oz (30 g) dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon (6 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 to 2 tablespoons (12 to 25 g) sugar, and a pinch of salt

1. Whisk the cocoa, sugar, salt and a splash of the milk into a smooth paste in a small saucepan.
2. Add the rest of the milk and heat gently, whisking.
3. When steaming, take it off the heat, add the chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and glossy.

Top with whipped cream or froth the finished drink for a lighter, café-style texture.

Golden milk (turmeric latte)

• 1 cup (240 ml) milk or oat milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• A small pinch of black pepper
• 1 to 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup

1. Whisk everything except the sweetener in a saucepan.
2. Heat gently for 3 to 5 minutes, whisking, until steaming and fragrant.
3. Sweeten, then froth or pour straight into a mug.

Shortcut: steep 1 tablespoon of our Turmeric Ginger herbal tea in 1/4 cup (60 ml) boiling water for 5 minutes, strain, and top with 3/4 cup (180 ml) frothed milk.

Babyccino

A babyccino is a small cup of warm frothed milk, often dusted with cocoa and sometimes served with a marshmallow. Keep it warm rather than hot for little ones, around 100 to 115°F (38 to 46°C), and test it yourself before serving. Our article on the babyccino tells the full story.

More Non-Coffee Ideas Worth Trying

• London Fog: Earl Grey with vanilla and frothed milk. See our London Fog latte recipe.
• Hojicha latte: roasted green tea with a toasty, nutty flavor and less caffeine than matcha.
• Rooibos latte: naturally caffeine-free. Brew our Apple Cider Rooibos strong and top it with steamed milk for a fall-spiced drink.
• Chamomile steamer: steep chamomile in a little water, then add hot milk and honey.

Our article on tea latte recipes covers more of these in depth.

Hot Cafe Drinks Without Coffee FAQ

What is a steamer at a coffee shop?

A steamer is steamed milk flavored with syrup, usually vanilla, and topped with foam. It is essentially a latte without espresso, which makes it caffeine-free.

Which hot cafe drinks have no caffeine?

Steamers, babyccinos, golden milk and herbal tea lattes such as rooibos or chamomile are caffeine-free. Hot chocolate contains a small amount from the cocoa, while chai and matcha lattes contain caffeine from the tea.

Does a chai latte have as much caffeine as coffee?

Usually less. A chai latte gets its caffeine from black tea, which typically contains less per cup than brewed coffee, though strong concentrates can add up. A dirty chai, with an added espresso shot, has more.

What is the best milk for non-coffee lattes?

Whole milk gives the creamiest texture and thickest foam. Oat milk is the most popular plant-based choice because it froths well and has a natural sweetness that suits chai, matcha and golden milk.

Your Cozy Cup, No Coffee Required

Hot cafe drinks without coffee are mostly about good milk and a great flavor base. Once you can heat and froth milk well, you can make a steamer, chai latte, matcha latte, hot chocolate or golden milk in five minutes. Stock your shelf from the Feel Espresso tea collection, starting with Masala Chai and Matcha, and when you want coffee flavor with very little caffeine in the evening, our Peru Decaf makes a smooth decaf latte.