Is French Vanilla Coffee? (Bonus: Iced Coffee Recipe)

When you hear ‘French Vanilla’, you think of an elegant, rather expensive cup of coffee. Is French Vanilla coffee?

Not at all! It’s a flavoring derived from the delicate spice. And you can use it on just about anything, not just coffee.

Vanilla is one of the spices with the fastest growing price in the last 5 years! In this article, we’ll explain all there is to know about this expensive spice and share a new delicious recipe below.

Topics Explored

1. Is French Vanilla Coffee?
2. What is French Vanilla Coffee?
3. 3 Common Myths
4. How to Make French Vanilla Iced Coffee
5. FAQs

Vanilla is grown in exotic tropical places like Madagascar, but not France. So why is it ‘french’?

The term french vanilla describes a particular taste of vanilla.⁽¹⁾

It’s the french formula for making ice cream, mixing vanilla with eggs. The final product is a rich, creamy texture and more intense aroma, unlike regular vanilla ice cream.

The Totonac people of Mexico are believed to be one of the first to use vanilla in a beverage.⁽²⁾ Other claims point to the Mayan people being the first.

Both of these Mexican ancestors added vanilla and other spices to cacao drinks.

Today this coffee blend can be found in coffee shops all around the world.

3 Common Myths

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding French Vanilla. It can be hard to tell what’s right and what’s simply a myth. 

We’ve summed up the most common fables and cleared them up. Let’s get informed and learn what’s in your cup of french vanilla coffee.

Myth 1: French vanilla contains real vanilla

French vanilla is very aromatic and flavorful. You probably think it’s made with real vanilla. But, surprisingly, there’s hardly any natural vanilla! Most vanilla is artificial or semi-artificial.

So unless you’re using homemade or order your vanilla from specialty places, then chances are you’re consuming imitation vanilla.

The imitation vanilla is made from wood byproducts. In the best case, the synthetic vanilla extract is made from low-quality vanilla beans.

It’s less potent, so you need double the amount to get close to the natural vanilla flavor.

Myth 2: French vanilla originates from France

The name confuses many people, but french vanilla is not grown in France.⁽³⁾ Some websites further perpetuate that vanilla is grown in France.

Orchids are pollinated by certain bee species that live in tropical climates. So it’s impossible to cultivate vanilla in France.

Vanilla is native to South and Central America and the Caribbean. The Totonacs and then Aztecs were the first to use vanilla in beverages.

Myth 3: French vanilla refers to the flavored creamer

French vanilla creamers are widely available from online retailers to supermarkets. Over time, french vanilla coffee has become synonymous with the liquid creamer itself.

Some big brands such as Starbucks-At-Home, and Coffee Mate offer it, and it’s one of their best sellers. This myth is widely accepted since the french vanilla flavored beans are less popular. French vanilla is more than the creamer itself.

Vegans and vegetarians alike can consume the brew made from french vanilla flavored beans. Most creamers, however, have traces of dairy or other animal products.

How to Make French Vanilla Iced Coffee

Managed to get your hands on pure vanilla extract? Then it’s the right time to learn how to make french vanilla iced coffee. 

Starting from scratch, we have a recipe for homemade french vanilla creamer. Whether you prefer iced or warm drinks, it’s great to have it on hand.

French Vanilla Iced Coffee Recipe

Yield: 1 serving (~ 12 oz)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

You'll be surprised to see how easy it is to make your own Iced French Vanilla Coffee with this recipe. Take it up a notch by making your own French Vanilla creamer or use a store-bought!

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Ingredients

• Ice
• Whole Milk: 1 cup
• Ground Espresso: enough for 2 shots
• Homemade French Vanilla Creamer: 4 tbsp*

Ingredients for Homemade French Vanilla Creamer:

• Whole Milk: 10 oz
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: 10 oz
• Vanilla Extract: 2 tbsp (or 1 tbsp if using pure vanilla extract)

Instructions

Homemade French Vanilla Creamer:

1. Start by making the french vanilla creamer. Combine the sweetened condensed milk and whole milk in a saucepan.
2. Put it over medium heat and bring the milk to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove the saucepan from heat and add the vanilla extract.
4. Once the creamer is cool, store it in an airtight jar or bottle.

French Vanilla Iced Coffee:

1. Now brew two shots of espresso with your preferred method. Don't use brewed coffee as it won't taste as good. Set the coffee aside to cool.
2. Now transfer your milk into a deep pitcher (or french press) and froth it using a handheld frother. Submerge it an inch deep and froth until milk expands.
3. In a tall glass, put 4 tablespoons of the homemade french vanilla creamer.
4. Add ice and the frothed milk. Pour out the foam gently.
5. Pour the two espresso shots over the milk. As the coffee sinks, the foam stays on top. And your french vanilla iced coffee is done!

Notes

* Using store bought creamer is perfectly acceptable. But if you're feeling up for it, you can make your own!

Summary

People wonder is French Vanilla coffee, and the answer is ‘no’. French vanilla is a term used to describe a certain vanilla flavor that’s richer and more fragrant than the regular plain vanilla. It originates in France and mimics the taste of vanilla ice cream.

Vanilla has been used in beverages since the Aztecs and continues to make a great addition to warm or iced coffee and tea.

FAQs