Toddy Almond Cold Brew Recipe: Smooth Cold Brew with Frothed Almond Milk

Toddy Almond Cold Brew is an almond milk cold coffee. It is a dairy-free iced coffee made with cold brew coffee, almond milk, and a touch of vanilla. You froth the almond milk to make a soft foam layer on top. The result is a plant-based cold coffee that looks and tastes like a cafe drink.

Are you dairy-free or lactose intolerant? Or do you just like the nutty taste of almond milk? Then this recipe can become a staple. Smooth cold brew and frothed almond milk go well together. Many people find cold brew tastes smoother and less bitter than hot coffee. It is not much less acidic, though. A 2018 study found cold and hot brew had about the same pH, 4.85 to 5.13. Cold brew did have fewer titratable acids (Rao and Fuller, Scientific Reports, 2018). The soft nutty taste of almond milk suits it. The vanilla ties it all together. The hard part with almond milk is frothing. It is thinner than dairy milk and does not foam as easily. But with a frother and the right method, you can get good foam from almond milk. I will show you how.

How Do You Make Cold Coffee with Almond Milk?

To make cold coffee with almond milk, pour 120 ml of cold brew over 4 to 5 ice cubes. Then top it with 200 ml of frothed almond milk and a few drops of vanilla. It takes about 5 minutes if your cold brew is ready.

Cold brew is one kind of cold coffee. You steep the grounds in cold or room-temperature water for many hours. Other cold coffees are brewed hot and then chilled, or made with instant coffee. All of them work with almond milk. Cold brew gives the smoothest cup.

Toddy is a cold brew system first made in 1964. Its brewing guide uses 340 g of coarse coffee to 1.9 litres of water. You steep it 8 to 24 hours at room temperature. Toddy suggests 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water or milk. The concentrate keeps up to 2 weeks in the fridge (Toddy Cold Brew System brewing guide). This recipe uses a little less milk than that, so the coffee tastes stronger.

Ingredients

• Cold brew coffee — 120 ml
• Almond milk — 200 ml (unsweetened barista-style froths best)
• Vanilla extract — 3-4 drops
• Sugar or honey — 1 teaspoon (optional)
• Ice cubes — 4 to 5

Step-by-Step: How to Make Toddy Almond Cold Brew

1. Prepare the cold brew. If you have cold brew concentrate ready in the fridge, pour 120 ml into a measuring cup. If not, steep 3 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee in 200 ml of cold water for 12-18 hours, then strain. This makes a mild brew. For a Toddy-strength concentrate, use about 36 g of coffee for 200 ml of water. That is Toddy's own ratio, scaled down.
2. Froth the almond milk. Pour 200 ml of almond milk into a tall cup. Add 3-4 drops of vanilla extract and sweetener if desired. Dip your frother in at a slight angle just below the surface and run it for 20-25 seconds. Keep the whisk near the top of the milk to pull in maximum air. You will see foam building on the surface. Almond milk foam is lighter than dairy foam but still creates a nice layer.
3. Fill the glass with ice. Add 4-5 ice cubes to a tall serving glass.
4. Pour cold brew over ice. Pour the 120 ml of cold brew concentrate over the ice cubes.
5. Top with frothed almond milk. Slowly pour the frothed almond milk over the cold brew. Hold back the foam with a spoon, pour the liquid first, then spoon the almond milk foam on top. The result is a gorgeous layered drink: dark coffee at the bottom, milky middle, white foam on top.

Tips & Variations

• Best almond milk for frothing: Look for "barista-style" or "barista blend" almond milk. These are made for foaming, often with added fat or stabilisers. Read the label. In India, Epigamia and Raw Pressery both sell unsweetened almond milk. We could not find a barista almond milk from either brand on 28 September 2026. Plain almond milk still works, but the foam is lighter.
• Chocolate almond version: Add 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder or 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup to the cold brew before pouring. This creates a dairy-free mocha that is rich and satisfying.
• Oat milk alternative: If almond milk is hard to find, try oat milk. Many people find it foams well and tastes creamy. The recipe works the same way with oat milk.
• Cinnamon finish: Dust a pinch of cinnamon on top of the almond milk foam. It adds aroma and visual appeal without changing the flavour profile significantly.

Which Frother to Use

Almond milk is thinner than dairy milk, so technique matters more than the tool. The InstaCuppa Battery-Operated Milk Frother (Rs 999, checked 28 September 2026) is a single-speed handheld frother. It runs on 2 AA batteries and comes with 4 whisks, including a Thick Foam whisk. In our method it makes usable almond milk foam in about 20-25 seconds. For hands-free foam, the InstaCuppa 4-in-1 Electric Frother (Rs 4,199) has warm foam modes and a cold thick foam mode. It froths up to 170 ml at a time, so froth the almond milk in one 170 ml batch.