If you love vanilla flavor in your food and drink, try adding it to your favorite cup of coffee. The combination of vanilla and coffee gives it such an amazing taste and texture. French vanilla coffee is the first-choice drink in many coffee brands.
But what is this flavor all about? And why is there so much craze about this flavor? A unique and aromatic flavor that you shouldn’t skip in your next cup of Joe.
This is rich, creamy coffee; the addition of sugar makes it sweet. French vanilla beans are used to make fresh vanilla essence that makes coffee sweet and yummy.
You can also brew caramel coffee.
In this article, I review the complete details of this coffee. Also, you will know what ingredients are required and how to make this amazing coffee.
What is French vanilla?
But let’s start with what is French vanilla? It is the process of making ice cream custard. Also, it adds egg yolks to make it creamy and tasty. Yolks add a unique yellowish color to the ice cream.
Custard-like flavors, syrup, and coffee powders are also used in French vanilla.
What is French vanilla coffee?
You should know that French vanilla coffee doesn’t add vanilla custard to its recipe. It adds vanilla flavor to give it an exclusive taste. No taste can compete when a brewed coffee is added with French vanilla.
To make this flavor, you may add vanilla flavor, extracts, or coffee creamer. Also, instead of brewed coffee, you can use an espresso shot. It has so many options that you initiate with vanilla flavor and coffee.
Check the recipe for Colada coffee.
How can we recognize the real French vanilla?
It is difficult to recognize the real French vanilla in the markets. There is no specific product available in the market with the name French vanilla.
French vanilla can be recognized for its ingredients. It should include pure vanilla extracts, condensed milk, coffee, and sweetener syrup. These ingredients are essential to get real taste of this coffee.
If you don’t get this flavor in the market, you can make it at home. The ingredients are available in the market.
How to make French vanilla coffee?
There are so many methods to make this coffee. Here, I follow the simple technique to make this flavored coffee at home.
Ingredients
- 1 brewed coffee cup
- Half cup of milk
- 2 tablespoon vanilla extracts
- 2 tablespoon (sugar optional)
- One-quarter cup of whipping cream.
Instructions
- First, you brew coffee with any simple technique
- Secondly, gently pour the milk into the brewed coffee cup. It adds a creamy and milky texture.
- If you want extra sweetness in the coffee cup, you can add one or one tablespoon of granulated sugar. Or add one tablespoon of sugar syrup.
- Add at least two tablespoon of vanilla extracts. Or you can add as many spoons as you like to the coffee. Since every individual has his preference.
- Add a quarter cup of whipping cream to get a cream texture at the top.
Your favorite cup is ready to drink.
Taste
It is a mild, sweet coffee with a significant and aromatic vanilla savor. Always make vanilla extracts or syrup from fresh vanilla beans, as they fuse well with brewed coffee.
How many calories?
It contains 170 calories from 86 gm of a cup. However, if you add sugar and milk, the calorie count may go up.
A French vanilla already contains a lot of calories. If you want to avoid extra calories, always prepare it without adding sugar or milk.

Which coffee beans complement this flavor?
It depends on individual preference. There are three types of coffee beans: lightly roasted beans, medium roast, and full or dark roasted beans.
If you love strong coffee, pick dark roasted coffee beans. Get light roasted beans if you prefer a sweeter and milder flavor. Similarly, medium roast gives a balance of strong and mild coffee.
You can pick any beans for this flavor. The lightly roasted beans will be sweeter. However, I prefer medium-roasted coffee beans to make a stable cup of coffee with a touch of vanilla flavor.
I also recommend dark-roasted coffee beans with a bitter taste to combine well with the sugary, smoother flavor of French vanilla.
What is the difference between French vanilla coffee and regular coffee?
You can’t compare a vanilla coffee with a cup of brewed coffee. A regular coffee without adding any flavors has a strong, pungent taste. Strong coffee beans are the essence of brewed coffee.
On the other hand, a French vanilla coffee is made with vanilla extracts and powder. The vanilla has a unique creamy and sweet taste. The vanilla beans are used to make vanilla extracts, powder, or syrup.
I don’t think it’s a fair comparison between a true tastes of pure coffee and, on the other hand, vanilla extracts only add flavors to coffee.
How do big brands make French vanilla coffee?
You will find French vanilla coffee at almost every coffee shop in America. All brands have flavored pods to make French vanilla coffee.
Tim Hortons
French vanilla is Tim Hortons’ signature drink. The next time you visit any Tim Hortons shop, ask the barista for a French vanilla coffee. Even a local coffee shop makes this coffee as their specialty.
Tim Hortons specializes in French vanilla coffee. They use coffee pods, Tim Hortons K cups.
They also use French vanilla-flavored ground coffee to make perfect, flavorful coffee.
McDonalds
They use homemade vanilla syrup. Also, McDonald’s uses Torani French vanilla syrup. You can buy these pods and make French vanilla-flavored coffee at home.
Starbucks
They use vanilla syrup to make French vanilla coffee. You can get Starbucks coffee pods to make coffee at home. Its K-Cup coffee pods are designed to make a quick cup of coffee.
Starbucks also has available vanilla-flavored ground coffee.
Dunkin Donuts
They use flavored coffee beans. The flavored coffee beans give you the best taste of French vanilla coffee.
Dunkin’ Donuts has coffee pods; you can get Dunkin’ Donuts French vanilla coffee K-Cups from Amazon.com.
What is a French vanilla creamer?
Another amazing taste is the French vanilla creamer, which comes with whole and sweetened condensed milk and adds vanilla flavor.
Vanilla creamers can also use low-fat milk. You can make French vanilla creamer at home. Since it requires only milk, condensed milk, and vanilla flavor. Anybody can make a perfect vanilla creamer.
Other French Vanilla drinks
French vanilla isn’t the name of coffee. It consists of many other drinks. These drinks are available in the markets. Also, you can try any one of these drinks at home.
These drinks can be made with French vanilla syrup, but you can also make drinks with hazelnut.
Here are a few well-known drinks you can make at home.
- French vanilla frappe
- French vanilla ice tea
- French vanilla slushies
- French vanilla milk
French vanilla coffee vs. vanilla coffee
French vanilla coffee uses French vanilla syrups, making it a creamy flavored coffee. Also, add sugar to make it sweeter. You can make French vanilla coffee with ready-to-use powder.
In comparison, vanilla coffee is made with vanilla syrup or extracts. However, both coffees have enriched vanilla flavors.
French vanilla coffee vs. Cappuccino, what is the difference?
Cappuccino is a conventional coffee with steamed milk and foam. Cappuccino doesn’t come with added flavors.
In contrast, French vanilla coffee is made with espresso, vanilla syrup, and milk. The added vanilla flavor makes it a unique coffee.
You can pick Cappuccino if you prefer more milk and less espresso. I recommend it if you love coffee with a small amount of milk but with added vanilla flavor and sweetener.
What is a French vanilla coffee mate?
Coffee-mate, available in liquid form, is used in coffee instead of milk and cream. It provides smooth, tasty vanilla-flavored coffee.
The vanilla-flavored liquid coffee creamer gives your coffee an amazing taste and flavor. The coffee comes out light in color.

Many people preferred it over regular milk and cream. Because it is lactose and cholesterol-free and non-dairy creamer. It also saves time if you want a quick cup of vanilla coffee.
Also, Irish cream breve is an excellent coffee flavor.
Final thoughts
I like this drink because of its unique taste. Anyone like vanilla flavor should try this drink. The vanilla extract has an exclusiveness that may not be found in any other flavor.
Once you like the taste, I assure you it will be your first choice whenever you brew a cup.