Coconut Latte Recipe: How to Open a Coconut and Froth Milk at Home

The other day, as I was stuck at home with not much to do, I suddenly heard the doorbell. To my surprise, when I opened the door, no one was there, but there were two fresh coconuts left on my doorstep. I was confused at first, but then I received a message from my neighbor, thanking me for the BBQ sauce I had given him the day before, with a small gift in return. With these fresh coconuts, I decided to make the ultimate Coconut Latte.

My excitement was overwhelming—it’s like giving someone glass beads and receiving diamonds in return! With these coconuts in hand, I was determined to make the most of them. In this post, I’ll show you how to:

1. Open a coconut without a coconut opener—perfect for those with less strength.
2. Froth milk by hand without a milk frother.
3. Combine all these techniques to make the ultimate “Waterfall Coconut Latte” that costs over 40 yuan a cup!

Check out the video below—it’s under 2 minutes long, but it’s packed with useful tips! 👇

Advertisement

Part 1: How to Open a Coconut

1、Use a chef’s knife to shave off the soft white skin from the top of the coconut until you reach the harder shell beneath. You’ll notice a brown ring around the top.

2、Take the back of your knife and gently tap along the brown ring. This is the weak point of the coconut shell. If you’re not familiar with it, don’t hesitate to tap a few more times to get the hang of it.

3、Once the ring is cracked, you can easily pry open the coconut shell. The white coconut meat inside won’t be needed for this drink, but you can enjoy it as a snack. Pour the coconut water into a container, being careful not to spill it, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours for later use.

Part 2: Hand-Frothing Milk

1、Use cold milk (around 4°C is ideal—important for good foam) and add some sugar. Shake it vigorously to get creamy milk foam. Beginner’s No-Fail Milk Frothing Method: Pour the milk into a water bottle and tighten the cap. Hold it firmly and shake it against the floor for about a minute—this works surprisingly well!

1. To remove larger bubbles, pour the frothed milk into another container. This step is optional but helps to create smoother foam by removing any large bubbles.

Part 3: Making the Waterfall Coconut Latte

1. Start by preparing a base with concentrated coffee. You can use cold brew coffee or any coffee you prefer—I used an espresso machine to extract the coffee.
2. At this point, you have two options:
   • A: Pour the coconut water first, followed by the milk foam. This method is easier and has no risk of failure.
   • B: Pour the milk foam first, then add the coconut water. This method requires a steady hand but will give you a layered look.

I used Method B, pouring the milk foam until the cup was about 2/3 full, then sprinkling a layer of cocoa powder on top.

3. Continue with Method B: Slowly pour the coconut water into the center of the foam, making sure your hand is steady. You can choose not to overflow the cup, but I added extra to get the “waterfall effect.”
4. Garnish the center of the cup with rosemary or mint leaves to complete the look.