Some drinks are made to be drunk.

Some are made to be photographed first.

This one is definitely the second.

It's cold, creamy, a little dramatic and looks suspiciously good sitting on a table next to your sunglasses. The kind of drink that makes you pause halfway through making it because, honestly, the layers are doing something.

Here's how to make it.

SOFT SERVE LATTE

You’ll need:

A glass.

Ice.

Milk — dairy, oat, whatever you're into.

A double shot of espresso.

Something sweet — vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, maple, your call.

And, if we're feeling extra, a little cream or foam on top.

That's basically the whole shopping list.

STEP 01 — MAKE THE SWEET STUFF

Add your sweetener to the bottom of the glass.

Don't measure it too seriously.

A little if you like your coffee coffee-forward. More if you're essentially making dessert.

Brown sugar works beautifully here, especially with a chocolatey espresso.

Give it a quick stir with your hot espresso so it dissolves properly.

STEP 02 — ICE, ICE, BABY

Fill your glass with ice.

Not three polite cubes.

Fill it.

You want the coffee to hit the cold milk and ice hard enough to create those nice little swirls.

This is where the photo dump starts.

STEP 03 — POUR THE MILK

Add your milk slowly.

Watch it settle.

The sweetened espresso base, pale milk and ice should start creating those soft layers that make you suddenly understand why people take 47 photos of the same drink.

Pause here.

Take one.

You know you want to.

STEP 04 — THE ESPRESSO SHOT

Pull a double espresso.

Pour it slowly over the back of a spoon or directly over the ice.

Let it cascade through the milk.

This is the money shot.

The dark espresso moving through the pale milk. The little pockets of crema. The condensation on the glass.

Take another photo.

Obviously.

STEP 05 — MAKE IT YOURS

Want it sweeter?

Add more.

Want it stronger?

Add another shot.

Want it creamier?

Add foam.

Want it colder?

More ice.

Want it to look completely ridiculous?

Add whipped cream and caramel.

There is no wrong answer here.

The whole point is to make the drink you actually want to drink.

THE MOKA VERSION

For something with a little more depth, use an espresso with chocolate, caramel or toasted-nut notes.

Pair it with oat milk for something naturally creamy and slightly sweet, or dairy milk if you want a cleaner, richer finish.

And if you're making this at home, don't stress about recreating the exact MOKA pour.

Coffee isn't architecture.

It doesn't need to stand perfectly straight.

BEFORE YOU DRINK IT

Take the photo.

Then another one.

Maybe one from above.

Maybe one with your hand in the frame.

Maybe one where you pretend you weren't trying.

Then stir it.

Because the prettiest version isn't necessarily the best version.

The best version is the one where everything finally comes together.

Now drink it.

The camera roll can wait.