Pumpkin Spice Latte

Me and Starbucks have a love-hate relationship.

I love their coffee.

I hate how much I spend on it.

I love their fair trade/socially responsible attitude.

I hate how much of my money is feeding their corporation.

I love that their coffee drinks actually taste like coffee (cough... McDonald's) 

I hate that I can't ever replicate an acceptable alternative at home....

til NOW! 

These next couple of weeks, I'll be sharing some of my favorite coffee concoctions that you can make right at home. And today's drink of choice is the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

Basically, you'll combine espresso, steamed milk, and pumpkin spice syrup. 

I don't have an espresso machine or especially understand what espresso is compared to regular coffee. So here's what I do.

Brew about 1/2 cup of very strong coffee- I use four tablespoons of grounds per half cup

Warm up a cup of milk over the stove or in the microwave until it's hot.

Combine those two and add two tablespoons of pumpkin spice syrup 
(or more or less to taste)

Top with whipped cream and caramel sauce. 


Voila!

Here's how you make the pumpkin spice syrup

Heat 1 1/2 cups water and 1 1/2 cups sugar in a pot until all of the sugar is dissolved.

Add in :
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon (or 4 cinnamon sticks)
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
3 Tbsp pumpkin puree

And simmer this, not quite to boiling for about 5 more minutes, and then cool for 10-15 minutes.


Strain through a cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer and bottle for use!

I actually attempted this with coffee filters and it didn't really work so I didn't strain mine. As long as I shake it up before use, it's totally fine that way!

(this bottle was $3 at Ikea and is perfect for storing syrups and dressings!)

And that's it! Store in the fridge and you've got homemade pumpkin spice syrup and all the tools you need to save a ton of money by abstaining from daily trips to Starbucks.