We all know how expensive Starbucks can be–rest in peace to my wallet every Fall season. As soon as they start advertising their fall drinks, I just CAN’T say no to a daily Starbucks run. It is one of my biggest weaknesses, especially as a delicious drink fanatic! BUT, in an attempt to save myself some money this year (and get to experience the joys of a delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte year round), I’ve come up with my very own, absolutely delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe!
Okay, I know you’re just as excited as I am to start saving hundreds–if not thousands (yes I have a problem)--of dollars on coffee this year, so let’s just go ahead and dive RIGHT into this perfect, amazing, spectacular, life saving recipe. Shall we?
First let’s chat about what makes a latte a latte so that you have a better grasp on why you need certain tools to make the perfect dupe. As a former barista, I can tell you that a latte at its most basic level consists of two ingredients: Espresso, and steamed milk. The more flavor you want, the more ingredients that need to be added. For example, a simple vanilla latte has the same ingredients as your base latte with the sole addition of about an ounce of vanilla syrup. But, for something a bit more flavorful and complex, like a Hazelnut Mocha, you will need to add not only Vanilla Syrup, but also Hazelnut syrup and some sort of Chocolate Sauce or Paste & the garnish with whipped cream.
What Equipment You’ll Need
Now that we’ve talked about the components of a latte, let’s chat about the equipment you’ll need at home to make the perfect dupe.
I highly recommend investing in some sort of at home espresso machine. There are several inexpensive options that are JUST as high quality as the fancy shit you see at coffee shops. I personally love my Nespresso machine because it always pulls the perfect shot; however, if you’ve got more money to spend, I highly recommend looking into anything Breville with a steam wand! One machine that WON'T work: A Keurig.
Keurigs make coffee–not espresso! And to get that deep, rich coffee flavor in your at home latte, you NEED espresso. If you don’t have the expendable income to go out and buy a Nespresso Machine or a Breville, look into more flavorful, inexpensive ways to brew coffee at home like the aeropress or mokapot. Both of these options are less expensive (than a keurig) and will get you a lot closer to the taste and quality of a shot of espresso than a Keurig will.
Next, you’ll need some sort of milk steaming apparatus. Whether that means steaming your milk up on the stove, using an electric milk steamer, the steam wand on your home espresso machine, or one of those fun little frothing sticks you always see on tik tok, having that frothy, warm milk plays a huge part in the quality of your latte.
The Ultimate At Home Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe
Now that you know what equipment you need and WHY you need it, let’s dive into the actual ingredients and recipe.
For the syrup:
1 Cup of Sugar
½ Cup of Brown Sugar
8 Cinnamon Sticks (adjust per your flavor preferences)
4 tbsp Pumpkin Puree
2 tsp Nutmeg
1 tbsp Cardamom Pods (not powder)
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
Combine your sugars, water, and vanilla extract in a saucepan and raise the heat to a simmer. Once the sugar has dissolved, add your cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and pumpkin puree and let simmer for 20 minutes. Remove your syrup from the heat, strain, and pour into a sealable container–this mixture can be used for multiple drinks!
For the Latte:
1.5 Cups Milk of Choice
2 Shots of Espresso
2 tbsp Pumpkin Spice Syrup
½ Cup Whipped Cream
Some Pumpkin Pie Spice to garnish
Pour your syrup into your coffee cup and then pour your two shots of espresso. While your espresso is pouring, steam your milk. However, if your milk steaming process takes longer than 2 minutes, steam your milk before you pour your espresso so that your espresso crema doesn’t dissipate. Once you’ve steamed your milk and poured your espresso, pour your milk into your coffee cup. Top with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, and enjoy!
I hope that you enjoy my pumpkin spice latte recipe as much as I do!
Do You Like Taking Your Coffee To Go?
If you’re like me and you need an emotional support coffee in your hand wherever you go, then I’ve got some good news for you! I don’t just come up with amazing Starbucks dupe recipes–I also make adorable travel tumblers for coffee lovers like us! Whether you’re looking for a stainless steel cup that will keep your coffee warm in the winter or a trendy glass for your iced coffee in the summer, I’ve got it all in the shop! Be sure to check out our adorable stainless steel coffee tumblers and glass iced coffee cups with bamboo lids! Not only will they be the perfect addition to your at home coffee bar, but they also make great gifts for coffee loving friends!
Need more coffee bar inspiration? Be sure to read my previous blog post on coffee bar essentials for your at home coffee bar! Want to keep in touch? Be sure to follow us on Pinterest and Instagram.