$pent Millennial

If you follow me on any social media, you know that one of my favorite things is a delicious, cozy homemade latte. These lattes are a big part of what motivates me to get up each morning. 

I want to share how I craft these delicious homemade beverages in case anyone else is looking to cut back on their latte budget, or just wants an option for days when they don’t have the time, energy or money to hit the drive thru for their daily fix. 

I will start with the basic recipe which will allow for customization based on flavor preference, milk type, etc. Then I’ll share how I have been enjoying an Irish twist for the month of March. 

But first, a little context and a peak into my mourning routine as I prepare the latte: 

The Routine: (Scroll Ahead to Get to the Recipe) 

The first step in my morning routine is to put on a podcast to listen to while I start the coffee, brush my teeth, feed the dog, etc.. Yes, I should probably work on waking up and having a moment alone with my thoughts, but something about the parasocial company of my podcast “friends” gets me moving. You can find links to some of my favorites on my Coffee Chats page. 

As I listen, I heat up the water and set up the pour over, putting about 4 (generous) scoops of Cafe Bustelo Espresso into the pour over funnel/ filter thing. 

Once the water is heated, I patiently pour it over the expresso, letting it soak through and brew. 

As it brews, I heat up about 1 cup of Soy Milk (you can use whatever your milk/cream preference is). Once heated, I add in flavor syrup shots. The warmed, flavored milk will be blended to froth once the espresso is done and will be added to the top of the drink to create a flavorful latte. 

Once the milk is prepped and waiting to be frothed, I take 10 minutes for meditation. I use guided meditations on YouTube to take a few moments for morning mindfulness while waiting on my morning latte, and by the time I finish my meditation, the espresso is nicly brewed and ready to pour. 

I use a mini espresso shot mug to measure out 4 shots of espresso for me, which leaves about 3 shots for Jesse (You snooze, you lose 🙃 ). 

With my espresso poured into my mug of choice, I blend the warmed milk mixed with flavored syrups to foam it. I use a full blender, but you can also use a frothing wand, mini blender etc. 

Once frothed, I pour it over top of my espresso and top it with any extras (syrups, shavings, etc). I pour the rest of the froth and flavored milk back into the creamer cup for Jesse when he gets up for his latte (Yes, he wakes up to cafe-quality lattes. I’m not the only spoiled one in this apartment… 🙃)

I wash out the blender (my least favorite part of the whole thing, which I acknowledge could be solved by a froth wand…) and then settle in with my latte for Bible and reading/ journaling time before the rest of the world wakes up and the crazy kicks in. 

How to do it Yourself: 

Latte Basics: 

Serves 2 Coffee Addicts

Ingredients: 

• 2 Cups of Hot Water 
• 4 Scoops of Espresso
• 1 Cup of Milk of Preference, Heated & Blended to Foam 
• Optional: Add in flavor syrups of choice to the milk for latte flavor. I usually do 3-4 pumps total for the full cup of milk, which gets split between 2 lattes. 
• Optional: Other powders/toppings for garnish (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Chocolate Shavings, Caramel Sauce, Etc) 

Steps:

1. Begin by heating water for your pour-over coffee method.
2. While the water is heating, set up your pour-over funnel/filter and add approximately 4 generous scoops of Cafe Bustelo Espresso grounds.
3. Once the water is heated, pour it slowly over the espresso grounds, allowing it to soak through and brew thoroughly.
4. While the coffee is brewing, heat about 1 cup of your preferred milk (such as soy milk, but you can use any type of milk or cream).
5. Once the milk is heated, add flavor syrup shots to it, if desired, to customize the flavor of your latte.
6. After the espresso has finished brewing, measure out your desired amount into your mug. I measure 4 espresso shots into my mug for an extra-strong latte. 
7. Blend the milk to froth it. You can use a blender, frothing wand, or mini blender for this step.
8. Once the milk is frothed to your liking, pour it over the espresso in your mug.
9. Optionally, you can garnish your latte with additional flavorings, such as cinnamon or cocoa powder.

The Nutty Leprechaun Latte: 

To create the Irish specialty I have been enjoying this month, follow the above ingredients and instructions and for the coffee syrups, use 3 pumps of Irish Cream syrup (non-alcoholic) and 1 pump of Toasted Toffee Nut syrup (Sugar Free). 

There you have it! The not-so-secret to creating delicious cafe-quality lattes at home! Give it a try, and let me know what you think! I’d love to hear your favorite syrup combos!