Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes

A cozy, simple homemade latte has been my go to treat on a Friday and an easy way to serve guests if they come over for coffee. I don’t have an espresso machine, so this post is to encourage readers that you don’t need a bunch of expensive equipment to make an elevated coffee drink! I also don’t always have time to make fancy syrups to keep on hand (although that’s fun to do too) — so I just let my milk frother do all the work and mix the ingredients straight into the cup. I’ve been serving everything in the ceramic latte mugs I created for an extra personal touch.

What you’ll need

Moka Pot
Milk Frother
Ground Espresso
Vanilla Almond Malk (free of gums) or milk of choice
2 tsps Brown Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Pumpkin Pie Spice

HOW TO DO IT

It took me a while to figure out how to successfully use my moka pot, but now that I know, I’m so happy I can make espresso without a big, pricey machine. I get pre-ground espresso for convenience and make sure to fill up the basket all the way (but not to tamp it down the way you would with a machine). Twist the top on as tight as you can to ensure no leaking. I heat mine over medium heat with the lid open so that I can see it - once the espresso starts to fill the top I turn the stove off so that I don’t burn it. While the espresso is heating I fill the frother with milk to the top line and add the brown sugar, vanilla and as much pumpkin spice as you like directly. The frother I linked has four settings - max foam, less foam, heat only, and cold foam. I use the second level of foam option and follow that up with another round of just heat, which somehow is perfectly timed with when the espresso is done! Pour the espresso into a mug and add the milk + foam on top. Happy Fall!