Nothing can beat the rich flavor and aroma of a good morning coffee, but making the daily run to your favorite caffeine haunt can get old fast.
If that Dunks flavor and weak energy boost is falling short, or you’re tired of cashing out four bucks a morning for Starbucks, check out these at-home recipes that may help save you some money and time but sprucing up your own brew.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
In the name of seasonal obsessions, here’s how to make a Pumpkin Spice Latte from the wallet-friendly comfort of your own home. The full recipe, with directions, can be found on brokeassgourmet.com. The blend of Pumpkin Pie Spice, milk and honey or agave nectar is delicious and lighter in calories than the Starbucks version—although let’s be real, calories are often of no concern in the realm of lattes. It also takes approximately ten minutes to make at home, which may be less time than you spend in line at the coffee shop.
Sub the Pumpkin Pie Spice for 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract to make your own Vanilla Ginger Latte.
The Dirty Chai
If you often find yourself torn between a Chai tea latte and a coffee, there is a caffeine-laden solution: the Dirty Chai. Traditionally, Dirty Chais (and lattes in general) are made with shots of espresso and filled in with steamed milk, but because few members of the general public are blessed with espresso machines, here’s the easier way to make it.
Buy some chai tea concentrate (you can find some good options at Trader Joe’s). You can use this to make your own regular Chai tea lattes at home too, so it won’t go to waste.
Pour your mug a quarter of the way full of a dark blend coffee, a quarter full with the concentrate, and the rest of the way with milk. To get that extra latte-y consistency, steam the milk using the method mentioned in the above recipe, but if you’re running short on time, regular milk will do.
Cold Brew Coffee
Though it’s difficult to understand how people can sip on an iced drink when it’s under 50 degrees outside, here’s how to make your own Cold Brew Coffee.
The reason why this iced coffee tastes so much better when you get it from the shop is because it is prepared differently than the hot coffee you threw in the fridge and tossed over some ice.
“Cold brew,” as it is known by the connoisseurs, is usually brewed stronger so that it’s not diluted by the ice that’s later added to it.
This process takes a little more time, but it’s definitely worth it. The original recipe can be found on chow.com.
Pour 1 and 3/4 cups coffee grinds into a pitcher, and add 3 and 1/2 cups water. Cover it and leave it on the counter overnight. In the morning, secure a coffee filter over another pitcher and slowly pour the mixture over it, allowing it time to strain. Put it back in the refrigerator until chilled, add ice and enjoy.
Spiked Coffee
And finally, the kind of coffee we wish Starbucks had: Spiked Coffee. A cup of one of these drinks will definitely warm you up, though you may want to save it for a night or weekend rather than on your morning commute.
Put some spunk in your coffee by adding the nutty flavor of Amaretto, creamy Bailey’s, some Butterscotch Schnapps or your favorite brandy. These liquors practically call for coffee as a mixer. And, if you’re feeling adventurous and you can’t get enough of that pumpkin spice flavor, maybe try adding some Pumpkin Spice Whiskey. Most liquor stores sell single-serving nips, if you don’t have any of these in your liquor cabinet already.
Enjoy the perks of your home-brewed cup!
