A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Looking to level up your latte game this year? We don’t blame you! Pumpkin spice lattes are where it’s at! The popular fall drink offers a fantastic rich coffee flavour with an irresistible smooth velvety texture. The coffee flavour is rich and comforting, while the pumpkin adds a unique and unbeatable taste. But if you’re anything like us… Buying a PSL from Starbucks every day is out of the question, as the cost of everything soars. We’re sharing a simple step-by-step guide to making perfect pumpkin spice lattes. Make sure to stay until the end to find out some awesome tips for leveling up your latte. (There may or may not be a little tip on how to do the best latte art!)
Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
History of PSL’s.
Before we dive into all the good stuff, do you know why everyone loves pumpkin spice lattes, or who even started them? The iconic fall drink is enjoyed by millions time and time again every year. But where did it originate? Who thought of putting pumpkin in coffee? Let’s find out quickly!
Peter Dukes
The creation and origination are largely unknown for the pumpkin spice latte, as it could have been made long before and the world just didn’t know about it yet. Peter Dukes is credited as the “father” of the popular seasonal drink, and he led the Starbucks espresso team to its creation in 2003.
It’s now estimated that 20 million pumpkin spice lattes are sold each season, making it an absolutely iconic drink that people count down the days before its launch. But lucky for you, we’re sharing how you can make it right from the comfort of your home.
Step-by-Step Guide: Pumpkin Spice Lattes
The first step to making the famous pumpkin spice latte is making sure you have all the necessary ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 shot espresso or strong coffee
- 1 cup of milk
- ¼ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- Whipped cream, optional
- Pinch of salt
Step 1: Brew the Coffee
If you have an espresso machine, then just do whatever you need to do to use it. But if you’re just brewing stronger coffee, then do that. If your coffee maker has a stronger brew option, then use that, but if you don’t, then just use more coffee grounds and the same, normal amount of water. You don’t need to make a lot—just enough for one shot.
Tips for Making Sure Your Coffee Is Fantastic:
- Buy/source high-quality beans.
- Don’t grind them until you’re ready to brew.
- Store your beans properly.
Step 2: Heat the milk.
Heat up the milk of your choice (skim, 2%, oat, coconut, etc.) either in a pot or the microwave. If using the microwave, make sure to set it in short spurts and stir in between.
Step 3: Combine
Combine all the ingredients with coffee and stir well to combine.
Step 4: Froth Milk
This step is vital for the best-tasting latte. Learning how to froth milk can take your coffee and lattes to the next level. It offers a delightful texture, an airy feeling to the coffee, and an aesthetic flair. If you don’t know how to froth milk, don’t worry!
How to Froth Milk
- With a whisk, heat the milk in a pot over medium heat and whisk continuously until it gets frothy and bubbly.
- With a Frother, you can buy battery-powered or manual frothers that range in price (there are budget-friendly ones), and they do the hard work for you.
- With a Mason Jar, pour milk into a Mason Jar and shake vigorously until frothy.
Step 5: Pour
Pour the frothed milk over the coffee and then top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon if you fancy. You could also add a drizzle of caramel sauce and a pinch of sea salt for a caramel sea salt pumpkin spice latte too!
Step 6: Drink up
Finally! It’s time to drink it. However, it’s so pretty, it might be fun to add some latte art to it, don’t you think? So don’t start drinking it yet! We need to make it beautiful first.
Did We Say Latte Art?
Yes, we did! It’s the finishing touch on the pumpkin spice latte. Below we’re sharing some latte art tips and tricks that you can try at home without any special equipment.
- Pour the milk slowly into the latte, making swirling motions. (Swirl pattern)
- Pour the milk in one small circle and then another small circle beside it, overlapping. Then pour a thin stream down the middle. (Heart pattern)
- Use a toothpick to be able to manipulate small spaces without a stream of milk.
Frothed Milk 101
The key to beautiful latte art is good frothed milk. Whole milk is best for creating the best-frothed milk with an irresistible texture. Any milk does work, but thicker works best. It gives the latte a fantastic texture.
Final Thoughts
With so many pumpkin spice lattes sold each year, there’s no arguing that it’s one of the most popular drinks ever. It’s reminiscent of fall, childhood, and the smell of that pumpkin pie cooking. It’s thick, perfectly flavoured, and can be dressed up or enjoyed simply. Add some whipped cream to the top with a dash of cinnamon or a drizzle of chocolate sauce for a fantastic treat. A pumpkin spice latte is a perfect coffee drink and the best to drink during autumn. So the next time you come back from a walk through the gorgeous crunchy leaves, start your coffee maker and treat yourself to a pumpkin spice latte. Its creamy, smooth feel paired with comforting flavour is unmatched by anything still. Not to mention the smell of it is… AHHHHHHH SO GOOD. Pumpkin spice lattes are the epitome of what is fall. Have you ever made a pumpkin spice latte at home? Let us know!
