Fall coffee recipe
Pumpkin spice latte season comes with two kinds of people: the ones who count down the days, and the ones who think it tastes like a scented candle. A homemade version lets you control the spice and sweetness.
What makes a pumpkin spice latte?
It's a latte built around espresso, steamed milk, warming baking spices and sweetener. The spice blend usually includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove or allspice. Pumpkin purée is optional in homemade recipes; pumpkin spice itself isn't made from pumpkin.
Ingredients for one mug
- 1–2 espresso shots, or about 60 ml strong brewed coffee
- 180–220 ml milk or a barista-style alternative
- 1–2 teaspoons pumpkin purée (optional)
- 1–2 teaspoons maple syrup or brown sugar, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus a pinch for garnish
- Optional: a few drops of vanilla extract
How to make it without gritty spices
- Brew the coffee or espresso and set it aside.
- Warm the milk gently with pumpkin purée, sweetener and spice, whisking until the pumpkin is fully dispersed. Avoid boiling.
- Froth the warm milk until glossy and pourable rather than stiff and dry.
- Add espresso to your cup, pour in the spiced milk and taste before adding more syrup.
Small fix, big difference: If you see spice collecting at the bottom, mix the spice with the warm syrup before adding milk. Ground spices don't dissolve completely, but this distributes them more evenly.
Make it iced
Stir espresso, pumpkin purée and sweetener together first. Add cold milk, pour over ice and dust lightly with spice. Using hot espresso to dissolve the syrup is easier than trying to mix sugar into an already-cold drink.
Which coffee works best?
A medium or medium-dark roast can give the milk and spice a chocolatey backbone, but there's no compulsory roast level. Keep the espresso balanced: a harsh, overly bitter shot will still taste harsh under a lot of syrup.
FAQ: Does it have to taste sweet?
No. Start with less sweetener than a cafe-style version and increase by taste. You can also use unsweetened milk and skip whipped cream entirely.
