The Perfect Pumpkin Spice Latte

 The Pumpkin Spiced Latte (or PSL) is all over the place these days. You can easily spend £3-£4 on one of these beauties if you head to Starbucks, but why not make one for yourself?

It might surprise you to learn that these drinks are super fast to make at home. So long as you have the right things already, you can whip one up in a matter of minutes. I think that these lattes are the perfect way to start a cold, winter’s day. Here’s a quick guide that will help you make one for yourself. Enjoy!

Ingredients you need:

• 1 spoon of sugar
• Pumpkin puree
• 2 shots of espresso
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon
• Whipped cream
• 1 cup of milk

Step one: Create a pumpkin milk

Before you even start making your coffee, you need to sweeten the milk so that it is ready to use. Mix the pumpkin puree, milk and vanilla extract together over a pan. It is crucial that you don’t let the milk boil at this point. Instead, you should warm it just a little. Ensure that you stir the mixture well. When it is smooth, you should take it off the heat. It is well worth trying the milk now to see how sweet it is!

If you happen to have a sweet-tooth, you should add a little extra sugar or puree to the mixture. I know that everyone’s taste is different, and so you should spend some time figuring out what works.

Step two: Whisk the milk

Now that the pumpkin milk is warm, you need to whisk it well. Often, people find that this part of the process is the hardest. After all, you need to give it some real elbow grease if you want to get the right consistency. The milk should be light and fluffy when you have finished with it.

Step three: Make your espresso

I suggest that you use a double shot of espresso for this recipe or you might not taste the coffee. Some of the flavours (cinnamon and vanilla) can be quite overpowering if you are not careful!

A coffee machine is the best way to get the perfect espresso. If you use the Hario v60 dripper, you should find that you get a strong, aromatic shot each time. You should make sure that you act fast when it comes to making the espresso since you don’t want your milk to go cold. Combine the pumpkin milk and espresso in a cup of your choice.

Step four: Garnish your drink

Finally, it’s time to add some extra touches to your latte. Use the whipped cream as a garnish for the drink. Next, you should sprinkle on a little cinnamon for the perfect look and taste. And there you have it – a delicious homemade PSL!

~ Thanks to Charl Yoiung for the contribution to this post – I personally don’t drink coffee but I’ll have to try the pumpkin puree in a hot chocolate drink 🙂 – Rebecca x