My wife and I lived in Los Angeles in a small apartment three floors above a Starbucks.
We went there every day.
Then our daughter was born, and we moved out after that.
We found a home with a backyard. Big enough for the kid and the dog to run.
It was far from the city but better for them.
I miss the Starbucks, the close one.
That’s where I’d have my whole milk latte with one pump of vanilla.
Light on the foam.
The nearest Starbucks here is a thirty-minute drive.
We considered buying an espresso machine. But we left the machine in the store, deciding instead to save money for a family vacation.
It was a good decision. Vacations are exciting.
But the excitement of a future vacation did nothing to alleviate my steadfast yearning for a latte.
With no espresso machine or nearby Starbucks, I rummaged through our kitchen cabinets, frantically taking inventory of every forgotten impulse buy from the discount rack at Ross Dress For Less.
I tried to white-knuckle my way through late-morning cravings. I was desperate, hoping to find any solution.
Then, by a stroke of fortune, a revelation dawned upon me.
Perhaps it was fate. Or the universe whispering. Or maybe it was divine intervention?
Amid scarce resources, a surge of untamed creativity overwhelmed me, allowing me to defy the conventional limitations of an espresso machine.
That’s when I had an idea for a DIY Kitchen Latte!
My Homemade Latte
And if you want to make your own homemade latte, this secret recipe will allow you to savor your latte without leaving the comfort of your kitchen.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Two tablespoons of instant espresso
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 tablespoon of Starbucks vanilla syrup
- 2 tablespoons of half and half
- A milk frother (if you don’t have this, no biggie.)
Now, let’s brew a Starbucks-style latte right in your kitchen:
STEP 01. Prep Your Coffee Base:
- Dissolve the instant espresso in a small amount of water.
- If you don’t have instant espresso, you can try brewing a super strong cup of coffee.
- (In full disclosure, I never tried making my latte with coffee, so it will probably taste terrible.)
STEP 02. Warm Your Milky Mixture:
- Pour your milk and half-and-half into the milk frother.
- Activate the frother and let it work its magic.
- At some point during the frothing process, add a tantalizing hint of Starbucks vanilla syrup.
If you don’t have a frother, heat the milk in a microwave or a saucepan, then beat it with a whisk or even a fork. (I honestly have no idea if a fork will work.) So maybe today is a good day to buy a milk frother.
STEP 03. Add Your Instant Espresso:
- While the milk and half-and-half are being frothed, add the dissolved instant espresso you prepared in the first step.
- Let that go until the frother cycle ends.
STEP 04. Pour Your Latte:
- Keep the lid on the frother. This will hold back the foam.
- Then with the lid on, pour your latte into a large mug.
- Then remove the frother lid, and add a layer of foam.
STEP 05. Enjoy Your Lattee:
- Take small sips and pretend that fancy companies like Starbucks never existed.
- Then Pretend this is the only latte in existence.
- Do this every day, and eventually, you will lower your latte standards so much that you’ll think this kitchen concoction is the best in the world.
Who needs an espresso maker or a fancy coffee shop when you can rummage your kitchen for instant espresso, some Starbucks vanilla syrup, and a trusty milk frother?
Treat yourself to a pantry-grade latte without wasting gas or waiting for a barista to mispronounce your name.