Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Stove Top Vanilla Soy Latte

I've always been a coffee lover. 
Ever since I was little I loved the smell of it.
Now it's part of my daily routine.

It tastes amazing and it wakes me up when I need it!
My favorite kind of coffee to drink is a latte.

I used to go buy expensive lattes, in fact that was the only way I would drink a latte. The coffee I made at home just couldn't compare to the artisan lattes at coffee shops. But lattes are expensive, like really expensive! When I read that Starbucks lattes are $38.00 a gallon, I was done. And I like to use soy milk.. which usually tacks on another .60.. which adds up.

Plus, store bought lattes make a lot of waste! Unless you bring your own cup, you get a disposable cup which isn't good for the Earth at all! So, as part of my plastic free year, I also decided to make it a paper free year. I'm no longer buying anything "disposable".



Which incidentally means no more store bought lattes.

I decided I would learn how to make my own.
After quite a bit of trial and error, I've discovered how to make really good lattes at home.

I do not have a milk steamer, I don't have an espresso machine. I do it all by hand on the stove. It takes me about 6 minutes to make my espresso and it's totally worth it.


Vanilla Soy Latte.


Tools:
Medium Sauce Pan
Espresso maker (stove top, coffee maker, french press) 
Whisk 

Ingredients:
Espresso or strongly brewed coffee
Milk (I use soy or coconut)
Sugar (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
dash cinnamon
dash nutmeg

A latte is usually 1/3 espresso, 2/3 steamed milk.
You can make it as strong as you'd like.

Brew your espresso with a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon.
This really enhances the flavor of the coffee, and it gives it a very cozy taste.

While your coffee is brewing, warm your milk in a medium sauce pan on low-medium. Don't cook it too quickly too hot because you don't want to scald the milk. I've found that almond milk always gets a burned taste when it's heated up, so I usually choose soy milk. As the milk warms, add sugar to taste, and about 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla.
Continually whisk your milk while the coffee is cooking.

Once they are done, combine in the 1/3 espresso, 2/3 milk ratio.

I always like to whisk and froth up the last bit of milk to pour over top.

Stir together, and enjoy.


Cinnamon enhances the flavor of the coffee, nutmeg gives it a very cozy feel.
This makes about 2 espresso shots in 5 minutes.
Don't let the milk get too hot too fast, it can burn the edges of your pan. (Like mine)


It's delicious...
and so much cheaper and better for you. 

4 comments:

  1. I go to my local coffee shop about once a month. I take either my reusable cup for cold/frozen drinks, or my ceramic reusable for hot drinks, and they'll make them right into my own cups, no problem. I don't think Starbucks would do that for me. My cold cup is made of recycled materials & a % of the purchase went to sea life rescue, and then my hot cup was a larger % went to rescue for pets on land. This coffee shop also only uses locally roasted beans/coffee, and that roasting company sources only fair-trade, organic coffee beans. I love them!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahhhhh, thank you, my love! This looks divine! :) I can't wait to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am going to make this tomorrow morning and report back with my review :D hehehe

    ReplyDelete
  4. Definitely trying this!! Always looking for a way to save money by making thing myself!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving a comment!
Be sure to leave a link to YOUR blog so I can come say hi! xoxo