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. 

Cinnamon Vanilla Latte

Sterling and I spend way too much money and time at expensive coffee places. I've made it my life's goal to make very good coffee from home. I own a standard coffee maker, a french press and finally got myself a stove top espresso maker. I love it. One day I'd like to get an expensive espresso maker, but with my small kitchen and dreams of a tiny home with an even smaller kitchen my Moka Pot is pretty perfect. I found it at Ross for only 13.00. It's aluminum which I heard can give a weird taste, so I'm keeping my eye out for another one. Until I figure out exactly what kind of special ingredient Starbucks puts in their coffee this is working out quite nicely for me. 

Cinnamon Vanilla Latte
1/3 Single shot of espresso
2/3 steamed milk (I chose soy) 
1tsp vanilla 
a pinch of cinnamon 

I like soy milk for my warm coffee. I never drink cow's milk, instead I opt for almond milk... unless I'm making warm or hot coffee. Almond milk tends to have a burned flavor, and soy milk doesn't. Though some people like the burned flavor. 

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