I love a good Starbucks run as much as the next girl but let’s be real $8–9 a day for the rest of my life? Absolutely not. Don’t get me wrong I still treat myself to my favorite order now and then, but some mornings making it at home just feels right. And obviously I have to romanticize my morning coffee otherwise it’s just caffeine and where’s the magic in that?
I’ll admit I’m obsessed with coffee. Funny story my husband and I once went to a new coffee shop and ordered four different drinks just to taste test. Three of them were delicious, but the last one not so much. It was a coffee tonic literally black coffee with tonic water. Points for creativity but let’s just say never again.
So instead I stick to what I love like this iced coffee recipe I’ve been making on repeat before the mornings get too chilly. It’s simple, it’s dreamy, and it makes even a random Tuesday feel like a little love story
Starbucks order:
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso add 2 pumps cinnamon dolce (if you like sweet coffee) with pumpkin cold foam.
Brown Sugar Syrup:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 cinnamon sticks (crushed lightly)
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- Pinch of salt
Directions:
- In a small pot combine sugar, water and cinnamon sticks.
- Bring to a boil then allow to simmer for 8 minutes.
- Turn stove off and remove pot from heat.
- Let the syrup cool a little before adding your vanilla bean paste and salt.
- Stir, strain and store in a glass bottle for up to a week.
Pumpkin Cold Foam:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Directions:
- In a frother combine all ingredients and mix until a thick foam has formed.
Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso:
Assemble:
- Place 2 tbsp of brown sugar syrup into a shaker and pour 3 shots of espresso in the same shaker then stir.
- Add ice and close shaker then shake for 8-10 seconds.
- Grab a cup add ice, about 5 ounces of milk and then your espresso.
- Top off with cold foam and enjoy.
Tips:
- If you have measuring cups 5 ounces of milk is a little more than half a cup.
- Adding a dash of cinnamon to your brewing coffee adds extra flavor but optional.
- No frother needed a blender will work just fine.
- Mason jars are a great substitute for a shaker.
- After adding cold foam to the coffee I also sprinkle some cinnamon, again optional.
- Make sure your syrup mixture is not boiling hot when adding vanilla paste to avoid burning it.
This is how I like my coffee, add more syrup or cold foam if you like sweet coffee or an extra espresso shot if too sweet.
