Homemade Coffee House Drinks

If you're like me, you're too cheap to buy Starbucks or Moxie or Dutch Bros or whatever your poison is, very often.  Sometimes I splurge but since I used to work in a coffee house and drank my lifetime supply of mochas in three short years and also because my dream cup of coffee of choice is just plain ol' French Roast, I typically make my own at home.

Here are a couple recipes the girls and I came up with.  Anna prefers tea so if you do as well, simply substitute your favorite bag accordingly.  Or leave out the caffeine altogether and have yourself a steamer!

Start with this:

I got mine at Fred Meyer's for about $4.  You only need a teaspoon per cup.

And add it to some hot milk.  You can microwave but somehow it tastes better if you whisk it in a pot on the stove.

Use whatever percentage of milk that floats your boat.  But the creamier the better!

Gingerbread Latte:

Add to your hot mess a spoonful of molasses, an equal amount of brown sugar, and top with cinnamon and ginger.

Tastes like you spent $4, plus you get to sip out of your favorite mug at home, while reading a book or knitting or watching Worst Cooks in America.

White Chocolate Mocha:

When your milk is nice and hot, toss in several (a small palmful) white chocolate chips.  Stir until they melt and add your espresso powder.  Voila!

You can also use these yummy instant coffee straw-like envelopes from Starbucks but evidently they are made from gold leaf and strands of angel's hair so you won't be able to afford them.

Pumpkin Spice Latte:

For your own Pumpkin syrup (Starbucks has no pumpkin at all in theirs...nada...zip), mix:
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup sugar, brown sugar, agave, Splenda, whatever floats your boat
1/2 t vanilla
1 cup water
dashes of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg
Boil together for about 10 minutes.

Whisk a couple spoonfuls into your hot milk (or use cream for extra decadence, Breve style) and coffee powder.

Enjoy your afternoon pick-me-up!