Pumpkin Caramel Latte Recipe

Fall is here, and the official season of Pumpkin Spice Lattes is upon us. The Pumpkin Spice Latte has become ingrained in America’s coffee culture as a seasonal staple with a massive following. So of course, at Som’s Café, the Pumpkin Spice Latte was one of our most popular fall drink specials. I am going to share two different ways to make a variation of this seasonal treat, the Caramel Pumpkin Spice Latte. One method will be truer to a typical coffee house style latte, and the other is a modified version with ingredients that everyone can find at the grocery store. 

Ingredients

• 3oz brewed Som’s Café Mokka Java
• Steamed and frothed Milk
• 1oz Pumpkin Spice Syrup (You can order this online or you might be able to find it at World Market or the grocery store. Sometimes you can find a Pumpkin Spice Sauce, which would also be a good option.)
• 1/2oz Caramel Sauce
• Ground nutmeg 

Directions

For more detailed directions on how to brew espresso and make steamed milk, see this previous post and video link: https://somscafe.com/how-to-make-a-latte-cappuccino-at-home/

1. In a 16oz mug, add 1oz Pumpkin Spice Syrup, 1/2oz Caramel Sauce and 3oz brewed Som’s Café Mokka Java.
2. Pour steamed milk into the mug, while holding back the foam, up to about 1/2 in. below the rim of the cup.
3. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients, then scoop the foam onto the top of the latte.
4. Top with a dash of ground nutmeg and a drizzle of caramel sauce and serve.

This is exactly the way we would make this beverage at Som’s Café, except with an espresso machine instead of our home latte making method. However, for this recipe I am also including an alternative method for anyone who cannot find Pumpkin Spice syrup or sauce: 

Second Method Ingredients

• 3oz brewed Som’s Café Mokka Java
• Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee creamer
• Whipped Cream
• 1/2oz Caramel Sauce
• Ground Nutmeg

Second Method Directions

1. Because this version substitutes milk and Pumpkin Spice syrup for flavored coffee creamer, you might find it difficult to make the stiff foam that dairy milk produces. That’s because many store-bought flavored creamers don’t actually contain any dairy and milk fat is necessary to produce good foam. If you can find a dairy creamer that is Pumpkin Spice flavored, I would recommend using that and then using the emersion blender method to froth the creamer. If you are using a brand like Coffeemate or International Delight, your creamer will not have dairy in it and will therefore not froth as well. If you are using one of these dairy free creamers, you could omit the step of frothing the milk all together and heat the creamer in the microwave if you want to save time. If you are ok with a latte without foam, this method will work, but if your favorite part of your latte is the foam, I would recommend trying to find a dairy based creamer that is Pumpkin Spice flavored to create the desired foam. Otherwise, the steps to making this version of the latte are basically the same.
2. In a 16oz mug, add 3oz brewed espresso and 1/2oz caramel sauce.
3. Pour steamed Pumpkin Spice flavored creamer into the mug up to about 1/2 in below the rim of the mug.
4. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients.
5. If you were able to make some foam, scoop the foam onto the top of the latte and top with a dash of nutmeg and a drizzle of caramel sauce. If you don’t have any foam, you can enjoy your latte as it is, or you can top it with whipped cream, a dash of nutmeg and a drizzle of caramel sauce.