As we soon as we feel the first cool breeze of autumn, it means one thing: pumpkin spice season. Love it or hate it, there’s no escaping the bright orange ghoulish gourd in absolutely everything – and we mean everything. Whether it’s our coffee drinks, scented candles or even Spam, pumpkin spice is here to stay. So it’s time to give in to the seasonal obsession and drink up the comforting flavours of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice.
Many of us are continuing to work from home – so, rather than going out to buy your seasonal beverage, you can learn how to make professional coffee concoctions that look and taste like the real deal.
We’ve enlisted the help of coffee expert Lewis Spencer, from, Coffee Direct to share his secrets. To kick things off, he reminds us to use freshly roasted and brewed coffee. “Supermarket varieties can sit in warehouses and on shelves for months before being used,” he says. “And water makes up a large proportion of many drinks, so make sure you always used freshly drawn or filtered water.”
Try switching up the milk, too, he advises. “Experiment with different milks such as oat, coconut and soy,” he tells HuffPost UK. “These can add a new dimension to your favourite brew.”
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Makes: 3 | Prep time: 5 mins
Ingredients:
750ml whole milk, hot but not boiling
4 teaspoons caster sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon allspice
180ml freshly brewed strong coffee
Whipped cream
Method:
1. Create a pumpkin spice mix by combining the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice in a small bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
2. Add the hot milk, caster sugar, vanilla extract, and half of the pumpkin spice to a blender, and mix until frothy.
3. Divide the liquid between three coffee mugs, leaving enough space to add a good amount of whipped cream later.
4. Add 60ml of freshly brewed, strong coffee to the mugs.
5. Add that layer of whipped cream, and finish with a sprinkling of the remaining pumpkin spice mix.
Salted Caramel Latte
Serves: 2 | Prep time: 5 mins
Ingredients:
500ml milk (whole milk recommended)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons caramel sauce
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
4 shots of freshly brewed espresso coffee
Method:
1. Gently combine the milk and brown sugar on a medium hob, taking care to heat but not to boil it.
2. When the milk is beginning to froth, reduce the heat and mix in the caramel sauce and vanilla extract. You may like to check the mixture is sweet enough for you at this stage and add a little more caramel sauce if desired.
3. Stir in your freshly brewed coffee and serve in latte glasses or tall coffee cups.
Mint Mocha
Serves: 2 | Prep time: 5 mins
Ingredients:
200ml milk (whole milk recommended)
400ml freshly brewed black coffee
75g good quality dark chocolate
1-2 teaspoons peppermint extract or peppermint syrup
Whipped cream
Method:
1. Combine the milk, coffee and 60g of the dark chocolate in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over a medium heat. Keep stirring at this temperature for around 2 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat, add the peppermint and pour into a wide-mouthed mug, leaving enough space at the top for a generous dollop of whipped cream.
3. Finish with the whipped cream and grate the rest of the dark chocolate on top.
Iced Dalgona Coffee
Serves: 2 | Prep time: 5 mins
Ingredients:
3 shots of freshly brewed espresso coffee
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cold water
400ml milk (whole milk recommended)
Ice
Method:
1. Combine the coffee, cold water and sugar in a bowl and whisk until you get a smooth, silky mixture. Keep going until it holds the shape in stiff peaks. This may take quite a long time by hand, we’d recommend using an electric whisk
2. Fill your coffee glasses with milk and ice three-quarters full.
3. Top up with the whipped coffee mixture. Some people like to mix the two layers together, while others prefer to drink the iced milk through the coffee layer.