Latte Spiced Cozy Aroma (Printable version)
A cozy latte infused with warm spices and creamy milk for a comforting afternoon treat.
# List of ingredients:
→ Coffee
01 - 1 cup freshly brewed espresso or strong coffee
→ Milk Mixture
02 - 1 1/2 cups whole milk or plant-based alternative
03 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
06 - 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - Pinch of ground cloves
08 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Garnish (optional)
09 - Whipped cream
10 - Ground cinnamon or nutmeg for dusting
# Directions:
01 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Whisk gently until steaming hot but not boiling, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
02 - Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
03 - Brew espresso or strong coffee and evenly divide it between two mugs.
04 - Use a milk frother or whisk to froth the spiced milk mixture until foamy.
05 - Pour the spiced milk over the coffee in each mug, holding back the foam with a spoon. Then spoon the foam on top.
06 - Optional: Top each cup with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It takes ten minutes but tastes like you've been planning it all week.
- The spices do something almost magical—they make the coffee taste smoother and somehow more like *itself*.
- One batch easily becomes two cups, so you've got an excuse to sit down twice instead of rushing through.
02 -
- Don't let the milk boil hard; it will taste scalded and the spices turn bitter instead of warm and inviting.
- If your milk won't froth, it's probably because it cooled down—this drink really does need everything hot and freshly made for it to shine.
03 -
- Make a big batch of the spice mixture (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves) and store it in a small jar—then you can just measure out what you need without having to find each spice jar separately.
- If you're making this for someone else, warm the milk mixture first and keep it in a thermos; they just need to add their hot coffee and froth, which feels like they're finishing something you started.