I’m not gunna lie–I’ve been craving Starbucks (specifically a iced caramel macchiato–my special occasions drink) for a solid two weeks now. Probably more so because I know I can’t just go out & get one. Oh the joys of quarantine. 

However, just because we’re stuck in our homes without access to coffee shops does not mean we need to suffer from the lack of quality caffeinated drinks (although, some of your local coffee shops may be open & you should totally support them if can/want to!) As part of my job, I run a student Instagram account (seriously) & I recently posted how to make their favorite campus coffee shop drinks (heyyy @holygrounds) at home to “bring a little campus to them” in this weird/sad time. Got me thinking–I should share this former barista knowledge with a larger audience because who doesn’t love a great cup of coffee?

So below I have recipes/instructions for: cold brew, steamed frothy milk (to top your coffee/espresso and BAM you have a latte), chai tea latte (hot or chilled) & iced matcha latte. The photos at the bottom are little recipe cards to download/pin to Pinterest if you want to save them for later. Enjoy!

Chai Tea Latte

 What you need:

• 2 cups milk
• 2 chai tea bags
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine milk and sugar. Heat on low to medium heat until steaming (not boiling).
2. Remove from heat and add the two chai tea bags. Steep for 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove the tea bags with tongs and squeeze the excess liquid out.
4. Add vanilla and spices and stir well.

Tips & Tricks:

• You can replace the sugar with honey or maple syrup and add in step 4 instead of 1. You can also use brown sugar instead of white sugar.
• Play around with spices! Add a 1/8 teaspoon of cloves, nutmeg and/or ginger in step 4 if you have them on hand.
• You can also let cool and serve over ice for an iced chai latte.

Iced Matcha Latte

 What you need:

• 2 cups milk
• 2-3 teaspoons of matcha powder
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
• 1 cup ice

Instructions:

1. Combine milk, matcha powder, and vanilla in a cup. Stir well with a spoon or handheld milk frother.
2. Top with ice.

Tips & Tricks:

• You can buy matcha powder online or some grocery stores carry it.
• To ensure your matcha doesn’t have lumps, you can sift the powder first or add it to a little hot milk/water and let it dissolve before adding the rest of the ingredients.
• You can replace the vanilla extract with honey or maple syrup for a different flavor!

Have any favorite coffee drinks you want recipes for? Comment below & I’ll see what I can do! &.