For nearly four years, I was a barista at a Starbucks in Chicago. So it’s no surprise that I was splurging on lattes, spending up to $40 a week.
But I’ve since cut back on buying coffee every day, and it has saved me a lot of money. Now I make my own drinks at home. It’s easy and tastes just as good.
Home recipes inspired by Starbucks’ most popular drinks
I recommend purchasing a moka pot, which is a stove-top or electric coffee maker. They come in a variety of sizes and cost anywhere from $17 to $99.
For a budget-friendly machine that does it all, the DeLonghi Stilosa Espresso Machine is an excellent option.
If you want to steam milk but don’t have a steam wand, you can easily boil or microwave it.
Here are some of my favorite at-home recipes, inspired by popular Starbucks drinks (based on a 16-ounce cup size):
1. Caramel Macchiato
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla syrup
- Caramel sauce
- 3/4 cup of your milk of choice
- 2 shots of espresso
- Ice (optional)
Steps:
- Grab a coffee mug and add some vanilla syrup.
- Pour in milk almost to the top, leaving room for espresso and ice.
- Add some ice and pour espresso over it.
- Drizzle caramel on top.
2. White Chocolate Mocha
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of white chocolate sauce (or 1 tablespoon of melted white chocolate chips)
- 3/4 cup of your milk of choice
- 2 shots of espresso
- Ice (optional)
- Whipped cream (optional)
Steps:
- Grab a coffee mug and add in the white chocolate sauce (or chips).
- Get the espresso going. When ready, pour it into the mug and stir so the sauce and espresso are thoroughly mixed.
- Pour milk in.
- Add ice.
- Top it off with some whipped cream.
3. Chai Latte
Ingredients:
Steps:
- Pour equal parts chai concentrate and milk into a steaming pitcher and steam. (I recommend about two minutes in the microwave.)
- Heat to desired temperature (I heat mine to 150 degrees) and pour into a coffee mug.
- Sprinkle in cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. Stir and enjoy.
4. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold…
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