Coffee Shop Latte Recipe (Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts)

This is another recipe I got from a friend who worked at Starbucks.   So many people wonder what is the big secret to making Starbucks (or Dunkin' Donuts) style lattes at home (iced or hot).   Well…   Their big secret is, they DON’T use regular coffee,  OR water, in a latte!  Nope.   That waters the drink down too much.  The idea is FLAVOR, and you don’t get flavor when the bulk of your drink is WATER.   Coffee shops want return business, and they stick to pure flavor— so lattes are made from a shot of espresso, some milk and flavored syrups.  That’s it.  No water added (except ice).   No espresso on hand?   No problem!  You can mimic a shot of espresso by mixing a single serving packet of instant coffee with hot water.   So here is a basic recipe of pretty much most coffee shop lattes, which you can make at home and save tons of money, but still get that great taste you love.     

Coffee Shop Latte Recipe (Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts)

Ingredients:

1 Starbucks iced coffee single serving packet, or any single serving packet of instant coffee  (sweetened or unsweetened), 
 OR use 1-2 shots espresso

2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute (leave this out if using pre-sweetened packets)

3 tablespoon HOT water (leave this out if you’re using espresso)

2 cups milk (hot for a hot drink, cold for an iced drink)

Coffee flavor syrup of your choice, such as chocolate, vanilla, hazel nut, etc.   You can also use those little Coffeemate single serving creamer cups, they have fantastic flavors available!

Directions:

1.       In a large glass, mix together the coffee packet with the hot water (or the espresso), sugar (only if coffee packet is unsweetened) and hot water.  Then add your flavor syrup (or flavored creamer).  Blend very well, until completely smooth. Heating the water up in the microwave for 20 seconds before adding it, makes the mixture even smoother. 

2.      Then pour 2 cups of milk into the ice/coffee mixture and blend well.  If making an iced drink, add ice to the mixture BEFORE adding the milk.  If making a hot drink, microwave or boil the milk until it reaches desired temperature.

3.      If desired, top with whipped cream and an extra drizzle of your flavor syrup over the top for garnish.