cheap latte!

[Kaos Kitty]

I am guilty - I love frothy coffee drinks. The kind that are $5 or more from Starbucks. In fact, I drink one or two every day!

My frugal secret? I make them at home! In fact, I'm drinking one now so I thought I would share.

Homemade Latte

1 cup Coffee
splash Milk or cream
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1-2 drops vanilla extract
"areolatte" electric whisk ($10-$20)
cinnamon or nutmeg sprinkle (optional)

I start with an nice cup (garage sale bought). Mine is a cream china cup with white embossing and a gold rimmed saucer ($0.25). This is a recent addition, I used to use an uber sized mug but I'm trying have more frugal servings! The cup makes me feel fancy

In a separate mug I heat up about 1/8th cup milk/cream(depends on how much milk froth you like - and the size of your mug.) in the microwave for 30 seconds. I add a teaspoon or so of brown sugar and a drop of vanilla extract. Then I whisk with my "areolatte" whisk for a few seconds.

I pour my coffee into my fancy cup, about 3/4 full, then pour on the warm, frothy flavored milk on top. To finish I sometimes add just a tiny,tiny sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg for aroma.

Alternatively, if you are drinking out of a microwavable cup, you froth the milk and save time/cups by pouring the coffee directly over top the milk. It makes a slight hole in the foam, but don't worry, the coffee settles on the bottom!

Voila! Fancy coffee in less than 2 minutes. Flavoring the milk can be done with the more expensive "Torani" syrup, but I like my sugar and vanilla just fine. I haven't tried using a little maple syrup or almond extract yet, but I think they would be delicious too.

The "areolatte" is a slight investment (it's the size of an electric toothbrush with a round, flying saucer shaped whisk at the end that runs on batteries). I've been using my everyday for more than a year and it's held up great. I've changed the batteries once so far. I use it, rinse it off with the end with soapy water, quick dab dry and tuck in back into its case next to the coffee maker.

My other tip? We often make coffee and put it in a thermos carafe to stay warm all day instead of using electricity keeping the coffee pot on. But sometimes we don't drink it all. So now, I take any left over coffee and pour it into ice cube trays, and then into a ziploc container. I use them to make a variation on Vietnamese ice coffee.


Ice Coffee

coffee ice cubes
cold coffee
sweet condensed milk

Fill a glass 1/2 way with cold leftover coffee, sweeten with condensed milk to taste (go sweeter/stronger than normal as the condensed milk will become diluted as the coffee cubes melt). Fill the cup with coffee cubes.

Or crushing the ice cubes in a blender into a slushy and adding the condensed milk would be delicious too, but I haven't tried that yet.
(weak blender).

Any other left over coffee ideas or foam flavoring suggestions?

I think I'm going to go make myself a second cup

[Jamauk]

I do the above occasionally ~ but instead of adding sugar/vanilla, I use chocolate syrup and have a mocha!

Love my aerolatte!

[Jellybeanz]

Wow , thanks for posting this! I ADORE lattes.. I usually get one once a month ( sometimes every couple months) when I go to the "big city" LOL. I live in a small town so they aren't available here thank goodness!!!!

Anyway I have been brainstorming trying to figure out how to make a latte at home and all I could find when googling was really expensive gadgets with the steamer thingie and all.

So I went to Amazon and found the stainless steel deluxe edition with stand for 82 % off... $ 5.50 !! They also had other aerolattes for upwards of 19.99 I think. I really couldn't see much difference. The reviews were all pretty positive, so I decided to go with the marked down one. Actually I ordered two :-)

I'm so looking forward to getting it. Going to pick up some milk and maybe some of that hazlenut syrup and store brand chocolate syrup too and try this puppy out when they get here.

True with shipping and handling I would have to buy almost 4 lattes to make up the difference, but gosh darn I love a latte. LOL

So here's to hoping I got a good deal......... :-) This could mean the end of buying lattes for me *smile*

[cheles2kids]

Mmmm, thanks for all the tasty sounding recipes, ladies!
I've never even heard of an areolatte, but will have to try to go find one now.

Another thing that I like to do, take vanilla ice cream, some milk, add a couple Tbsp. of instant coffee and some chocolate syrup and blend.
It's like a coffee, mocha type shake.
Sooo, yummy!

[frugalandsimple]

I've been experimenting too with my coffee to make it taste similiar to what I would buy at a local coffee shop that I like. I use a little bit of Icecream to make it frosty. I use different types of pure extracts, not the imitation stuff. I also buy either International Delight or Coffee-mate creamer to add to my coffee.

[frugalnana]

Thank you for the hint. I love the coffees also. I bought this cheap can of cappicinno mix from Aldis for about $1.59 a month ago and I put this in my coffee for something different. I have a one cup mixer for smoothies, milkshakes and I can put this in there and I feel like I bought it from the store. MMM.

[baxjul]

Sounds great! thanks!

[Serani]

We have a convenience store chain around here called Sheetz. I love their iced mochas, but at $1.50 a bottle, it's a splurge, at best. Well, I was in there the one day and they had a neat suggestion for mixing your own cheap.

Take a cup, fill about half way with coffee of your choice (I'd go for the strongest they have).
Add 2 or 3 flavored creamers (that they have free on the bar)
Fill to about 3/4 with half-n-half or milk
Add ice to the top and stir. (This is why I suggested the strongest - the ice does water it down a bit).

Seriously, they put this out THEMSELVES. I thought it was cool. But it's a nice way to get a good iced mocha without paying $4 for it. Usually the regular brewed coffees are MUCH cheaper than the mixed one. I've tried it acouple of times with different flavors and it's good.

[ronda]

Oooooo, I love latte's so much, but hate paying the price for them.
Kudo's to you for sharing the recipe with us.
THANX A BUNCH!!

[MoonMommy]

Thanks for the coffee ice cube idea for the iced coffee. I loved Tim Horton's iced coffee and I often make my own at home, never thought to just freeze any of my leftover coffee. Great tip.

[Kaos Kitty]

Take a cup, fill about half way with coffee of your choice (I'd go for the strongest they have).
Add 2 or 3 flavored creamers (that they have free on the bar)
Fill to about 3/4 with half-n-half or milk
Add ice to the top and stir. (This is why I suggested the strongest - the ice does water it down a bit).

Thanks for the recipe! Maybe try using frozen coffee cubes instead of ice cubes - it will keep the drink from getting watered down

[frugalnana]

Serani we have sheetz here also and my dh and love the iced coffees. But that is only a treat maybe once a month. I never knew they had that suggestion for coffee. Thanks for the idea.

[cmdarlin]

You all are making me thirsty! My guilty pleasure in the morning is my Cappuccino. I get it from Wal-Mart in the coffee section. Its made by Hills Bros, in a square, red container. My favorite flavor is French Vanilla. You can do it hot or cold but I love it cold. I make it in the blender with milk and ice cubes. Makes a nice foamy top... smells sooooo good.... Darn... gonna have to breakdown and make one!!!

Debbie in Missouri

[dortrust]

No that is a GREAT frugal tip

[cheriede]

I am a huge fan of iced coffee. Thanks so much for sharing these recipes.