How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte | DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Have you seen at least one leaf fall or change color? Then apparently that’s the cue for the start of the pumpkin spice latte season.

We'll be honest: since we prefer pure black coffee, we're not huge fans. Actually, this is what our Vice President, Jason Patton, will do if you ask him for a pumpkin spice latte:

Why not check out our Spirit Infused Coffee Club, which will be featuring Pumpkin Rum Infused coffee in October?

If you love the sound of the Pumpkin Rum Infused coffee but still want a pumpkin spice latte, don't worry. We still like you and we're definitely going to help you drink one without being overcharged for it.

With this easy recipe, you can learn how to make a pumpkin spice latte at home that looks and tastes even better than what you’re used to.

We’re going to teach you both the traditional recipe and one that’s unique to Fire Dept. Coffee since it comes with a very special twist.

Perfect to trick or treat yourself this fall!

DIY pumpkin spice latte recipe

This pumpkin spice latte recipe makes one drink, so, if you’re the designated barista in your household or group of friends, don’t forget to do the math first.

You’ll need:

• 1 heaped tablespoon of Fire Dept. Coffee
  (To balance all the other flavors involved, we recommend a dark roast)
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 tablespoon of pumpkin purée
• 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice (or sprinkles of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Whipped cream (optional)

1. Mix your main pumpkin spice latte ingredients

Grab a small pot and, over medium heat, combine your main ingredients: milk, pumpkin purée, spices and vanilla extract. 

Whisk them together until they look smooth and try to keep an eye on them while you proceed with the next step. You don’t want them to boil!

PRO TIP: pour some hot boiling water into your glass to keep your pumpkin spice latte piping hot for longer.

2. Brew some fresh coffee

In the meantime, you can brew the coffee. If you’re making it just for yourself, a French press or manual dripper will do. 

If, on the contrary, you want to learn how to make pumpkin spice latte at home for your entire household, go on and brew a large carafe with your automatic coffee maker.

3. Mix them into a glass and garnish it

Discard the hot water if you’ve used it, pour the coffee into the glass, and top it up with the pumpkin spice mixture. If you want, garnish it with a generous squirt of whipped cream and another sprinkle of spices on top.

That’s a traditional pumpkin spice latte for you. 

But let’s get to the part that we think is a whole latte fun!

How to make a pumpkin spice latte with a twist

You might have heard of ‘drunk’ or ‘spiked’ pumpkin spiced lattes, made pouring a shot of liqueur into the coffee before mixing it with the spiced mixture. Rum and whiskey are the most popular options.

If you’re curious, go on and give it a try.

However, let’s say that you want to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte with a twist early in the morning or before heading to work. Then a shot of alcohol would probably NOT be a good idea.

Luckily, we have a delicious solution for you: spirit-infused coffee.

Thanks to our proprietary process, we’ve found a way of removing the alcohol while preserving the distinctive flavor of your all-time favorite spirits. 

So, if you were curious about how to make a pumpkin spice latte with a boozy twist… but without the booze, just pick one of them. We especially recommend our rum and cinnamon whiskey blends.