Homemade Starbucks Coffee Recipes

The Starbucks Iced Lattes all follow generally the same approach: brew espresso, add syrup, add milk, add ice. While the formula might vary slightly between drinks, they all have this basic concoction that are simple to make. While you can make the syrups at home, you can opt to purchase the syrup containers as well. The clear liquid syrups, like vanilla, hazelnut, toffee, and the classic syrup are all relatively low priced and last a long time. Let's get started with some directions and ingredients.

What You'll Need to Make an Ice Latte:

• 2-4 shots of freshly brewed espresso per drink
• Cold milk (whichever kind you prefer)
• Small ice cubes work best
• Syrup or homemade syrup

How to Make It:

1. First, brew the espresso. In a separate tall glass, add the syrup. Add the espresso to the syrup, then add the milk. Stir gently.
2. Add the ice (about 2/3 of the cup should be full in a 12-16 oz container), then cover the drink and shake. Cups with lids and straws usually work best for homemade iced lattes.
3. Add garnish to the top if desired, like whipped cream, nutmeg, or cinnamon.

For a classic recipe without syrup, you can use regular sugar. Dissolve the sugar with espresso and follow the directions above.

Photo of iced latte by Hiromoto on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.

This is one of the most popular summertime drinks at Starbucks. Replicating it is pretty easy. You can buy the official powder to make it taste exactly the same, or you can use a high quality sweetened cocoa powder to achieve nearly the same results (you might even like it better). To start out, you'll need an espresso machine, milk, and ice. Smaller ice cubes tend to make the drink easier to sip and use with a straw.

Ingredients:

• Cold milk
• Small ice cubes (smaller cubes=colder drinks, and more will fit in your cup)
• 2 Tbsp. Ground chocolate with a higher percentage of cacao, like Ghirardelli's mocha chocolate mix, or a good hot chocolate mix
• 2-4 shots of freshly brewed, hot espresso
• Whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

1. Brew the espresso (2-4 shots, depending on how strong you like it). Pour the espresso into a large glass cup or drink mixer. Add the cocoa and mix until smooth with a spoon.
2. Pour the milk into the mixture. Use a shaker to mix, or pour into a glass and let it mix when you pour.
3. Add the ice. Use whipped cream if desired.

Photo of Starbucks Cafe Mocha by Doonvas on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.

You can make your very own Gingerbread Latte right in your own home, without even buying any of the syrups. Making it yourself will also result in a spicier, more flavorful drink that's great for the holidays. Try serving it up with cinnamon or nutmeg on top for appearance.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Ground Ginger
• 1 1/4 Tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• Espresso
• Milk and ice

Directions:

1. To make the syrup, heat the sugar and water in a saucepan. Add the ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla extract and heat on medium-low until it starts to boil. Simmer for 20 minutes to let the flavors combine. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
2. Start off with a fresh cup, pouring 1-2 Tablespoons of the syrup into the cup (add to your liking depending on your sweetness preference, but 2 Tbsp should do it). Add the freshly brewed espresso to melt the syrup, stirring frequently. You can also choose to not dissolve the syrup, but most people don't like the thick hunks of syrup at the bottom.
3. Add the milk, stirring to combine. Add the ice, then top with whipped and nutmeg if desired.

Gingerbread latte photo by Esparta Palma, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.

Hot or iced, the Caramel Macchiato is an incredible drink for any time of year. With sweet, cinnamony caramel combined with freshly brewed espresso and milk, it's a decadent treat for cold fall days or hot summer nights. Here's what you'll need to get started.

Ingredients:

• 3 Fresh Brewed Shots of espresso
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 Tablespoons Caramel Sauce
• 1 cup whole milk (whole milk steams the best!)

Directions:

1. This is one of the easier coffee drinks to replicate. Take the freshly brewed espresso, and melt the caramel by stirring with a spoon. Add the vanilla last, giving another brief stir.
2. Add the milk. Steam the milk until an airy froth is achieved. Add to the caramel syrup mixture.
3. Top with whipped cream and additional caramel syrup if desired. To make it iced, do not steam the milk, and add the milk to the caramel mixture, then add ice and whipped cream.

Photo of caramel macchiato by Ambernectar 13 on flickr, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.

There are a number of syrups available from Starbucks that will allow you to make your own coffee drinks at home. This is convenient, and also a better deal than visiting your local cafe on a daily basis. Most of the syrups are available for sale at retail locations, but some can be harder to purchase and find. Greater discounts can also be found by shopping online at different websites selling the product. The syrup keeps perfectly, and doesn't need to be kept in a fridge. The syrups to right are fine examples of great deals on popular syrups.