In this Instructable, I will show you how to make a darn good latte...without an espresso machine or milk frother!

Whaaaaaaat?!

Crazy. I know.

I don't have a bunch of money to spend on a fancy machine, so I devised a way of making a latte, albeit not really authentic, that still tasted good. I know that the "espresso" I made doesn't have a proper "crema", and that cold-brew "espresso" isn't as thick...but hey, it turned out great for something so easy!

Turmeric is a yellow spice that you probably have lurking in the back of your spice cabinet, and it is incredibly good for you! Those antioxidants are said to ease inflammation, so it's great for people with arthritis, or anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits!

You probably have all the ingredients needed for this latte, so why not try it?

Supplies

Serves 2-3:

1/4 cup ground coffee

2 cups milk (lower-fat milk is better to froth with)

1 tsp ground turmeric

1/4 tsp ground black pepper (helps you absorb the nutrients of the turmeric)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1-2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup, optional (to taste)

Step 1: Cold-Brew Espresso

DISCLAIMER:

This is not real espresso. It's as close as you can get to "real" espresso without any machine, at least as far as I know. If anyone knows of a way they think is better, just pop a comment below!

Combine 1/4 cup coffee grounds and 1/2 cup water in a mason jar, then stir it up real good.

the ratio of coffee to water is: 1 part coffee/2 parts water.

Step 2: Refrigerate Overnight

Chill in the fridge for 12-18 hours. More time = stronger coffee.

Step 3: Drip, Drip, Drip

Get yourself a strainer/colander and a coffee filter, and suspend that over a bowl, as shown. Pour the coffee sludge (mmm...."coffee sludge" sounds sooo tasty....) through the filter and wait for it to drip through. You can stir it around a bit to hasten the dripping.

Step 4: Presto!

Bunch it up and press the filter down to get as much coffee out as possible, and then you've got your "espresso"!

...or you could just use an espresso maker, if you've got one.

Step 5: Spices in the Coffee

Divide the espresso into 2 or 3 cups (heat the espresso, if desired) and sprinkle the spices directly in the coffee.

At this point, you can stir in the honey/maple syrup, if desired.

Step 6: Heat and Froth the Milk

Put 2 cups of milk in a microwave-safe container and nuke for 2-3 minutes, or until heated to your liking.

Put it in a French Press coffee maker and plunge the plunger up and down until the milk is nice and frothy.

Some people simply shake up the milk in a mason jar, but I find that to make large bubbles, instead of smooth foam.

If you have a frothing wand or a machine to do it, you can just use that.

Step 7: Pour Milk in Spiced Coffee

At this point, some people like to get creative (just Google "latte art" and be amazed!), so if you can do that kind of art, go for it! Post a picture in the "I made it" section, and show off your skill.

I simply cut out a heart-shaped hole in a scrap of paper and dusted some cinnamon through that "stencil".

Enjoy your cuppa Joe!