Name: Brown Sugar Cardamom Latte
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces strong coffee; 1/4 cup milk; 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar Cardamom Syrup (see recipe below); 1 ounces whole cardamom pods; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 cup water

How to make a Brown Sugar Cardamom Latte at home without any fancy equipment. Try an alternative to the Pumpkin Spice Latte for fall!

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Well would you look at that, it’s September. How did that happen? Even though the official first day of fall is still a few weeks away, most people can’t help but start to celebrate autumn when September starts. And I heard a rumor that everyone’s favorite coffee chain started selling their Pumpkin Spice Lattes even earlier this year.

Personally, I like to squeeze every last drop out of summer, but when the time comes I am with every other fall loving girl, wearing boots and plaid shirts, leaf peeping and forcing my husband to go apple picking. I’ll probably even drink a pumpkin spice latte. What can I say, call me basic. But I’ll tell you what’s not your basic pumpkin spice latte – this Brown Sugar Cardamom Latte.

How do you feel about cardamom? It seems to be an under used spice in the U.S. But it’s so fragrant and unique, I love using it anywhere that other autumn spices are used – cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves all play well with cardamom. It is commonly used in Indian and Middle Eastern recipes.

I made an easy cardamom syrup for this brown sugar cardamom latte. I like to make my own syrups for different lattes at home, like I did with my Lavender Latte.

What is cardamom?

Cardamom is a spice made from seeds of a plant in the ginger family. Sometimes it is also spelled cardamon or cardamum. It is often sold as a powder, or as whole seeds in a green pod. Cardamom is very aromatic, citrusy and herbal. It is often combined with cinnamon, clove, ginger, allspice and nutmeg. Look for the whole cardamom pods for the best flavor.

Is there a cardamom substitute?

Cardamom has a very unique flavor that can’t really be replicated with anything else. For this recipe I don’t recommend using a substitute for the cardamom, since it is the main flavor in the latte. However, in recipes where the cardamom is not the main flavor, you can use equal parts cinnamon and nutmeg, ginger or cloves. The flavor will not be the same but it will work as a stand in.

How to make a latte at home

I have written before about how to make a latte at home without any fancy equipment. All you need to do is brew strong coffee and mix it with steamed milk. A latte at a coffee shop will be made with espresso. However, if you don’t have an espresso machine at home, you can substitute strong coffee. I like to use french press coffee. Want foamy milk but don’t have a milk foamer? Pour the milk into a mason jar, warm up in the microwave for 30 seconds. Screw on the lid and shake it until foamy.