Coffee Pod Central

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte With a Keurig or Nespresso

Real pumpkin, real spice and strong pod coffee: a café-style PSL at home in about eight minutes.

By The Coffee Pod Central team · Published · 3 min read

A café pumpkin spice latte costs more every fall. The good news is that the drink is simple: strong coffee, steamed milk, a little pumpkin, sweetener and warm spices. Your pod machine handles the coffee, and a quick homemade syrup covers the rest.

This recipe works with a Keurig, a Nespresso Original or a Nespresso Vertuo. The only difference is which pod you brew and how much.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte (Keurig or Nespresso)

Prep
5 min
Brew
3 min
Serves
1
Real pumpkin, real spice, and a fraction of the café price.

Ingredients

  • Keurig: 1 dark roast K-Cup brewed at 6 oz (Strong setting if you have it)
  • Nespresso Original: 2 espresso capsules (or 1 lungo)
  • Nespresso Vertuo: 1 double espresso pod
  • 3/4 cup (6 oz) milk or oat milk
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
  • 1–2 tbsp maple syrup or sugar, to taste
  • 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, plus extra to finish
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • Optional: whipped cream
Shop the pods

Steps

  1. Warm the milk, pumpkin puree, sweetener and pumpkin pie spice in a small pan over medium heat, whisking until steaming (don't boil). Or microwave it for 60–90 seconds and whisk well.
  2. Take the milk off the heat and stir in the vanilla.
  3. Brew your coffee straight into a large mug: a 6 oz strong K-Cup, two Nespresso Original espressos, or one Vertuo double espresso.
  4. Froth the pumpkin milk with a handheld frother (or whisk hard) until foamy.
  5. Pour the milk over the coffee, holding back the foam with a spoon, then spoon the foam on top.
  6. Finish with whipped cream and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice.

Tips for the best at-home PSL

  • Use strong coffee. Milk and pumpkin mute the coffee flavor. On a Keurig, brew 6 oz rather than 10. On Nespresso, espresso or double espresso beats a lungo.
  • Buy pumpkin puree, not pie filling. Pie filling is already sweetened and spiced, so your latte ends up too sweet.
  • Strain for a smoother drink. Pumpkin puree can leave a little texture at the bottom of the mug. Pour the warm milk through a fine sieve if that bothers you.
  • Make a batch of syrup. Simmer 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water and 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice for 5 minutes, then strain. It keeps in the fridge for about a week; use 2 tablespoons per latte.

Shortcut version

Short on time? Brew a pumpkin spice K-Cup at 6 oz, stir in a tablespoon of store-bought pumpkin spice syrup, and top with frothed milk. It’s less “real pumpkin”, but it’s ready in two minutes.

Makes the foam

Handheld milk frother

A cheap handheld frother is the difference between “coffee with milk” and something that feels like a latte. Nespresso owners with an Aeroccino can use that instead. Add the pumpkin and spice to the milk first.

What we like

  • Froths hot or cold milk in seconds
  • Inexpensive
  • Works with dairy and oat milk

Keep in mind

  • Less dense foam than a jug-style frother

Make it iced

Brew your coffee over a glass full of ice. Shake the pumpkin, sweetener, spice and vanilla with cold milk in a jar until combined, pour it over the coffee, and finish with cold foam.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make a pumpkin spice latte with a Keurig?

Yes. Brew a dark roast K-Cup at 6 oz (using the Strong setting if you have it), then add milk that’s been warmed with pumpkin puree, sweetener and pumpkin pie spice, and froth it.

How do I make a pumpkin spice latte with Nespresso?

Use two espresso capsules on an Original machine or one double espresso pod on a Vertuo, then pour over warmed, frothed milk mixed with pumpkin puree, sweetener and pumpkin pie spice.

Does a pumpkin spice latte have pumpkin in it?

Café versions typically get their flavor from a pumpkin-spice sauce or syrup. This homemade version uses real pumpkin puree plus pumpkin pie spice.

Keep reading