How to make a DIY Latte at Home for College Student Caffeine Lovers

Introduction

As a college student myself, I am not always able to make it to a cafe in person to sit down with a latte in hand. I still want a caffeine kick, I love customizing my drinks, and of course, I love having a productive study break option that truly makes me feel awake, alert, and ready to study again. Making DIY lattes is an excellent hobby to pick up, and you can even make some for your friends as well during group study sessions or collaborative work sessions (see our article on working with your friends for some more info). 

During your study breaks, this can be a productive yet relaxing way to reset your mind and walk away from your kitchen counter with a yummy latte in hand to power up your next Pomodoro study session. 

Ingredients

Let’s start with ingredients you will need to prepare. Many of these ingredients will last you quite some time, so while there is an upfront cost, you can many many lattes with a gallon of milk or a bottle of instant coffee mix, for example. 

• Instant coffee (especially if you do not want an coffee machine/espresso maker) 

• High quality matcha powder (if you like matcha) 

• Chai concentrate or chai powder (if you like chai) 

• Milk of choice

• Coffee syrups you know you love (ex. Caramel, hazelnut, etc) 

• Heavy cream for a creamy top (also if you want to mix in a flavor) 

• Sweetener (brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, date syrup, etc)

• Extras: Caramel sauce from Trader Joes, Nutella, banana, cinnamon, dates, fruit jams, etc 

Additional supplies for DIY lattes:

• Electric whisk 

• Small container for making cold foams in (like a mini bowl with lid) 

• Kettle or microwave for matcha hot water 

• Fridge 

• Tea and tablespoons 

• Ice mold for ice cubes 

Some of my favorite coffee and matcha trends I recommend:

• Matcha coconut cloud 

• Dalgona coffee

• Date syrup latte 

• Strawberry or raspberry matcha latte 

• Coffee ice latte

• Nutella cold foam latte 

• Banana milk latte (matcha or coffee)

• Salted caramel iced latte 

• Lattes with fun ice cube shapes (stars, hearts, etc) and sprinkles on top

Notes & Recipes

To make DIY lattes during your study breaks, that is all you need! Here are some Youtube videos I love that provide excellent DIY tutorials, so you are not stressed out and have an excellent checklist/guide of how to DIY your lattes. 

• Matcha Recipes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh-nxIk5kBM 

• Instant Iced Latte Coffee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z0fI51OIdw 

Remember that with basic ingredients, you can invest in a couple items (like caramel sauce or date syrup) to make a custom latte that you absolutely adore. Taking the time to be off of your phone, do a digital reset, and take a break from your lock in session can be so refreshing for your mental and physical health (and of course, it is a great caffeine kick for sure). 

Conclusion

Visiting cafes in-person is amazing, but sometimes when you do not have time to go, DIY lattes at home can be an excellent quick solution. I recommend a balance of both: supporting your in person coffee shops and having a beautiful and lively place to work and study, and still making your lattes at home some days in your Atlanta or Midtown homes/apartments/dorms. Let us know how you Lock in, and what Latte you have in hand!