Barista here! I’ve been making my own DELICIOUS spin on this drink for a couple weeks now, so I have a little bit of insight. Disclaimer: I don’t work at Starbucks, and so I don’t actually know how their supplies work, but I’ll do my best to describe what I do with what I have.
Hopefully, that’ll work out for those of you brewing at home or at Starbucks. :)
AU Pumpkin Mocha Breve (16 oz version)
1 ½ tablespoons Mocha Mix (Or equivalent. You’ll need a sweet chocolate powder.)
1-3 pumps Monin Pumpkin Spice Syrup. (Or equivalent.) You can vary this based on how pumpkin-y you want it to taste.
Cinnamon or cinnamon sugar
Scoop Mocha Mix into the bottom of a 16oz cup.
Pump Pumpkin Spice syrup into a steaming pitcher with about 12 oz cold half-and-half and swirl together.
Grind, tamp, and pull 2 shots espresso according to your normal procedure.
Pour espresso over and gently stir ingredients together.
Steam half-and-half in steaming pitcher to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, making sure to aerate a swirl of smooth, light foam over the top.
Tap your pitcher against the counter to eliminate large bubbles. Gently swirl the pitcher to separate the foam layer from the milk below.
Pour steamed milk over espresso until the cup is almost full.
Pour your smooth foam over the top.
Shake cinnamon over the foam layer.
The key to my prep is warming the syrup along with the milk. This should produce a smooth creamy pumpkin taste that’s just taken OVER THE TOP by the shake of cinnamon or cinnamon sugar over your smooth foam. To my taste, THIS is what it feels like to fall slowly into love. Or another world. Or trust. Or all three at once.
I keep telling my customers that this is the most delicious thing I’ve ever made for myself, but I haven’t had one follow through and order one yet. You’ll have to let me know how you like it! :)
P.S. The thought also occurs to me that for a nice twist, you might try adding a pump of hazelnut or salted caramel in with your milk as well. But I’ve not done it that way yet. Gonna have to try it now though. :) Don’t! This is terrible advice that past me should never have given you.
P.P.S. Here is how you order this drink at your Starbucks: “Grande mocha breve, ½ the mocha, two pumps of pumpkin spice. (If you want it foamy, say extra foamy at the end. If you don’t, say yes to the whipped cream.)
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