Pumpkin Spice Latte: PS5

by Katilyn Briggs

“Assume Nothing!” A mantra for The Crown as we worked towards opening our doors in March of 2019, the phrase became a Menu section, encouraging our visitors to drop their preconceptions and be open to new and delicious experiences. And now it’s the title of a drink recipe series, for you to recreate at home. Here’s to a year of assuming nothing!

Fall is finally here! So many people yearn for that time of year when the air gets crisp and cool, and the trees start to melt into hues of reds, yellows and oranges. Halloween is just around the corner. Jack O Lanterns teasing you from neighbors’ doorsteps. A sense of coziness draws you in with warm savory soups and spiced ciders or teas. But one drink reigns supreme in the fall months, people anticipating its arrival to solidify that fall feeling; the Pumpkin spice latte. I wanted to finally bring this iconic drink to the Crown, but with a little twist. I was inspired by the savoriness of black sesame, but still wanted all the pumpkin spices as well. I decided to use a Chinese five spice instead of a regular pumpkin spice because it has a lot of those spices already, but with some Szechuan pepper that adds a nice extra kick and some floral notes to the drink. I think it is the perfect fall addition to our menu, and I hope everyone is as excited as I am to celebrate the fall season with this delicious drink!

Pumpkin Syrup Ingredients:

1 can pumpkin puree
.75 qts of brown sugar
1 qt hot water
7 grams toasted sesame

5 spice Ingredients:

Anise – 8 grams
Clove – 4 grams
Cinnamon – 6 grams
Fennel Seed – 12 grams
Szechuan – 20 Grams

Pumpkin Spice Latte - PS5

Directions:

Place Brown Sugar, pumpkin puree, and hot water into pot and bring to a simmer, stirring regularly.
Place 5 spice ingredients in mortar and crush coarsely with pestle.
Set hot plate to 400 and toast spices in the pan until aromatic and slightly smoky. Pour into syrup.
Repeat with sesame, toasting until the white sesame takes color.
Let simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool before straining through wire mesh strainer.

Check out the Assume Nothing series, and if you are in the Bay Area, stop by The Crown to taste the seasonal signature beverage.

Written by The Crown

The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room is Royal Coffee’s specialty coffee hub in uptown Oakland. Since opening in 2019, The Crown has offered hands-on classes, workshops, and expert consulting for coffee enthusiasts and professionals—from green-bean sourcing to roasting. Whether you’re refining your cupping technique or honing your buying strategy, The Crown is where the craft of specialty coffee comes to life.

Pumpkin Spice Latte: PS5 – Assume Nothing Drink Recipe