Drinks Cardamom Maple Lattes Are Our Cure for Slow Afternoons Be the first to rate & review! Sick of spending $8 on coffee? This espresso drink comes together in minutes. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 9, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Food & Wine / Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 5 mins Total Time: 10 mins Yield: 1 drink At Isle of Us, a colorful, cozy all-day café located on New York City’s Upper East Side, the focaccia is crispy, the brownies are gooey, and the seasonal lattes aren’t just gimmicks designed for Instagram. Caffeinated, spicy, and just a little sweet, the Cardamom Maple Latte is the star of the fall hot drink menu. Think of it as the perfect companion to power through a few hours of work, or take my advice, and pour one into your favorite thermos before taking your morning walk around the neighborhood. What makes the Cardamom Maple Latte work? Far too many seasonal lattes run sweet (we’re not naming names), but the Cardamom Maple Latte leans on grassy, earthy ground green cardamom pods for flavor. Steamed whole milk makes this latte rich and creamy, but feel free to substitute in your favorite dairy-free alternative milk — the higher the fat content, the foamier your drink will be. Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen For this recipe, we like to use spices from Burlap and Barrel, which sources cardamom from Guatemala, and spicy, complex Royal Cinnamon from Vietnam. Once you’ve made a batch of cardamom maple syrup, consider adding some to a regular cup of drip coffee, or as a sweetener in espresso drinks like an Americano or Cortado. Ingredients Cardamom Maple Syrup 1 tablespoon maple syrup 1 3/4 teaspoon cane sugar 1 pinch salt 1/2 teaspoon ground green cardamom 1 1/2 ounces water Cardamom Maple Latte 1 ounce Cardamom Maple Syrup 6 ounces milk 2 shots espresso Cardamom and cinnamon (for dusting) Directions Make Cardamom Maple Syrup Add maple syrup, sugar, salt, and ground green cardamom to a water-filled pot. Bring to a simmer and stir until sugar is dissolved. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Makes 2 ounces of cardamom maple syrup. Can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Make Cardamom Maple Latte Add 2 shots of espresso and 1 ounce of cardamom maple syrup to a cup. Top with steamed milk and dust with cardamom and cinnamon. Rate It Print