Strawberry Coconut Latte

Schools out and the humid 80 degree Missouri weather created an itch in my throat for a creamy, cool beverage that would energize me for my long day of unpacking ahead. So, as I gratefully danced around the kitchen I have missed so dearly, I decided to try and make a homemade strawberry latte. I started by cutting up about 6 large berries and adding them into a pot with half a cup of sugar and a fourth cup of water. As they reduced, I searched my cabinets and found some coconut emulsion that I thought would pair well with the flavor profile I was searching after. I mixed 1/8 teaspoons of the emulsion with 1/8 teaspoons of vanilla extract and a few splashes of almond milk. After about 20 minutes, the strawberry mixture became thick and sticky, so I took it off the heat and mixed a few spoonfuls into another glass of almond milk to create strawberry milk. In retrospect, it would have been a good idea to add the syrup to a blender to remove the chunks, but I actually ended up enjoying slurping the berry remnants through the straw ;). I then added the two milks to a glass that housed ice and a canned nitro cold brew from the local coffee place by my house, The Roasterie. The drink was refreshing, thin, and icy, motivating me to get a jump start on my day. I have some strawberry syrup left over that I cannot wait to use in a match for a mid day pick me up!

Let me know if you give this a try!