Pistachio Latte

I don’t often do sugary drinks, but when I do it’s because a recent trend has surfaced.  Enter the Pistachio Latte from a certain coffee company.  At Christmas it was the Peppermint Mocha Latte and before that it was the PSL, Pumpkin Spice Latte.  They’re always going to create new concoctions.  And why not?  They’re a business. Here’s the thing, they don’t have your health at heart.  They simply want your money.  Unfortunately, that’s the truth.

Frequently drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with weight gain/obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis. Even though the most recent dietary guidelines didn’t go with the recommendations to lower the amount of added sugar in our diet, the truth is we still have a long way to go.  Therefore that means, see how much you’re taking in to know how much to cut back.  Added sugar is not only in drinks but also in many products.  One more reason to know where AND how much added sugar you’re consuming.  The end goal is to begin to decrease the added sugar in our diet.

Added Sugar – How Much?

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting the amount of added sugars you consume to no more than half of your daily discretionary calories allowance. For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day, or about 6 teaspoons of sugar (24 grams). For men, it’s 150 calories per day, or about 9 teaspoons. (36 grams).

Sugary beverages are the most common culprit but often the most overlooked source of added sugar.  Sugary coffee beverages have taken off. I often wonder if people even know they’re basically drinking a dessert. We all have our vices and coffee is mine.  However, over the years I’ve gotten used to drinking my coffee with just milk.  Milk has natural sugar not to be confused with added sugar.  And yes, I do use milk that has some fat as the fat provides flavor.  If you’re not using sugar then you do need one of the two, in my opinion, in order to create flavor. 

Back to the pistachio latte.  The tall is a 12 oz and that has 33g of sugar.  And while some of the sugar is from milk, the remaining is added sugar.  They have the default as ‘3 pistachio sauce pumps’ and you can always change that.  However, they top it off with some ‘Salted Brown Butter Topping’.  Do we think people are adjusting and adding less ‘sauce pumps’ or omitting the topping?  Let’s just call this latte what it is, a dessert.  We all know what I say about desserts. All foods fit.  And #thisdietitianeatsdesserts #inmoderation

But here’s the thing.  People are consuming this ‘coffee’ and don’t realize it has this much sugar or is considered basically a dessert.  Therefore the the reason for this post is to create awareness.  It doesn’t mean you can’t ever have a pistachio latte.  However, if you’re having this more than you realize, we need to decrease our sugary beverage consumption.  I created a version that still has added sugar, but WAY less.  Of course that’s all dependent on how much of the added simple syrup you add.  I think it’s a great way to draw attention to you being the one that’s preparing your coffee, meaning you know how much sugar is being added in.  You can adjust the ‘pistachio sauce’ and not have all three when you’re ordering it, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind (as it defaults to three).    

The real reason I love creating versions on my own?  To save money if I’m being honest.  Coffees that cost $5/drink add up and are expensive.  I can think of a lot of other things I can buy with that ‘coffee money’.  So, I present to you, a quick riff on the pistachio latte.  No salted brown butter topping.  Sorry.  The pistachio flavor is there and just enough.  And with way less added sugar.  That is if you use just one tablespoon.

Pistachio Latte

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Pistachio Latte Replica from that famous coffee place.  Save yourself $5 and make yourself one at home today!

• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Pistachio Simple Syrup

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup pistachios, shelled

Pistachio Latte

• 1/4 cup espresso
• 1 cup milk, your preference*
• 1 Tbsp pistachio simple syrup*

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Instructions

Pistachio Syrup

1. Heat.  In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the sugar, water, and pistachios.  Whisk until the sugar dissolves.  Bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook for 2 minutes, turn off the heat and set the saucepan aside until the mixture has cooled completely.
2. Strain the mixture to remove the pistachios.  Stir in the almond extract.  The syrup will keep in the fridge for ~1 week.  The recipe makes 1/2 cup of syrup.

Pistachio Latte

1. Combine in a mug the espresso and 1 tablespoon syrup* and stir together. 
2. Pour in steamed milk and sprinkle with chopped pistachios. 
3. Serve immediately!

Notes

*I used just 1 tablespoon of the simple syrup for ~12g of added sugar.  Many recipes call for 2-3 tablespoons and similar to the amount added if store-bought.  Remember to try and cut back on the amount used, if possible.

*I used less milk (for my picture), lattes will use a full cup of milk, but you can add as much as you like/prefer.

• Author: Amy’s Nutrition Kitchen
• Prep Time: 5
• Category: Drinks