Fall means one thing for coffee lovers: pumpkin everything. But at $6–$7 a cup, a daily PSL habit adds up fast. The good news: you can make a pumpkin spice latte with instant coffee at home in about five minutes, no espresso machine required — and once you’ve got the base down, four more Starbucks pumpkin copycats are just as easy using the same Nescafé Gold Espresso Instant Coffee.

(If you want the full year-round lineup, check out our non-seasonal Top Starbucks Drinks Made with Instant Coffee guide.)

Don’t have a shaker on hand? Any mason jar with a tight lid works in a pinch — more on that in recipe #3.

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1. Pumpkin Spice Latte with Instant Coffee (Hot or Iced)

The classic — and the easiest way to prove to yourself that a pumpkin spice latte with instant coffee tastes just as good as the drive-thru version. A creamy, spiced espresso drink with real pumpkin flavor and a dusting of spice on top.

Ingredients:

• 1–2 tsp Nescafé Gold Espresso Instant Coffee
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbsp pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 tbsp brown sugar or maple syrup
• ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice, plus extra for topping
• 2–3 tbsp hot water (to dissolve coffee)

Instructions (Hot):

• Whisk pumpkin puree, sweetener, and pumpkin pie spice into the milk in a small saucepan
• Heat gently, whisking often, until warm (don’t boil)
• Dissolve instant espresso in hot water
• Froth the pumpkin milk if you have a frother
• Pour milk over the espresso and top with a pinch of pumpkin pie spice

Instructions (Iced):

• Whisk pumpkin puree, sweetener, and spice into cold milk until smooth
• Fill a glass with ice and pour milk mixture over it
• Dissolve instant espresso in a small amount of hot water, let cool slightly, then pour over top

Skinny Swap:

• Sugar-free maple syrup or monk fruit sweetener
• Unsweetened oat or almond milk
• Skip the topping spice for fewer calories (barely noticeable)

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2. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Starbucks’ fan favorite — smooth, strong cold coffee topped with a cloud of lightly sweetened pumpkin cream that slowly melts in as you drink.

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp Nescafé Gold Espresso Instant Coffee
• 2–3 tbsp hot water
• ¾ cup cold water
• 1 cup ice
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

Instructions:

• Dissolve instant espresso in hot water, then stir in the cold water to make a cold brew–style base
• Pour over a full glass of ice
• In a separate small bowl, whisk heavy cream, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, and spice until slightly thickened (30–60 seconds by hand, or a few pulses with a milk frother)
• Pour the pumpkin cream gently over the top so it floats

Skinny Swap:

• Swap heavy cream for half-and-half or oat creamer (won’t float quite as well, but still tasty)
• Use 1–2 tsp brown sugar instead of 1 tbsp

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3. Iced Pumpkin Spice Shaken Espresso

A frothy, cold, coffee-forward drink with a light pumpkin sweetness — this is the one where a cocktail shaker (or a clean mason jar) really earns its keep.

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp Nescafé Gold Espresso Instant Coffee
• 2–3 tbsp hot water
• 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
• 1 tbsp brown sugar or pumpkin spice syrup
• ⅛ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• ½ cup ice
• ¼ cup milk, for topping

Instructions:

• Dissolve instant espresso in hot water
• Add pumpkin puree, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice; stir until fully combined
• Pour into a shaker or lidded jar with ice
• Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds, until frothy
• Strain into a glass over fresh ice
• Top with a splash of milk

Skinny Swap:

• Sugar-free pumpkin spice syrup in place of brown sugar
• Skim or almond milk on top

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4. Pumpkin Spice Flat White

A stronger, more coffee-forward pumpkin drink with silky microfoam — for people who want the fall flavor without drowning the espresso.

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp Nescafé Gold Espresso Instant Coffee
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 tsp pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• Pinch of pumpkin pie spice
• 2–3 tbsp hot water

Instructions:

• Dissolve instant espresso in hot water
• Whisk pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and spice into the milk
• Heat and lightly froth the milk (small bubbles, not thick foam)
• Pour milk slowly into the espresso, holding back the foam until the end
• Finish with the foam on top and a light dusting of spice

Skinny Swap:

• Oat milk froths well and adds natural sweetness, letting you cut the maple syrup
• Skip the puree and use a drop of pumpkin extract for the flavor without the texture

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5. Pumpkin Mocha

A cozy mashup of chocolate, pumpkin, and coffee — richer than a standard PSL, great for a cooler evening treat.

Ingredients:

• 1–2 tsp Nescafé Gold Espresso Instant Coffee
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbsp chocolate syrup
• 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
• ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2–3 tbsp hot water

Instructions:

• Dissolve instant espresso in hot water
• Whisk chocolate syrup, pumpkin puree, and spice into the milk
• Heat until warm, whisking occasionally
• Pour milk mixture over the dissolved espresso and stir well
• Top with whipped cream and a little extra spice, if you’re feeling it

Skinny Swap:

• Use 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder plus a low-calorie sweetener instead of chocolate syrup
• Skip the whipped cream topping or use a light aerosol version

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Gear That Makes This Easier

You don’t need much to make any of these, but a few things make the process smoother:

• A basic milk frother — makes the difference between “fine” foam and genuinely café-quality foam on the Flat White and PSL
• A cocktail shaker or tight-lidded jar — essential for the shaken espresso
• A small whisk — for blending the pumpkin cream so it doesn’t clump

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FAQ: Pumpkin Spice Latte with Instant Coffee

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Final Thoughts: Fall Flavors, Your Kitchen

Pumpkin season doesn’t have to mean a drive-thru line and a $7 charge every morning. Once you’ve mastered a pumpkin spice latte with instant coffee, the other four drinks on this list are just small variations on the same base — dial the sweetness, spice, and coffee strength however you like, and it keeps for a few days in the fridge if you want to batch it for the week.

If a daily fall coffee habit is part of your routine anyway, making it at home is one of the easiest swaps that adds up over a season.

— The Afternoon Pour Co.

Cheers and Happy Sipping! 🍂☕

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