If you read along with Carin and I at all then you know of our love of lattes. Every single work decision we’ve ever made has occurred either during a long walk or over a couple of cardboard cups from a local coffee shop. No lie.

But I’d often stare at the price of those cups and mentally slap myself. I have an espresso machine. And unlike most, I actually know HOW TO USE IT. (Admittedly I make a huge mess every time.)

One problem, I hate how all the store bought syrups taste.

So after some internet searching I decided to make my own vanilla syrup. Fortunately it was SUPER easy. (If you’ve ever made simple syrup then you can do this.)

Simple Vanilla Coffee Syrup

• 3 cups white sugar
• 3 cups water
• 2 t vanilla syrup

Bring the water to a boil. Dissolve the sugar in the water. Add the vanilla syrup. Let cool.

Once cooled I poured the syrup in a cleaned out wine bottle and printed up a label.

 I’ll let you take a moment and think about the price of those syrup bottles in the stores or at Starbucks. Right.

And what a great gift for Valentine’s Day to give to the coffee lover in your family.

A few internet searches and you can easily find the recipes to make caramel, raspberry or whatever kind of syrup you desire.

Makes me look forward to working on the computer today. Almost.

YUM!