How to Make The Weeknd's Favorite Honey Vanilla Latte at Home

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Turns out, The Weeknd's go-to latte order is about as smooth as his music — and we have all the details on how to make it at home.

In addition to starring in Max's recent release "The Idol" and performing a global stadium tour this year, Abel Tesfaye (better known by his stage name, The Weeknd) has also gotten into the coffee business. Tesfaye recently collaborated with Blue Bottle Coffee to create a line of coffee and accessories called Samra Origins, which pays homage to his family's heritage. For Tesfaye, the child of Ethiopian immigrants, Ethiopian culture is an important part of his identity, and he created Samra Origins to "shine a light on Ethiopian traditions, values, and of course, coffee," he said in a release about the collab. "Growing up, I watched my mother perform Buna Tetu, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This sensory experience helped shape my understanding of community and taught me to always honor my roots. Samra Origins is a true passion project that I hope will inspire curiosity and encourage support for Ethiopia's people, while also spreading the warmth and friendship so ingrained in Ethiopian culture."

Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of coffee, and Blue Bottle has consistently sourced the majority of its coffee from the country, so this collaboration was a natural fit. As part of the partnership, Blue Bottle will also donate to the XO Humanitarian Fund, which supports the United Nations World Food Program's operations in hunger hotspots around the world — with a special focus on Ethiopia, where an estimated 11.8 million people require urgent humanitarian food assistance.

With Samra Origins, you can also try Tesfaye's favorite latte, which is both super easy and totally delicious. It's flavored with honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and almond milk, all of which give the latte a delightful (but not overpowering) sweetness.

And the main ingredient may surprise you: rather than using freshly brewed espresso, the latte is made with Samra Origins Craft Instant Coffee ($29). Instant coffee gets a bad rap, but when done well — which you know you can count on Blue Bottle for — it's incredibly convenient, both for travel and even for saving time at home. I can personally attest that this instant coffee is nothing like the kind you've had when you were camping: it's smooth, rich, and rivals a freshly brewed cup. (It's so good, it might even help me extend my personal holdout on buying a coffeemaker for the sake of maximizing counter space.)

Check out the recipe for Tesfaye's favorite latte below, and give it a try yourself. For what it's worth, you can also make it iced or with freshly brewed coffee, if you already have an espresso machine.

Notes

For an iced latte: fill a glass with ice, add cold almond milk, and then pour the coffee, vanilla, and honey mixture over the top. Stir, top with cinnamon, and enjoy.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon Samra Origins Instant Coffee
6-8 ounces hot water
1 tablespoon honey
2-3 drops vanilla extract
6-8 ounces almond milk
Pinch of cinnamon

Directions

Create an espresso shot by combining hot water with one teaspoon of Samra Origins Craft Instant Coffee. Stir until well combined. Add honey and vanilla extract, then stir until the honey is dissolved. Heat the milk in a microwave-safe cup for 30-45 seconds. (Optional: Froth the milk with a milk frother.) Pour the milk over the espresso. Stir to combine, or let the layers settle without mixing for a more traditional barista assembly. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!