While I normally drink my cold brew or hot coffee black, I will from time to time experiment with adding new flavors. Cream and sugar? Been there done that. I’m talking about some non-traditional flavors going in my delicious cup of coffee. Here are 7 surprising things to give your morning or evening cup of coffee a little more pazazz.
Borrowing from chai tea
- Cardamon – according to organicfacts.net cardamon possess some incredible powers:
The health benefits of cardamom include gastrointestinal protection, cholesterol control, control of cancer, relief from cardiovascular issues, and improvement of blood circulation in the body. It is useful for curing dental diseases and urinary tract infections such as cystitis, nephritis, and gonorrhea. Cardamom possesses aphrodisiac properties and is also used as a cure for impotence, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation.
So apart from becoming invincible, I like the distinct flavor of cardamon in my coffee but I usually pair it with cream and sugar. You can sprinkle some ground cardamon on top of your coffee or you can put a few dried pods in with your grounds before you brew.
- Cinnamon – Not only does cinnamon give kick of holiday cheer to your coffee it has some amazing antioxidant properties as well.
“In a study that compared the antioxidant activity of 26 spices, cinnamon wound up as the clear winner, even outranking “superfoods” like garlic and oregano(6)”
I really enjoy putting a piece of cinnamon stick in my pour overs, French presses, or cold brew. For me, it is a festive departure from my black coffee.
The dairy section
- Butter – Honestly this one kinda sounded gross to me. I don’t really know why because it is so close to cream, but it did. Despite the strangeness, there is a whole movement of butter coffee enthusiasts who tout some pretty amazing benefits.
“…lasting energy with no crash, accelerated calorie burning, and a mental boost.“
Here’s how I made it:
• Brew 350ml of coffee (I used a French press and this medium dark roast)
• Add brewed coffee to blender
• Add 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• Add 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• Blend until the mixture is a light brown color
• Pour and drink!
I don’t think I got superpowers from drinking this but I did notice a slower release of caffeine; there was not that drop off you can get from just drinking normal coffee. Apparently, there is also a weight loss benefit to this but I was not going for that.
- Ice cream – Where butter sounds off-putting, ice cream seems like you can’t go wrong! I love ice cream so ice cream and coffee are a perfect marriage aside from the fact that I usually don’t eat ice cream in the morning. For this one, I put ice cream in my cold brew and made a coffee float. I had way too many of these.
A pair made in heaven
- Vanilla – Vanilla is a go-to for many coffee drinks. During my time at Starbucks, this had to be one of the flavors I used the most (I dreamt of vanilla lattes after my shift). But you don’t need all that sugary syrup to add vanilla, you can just add a few drops of vanilla extract and that will give you a distinct vanilla flavor. For some reason, I usually like to add flavor and milk together so I would make a cafe au lait and then add a few drops of the vanilla extract.
- Coconut milk – Living in Thailand makes this delicious coffee additive an easy buy. You can find coconut milk in any market. Coconut milk, not to be confused with coconut water, is rich and creamy and pairs beautifully with vanilla and coffee. I like to use it cold and blend it in with my morning cold brew and ice. A nice little tropical coffee smoothie is a great way to get started. My simple recipe is 1 cup of Storm Cold Brew Concentrate and 1 cup of coconut milk with 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and lots of ice.
Strange but good
- Salt – Many people suggest putting a little sprinkle of salt on your coffee grounds before brewing because it will soften any bitter flavors. Now, if you are using a good coffee and freshly grinding and all that then you should not need this. But if you are in a pinch with some terrible coffee a little salt just may do the trick. Another suggestion is to try a little salt in your cold brew, some people swear it enhances the flavor. Try it for yourself.
- Egg – This is the one I was most skeptical of, but it turns out to be pretty good. I don’t think it will replace my normal pour over or cold brew routine but it is interesting. This strange coffee addition comes from Scandinavia. Here is a great video showing the whole process, but the long and the short of it is the egg binds with the coffee grounds and produces a very clean and smooth cup of coffee. Amazing! I would have never thought to put and egg in my coffee.
You now have an arsenal of interesting things to put in your coffee.