Make ice cubes, add butter, froth you own milk, the possibilities are endless. Learn favorite ways to improve and bring new life into your usual coffee.
By Jeanette Morelan
This article has been posted with permission and originally appeared as, “Cool, Calm and Caffeinated: 10 New Ways to Enjoy Iced Coffee“
AS Food studio
ADD BUTTER
Fans of the uber-popular “bulletproof coffee” are already aware of this unique java stir-in. Adding butter to your morning cuppa joe will do more than make you one of the cool kids. As long as you opt for unsalted, grass-fed butter, your silky-smooth coffee may actually be good for you.
Alina Kholopova
ADD SPICES
Before brewing your coffee grounds, add ground cinnamon for warmth or anise seeds for a licorice-like flavor to bump up the intensity for a fraction of the cost of specialty brews at a coffeehouse. Add plus, cinnamon also normalizes blood sugar levels.
Coffee Lover
MAKE A DIY LATTE
Instead of spending upwards of $5 on your way to work for what is essentially just a shot of espresso and steamed milk, make your latte at home! Pick up a super affordable milk frother (this one’s less than $15) and use it to whip up home-brewed espresso and milk.
Brent Hofacker
COOL THINGS DOWN
Unfortunately, trying to replicate your favorite iced coffee at home is not as simple as pouring hot coffee over ice. You need a specially-formulated coffee, and, luckily, making your own cold brew at home is simple: Soak coarse coffee grounds in cold water in the fridge overnight, then strain them the next morning with a french press or filter water in the fridge overnight, then strain them the next morning with a french press or filter.
Coffee Lover
MAKE YOUR OWN CREAMER
Forget the artificially flavored creamers and make a healthier, tastier version at home. Start with sweetened condensed milk plus regular milk or cream (there’s a great creamer base recipe here), and add honey, peppermint, cinnamon—or a ton of other options!—to flavor it up to your heart’s content.
Pushish Images
FREEZE COFFEE CUBES
Stop watering down your iced coffee with regular ice cubes. Freeze your leftover coffee and pop the coffee ice cubes into your cold brew to keep it cool and full of flavor.
Mark Skalny
HOMEMADE SYRUPS
You know those tasty—and expensive—specialty syrups that your favorite coffee house stocks by the caseload? Well, you can make your own at home—and at a fraction of the cost. Bring 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water to a boil to make a simple syrup. When the sugar is dissolved, add the extract of your choice, like almond, hazelnut or vanilla.
NorGal
SAVE YOUR GROUNDS
This trick may not actually help you make better coffee, but it will definitely help you save money—which means you can buy more coffee! There are actually tons of ways to repurpose all those coffee grounds that would normally go to waste, but we really love the idea of using them as natural fertilizer and pest repellant for your garden.
Catarina Belova
ADD SALT
If your coffee is just a little too bitter, add a pinch of salt. This will counteract the bitterness, but also balance all the flavors for a great tasting cup of java.
Oliveshadow
GET BAKING
Instead of dumping your leftover coffee down the sink, store it in the fridge and use it to replace the water in any recipe to add depth of flavor, or add a few tablespoons of ground coffee or espresso to enhance your favorite dish. Try one of these desserts if you’re looking for some great, kicked-up coffee recipes.
rakratchada
ADD CHOCOLATE
Coffee and chocolate are a classic pair, instead of just adding coffee to chocolate recipes, try adding chocolate to your coffee.
Aneta_Gu
BRING IN GRAPEFRUIT
Consider having a grapefruit for breakfast alongside your coffee. Grapefruit contains enzymes that increase the length of coffee’s effects, including its metabolism boosting and fat-burning properties.
Es75
BUY LOCAL AND OFTEN
Local beans usually come from one source so you can be sure you’re getting what you paid for, but make sure to buy small amounts often. Ground beans only stay fresh and flavorful for so long, even in a sealed container.
