10 classic coffee drinks that are to die for
The first coffee drinks I want to share with you are staples of my daily coffee consumption. If you haven’t tried any of these yet, I suggest you do, because I think you will find some that are worth going back to time and time again.
“Perfect” iced coffee
Chances are, you’ve had iced coffee that’s too sweet, creamy, or too watery. As simple as it may sound, good iced coffee can be tricky to prepare.
A big part of making good iced coffee drinks is using coffee ice cubes. An extra step of preparation is needed, but doing so will ensure your coffee doesn’t turn out to be a wannabe diluted coffee. Another key to making good iced coffee is to brew it and then let it chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. If you use freshly brewed hot coffee, it will melt the ice cubes instantly.
Makes a portion
Ingredients
1 cup of cold coffee (refrigerated for at least 2 hours)
1 cup ice cubes
5 ounces sweetened condensed milk
Addresses
1. Pour the cold coffee into a large mug.
2. Add the coffee ice cubes and the sweetened condensed milk. Sweeten to taste.
Coffee Cream
Freshly brewed coffee and a little cream never fails to satisfy. I included this because the ratio of coffee to cream is the key to getting it right.
Makes a portion
Ingredients
4 ounces of freshly brewed coffee
1 tablespoon of cream
Addresses
1. Mix and serve.
Mocha coffee
This simple and sweet coffee is loved by coffee drinkers everywhere (who tend to love chocolate too). You can make these coffee drinks with whatever chocolate you want by adding more or less cocoa powder. You can also use a chocolate flavored cream if you want an even bigger flavor for dessert.
Makes a portion
Ingredients
1 cup of freshly brewed coffee
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar (or other sweetener)
2 tablespoons milk (nonfat optional)
Addresses
1. For freshly brewed coffee in a serving cup.
2. Add the cocoa powder, sugar (or other sweetener), and milk.
Spicy Mocha Coffee
This is a lovely little variation on mocha coffee drinks that involves mixing spices with the coffee grounds before brewing. Doing this gives wonderful flavor notes without overwhelming the cup.
Makes a portion
Ingredients
1/4 cup coffee grounds
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons brown sugar (or other sweetener)
2 ounces chocolate syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups of filtered water
Tablespoon of whipped cream (optional)
Addresses
1. Put the grounds, cinnamon and nutmeg in the coffee maker and prepare the coffee as described in the previous chapter.
2. Once the coffee is ready, remove the carafe from the hot plate and add the milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and chocolate syrup. Top with whipped cream (optional) and serve.
Coffee with milk
Café au Lait are simple coffee drinks that consist of equal parts fresh coffee and steamed milk. However, the key to a delicious au Lait is to “make twice” the coffee. What’s that? “Double brew coffee” is coffee prepared in such a way that it is significantly stronger than normal brew.
One way to do this is to run the brewed coffee through the brewer with another batch of fresh grounds (using brewed coffee in the water reservoir). However, I do not recommend this method because it produces strange tasting coffee. When you reheat coffee drinks, it loses flavor and the final product has a bitter aftertaste.
The double brew method for coffee drinks that I recommend is accomplished by simply using twice the normal amount of grounds from the water you are using (with normal brewing time). That is, four tablespoons of ground for every six ounces of water. This creates a coffee with a strong and bold flavor, which is perfect for Café au Lait.
Makes a portion
Ingredients
4 ounces double coffee
4 ounces steamed milk (fat free optional)
Addresses
1. Prepare the coffee and remove it from the hot plate.
2. If you don’t have a machine to steam milk, heat a small saucepan over medium heat. For the milk in it. Heat the milk for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid a milk crust.
3. Once the milk is steamed, remove it from the heat and pour both the milk and the coffee into a serving cup at the same time.
Vanilla latte coffee
A real latte is made with espresso, but this drink uses double coffee, which also makes for delicious coffee drinks.
Makes a portion
Ingredients
4 ounces freshly brewed double coffee
2 tablespoons sugar (or other sweetener)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounces milk (nonfat optional)
Ground cinnamon or grated chocolate, to taste
Addresses
1. Add the sugar and vanilla extract to the coffee.
2. Pour the milk into a medium jar with a lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Remove the lid and microwave the milk for about 30 seconds, or until it froths on top.
3. Pour the milk into the coffee and pour the foam on top of the drink. Top with ground cinnamon or grated chocolate.
Frappuccino
If you love a Starbucks Frappuccino but don’t love the price, why not make your own? This recipe will taste the same as the real deal for a fraction of the cost.
Makes a portion
Ingredients
6 ounces double cold brewed coffee (refrigerated for at least 2 hours)
1 cup milk (nonfat optional)
3 tablespoons sugar (or other sweetener)
2 cups ice cubes
Caramel sauce, to taste (optional)
Chocolate sauce, to taste (optional)
Whipped cream, to taste (optional)
Addresses
1. Put everything in a blender and mix over high heat until you get a muddy consistency.
Frozen delight
These are soft coffee drinks, a refreshing drink ideal for a hot summer day.
Makes a portion
Ingredients
4 ounces double cold brewed coffee (refrigerated for at least 2 hours)
2 ounces milk (nonfat optional)
1 tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup ice cubes
2-3 tablespoons sugar (or other sweetener)
Addresses
1. Put everything in a blender and mix over high heat until you get a muddy consistency.
Spiced orange coffee
This is a wonderfully tasty coffee drink that can be served hot and cold (poured over ice).
Makes a portion
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of ground coffee
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
5 whole cloves
1 tablespoon brown sugar (or other sweetener)
1 cup of filtered water
Whipped cream (optional)
Addresses
1. Combine the coffee grounds, orange zest, cloves, and cinnamon in a small bowl then use to make your coffee.
2. Once the coffee is ready, stir and top with whipped cream if desired.
Viennese coffee
This is one of my favorite “dessert in a cup” pleasures. Truly a drink to savor.
Ingredients
1 cup of freshly brewed coffee
1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
1 ounce semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
Pinch of cinnamon
Whipped cream
Addresses
1. Prepare the coffee.
2. Heat the cream and chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Once the chocolate has melted, remove from heat, pour in the coffee and stir well. Pour into a mug and garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon.
