10 Exciting Things to Put in Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world–it’s delicious, helps keep you alert and focused, and can be very affordable. Although coffee comes in a variety of flavors, you can add many different things to your coffee drinks–such as creamers or sweeteners.
Still, there are many additional things that you can add to your coffee to make it even tastier. Whether you like your coffee hot or cold, try adding these things to your coffee to give your drink an extra boost!
If you’re using a new bean-to-cup machine to make your favorite caffeinated drink, check out how bean-to-cup coffee machines work, the benefits of bean-to-cup machines, and the best bean-to-cup coffee machines.
Things to Try in Your Coffee
Coffee can be an inexpensive way to experiment with new drink flavors. Here are some tasty things to try in your next cup of coffee that will help you feel like a master barista.
1. Cinnamon
Who said your morning coffee just needs milk or sugar? You can add cinnamon to change the flavor and add many health benefits–cinnamon will not only cut down on the calories of sugar, but it will also help boost your immune system and lower blood sugar levels.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has grown tremendously popular in recent years, thanks to its many benefits–such as improved brain function and weight loss.
Coconut oil adds a hint of coconut flavor to your coffee in addition to offering these other health benefits. To further enhance the coconut flavor, try adding coconut milk, as well.
3. Ice Cream
Adding ice cream to coffee sounds super tasty–but of course, be mindful of the extra calories! The idea of adding ice cream into coffee is not new, though. An affogato is a delicious Italian dessert, made of a big scoop of vanilla gelato topped with a shot or two of espresso.
4. Cardamom
Cardamom is a spice that many coffee drinkers will see as an improvement over sugar or cinnamon. It’s a lot spicier than cinnamon, but its sweet undertones will make you rethink using sugar in your coffee altogether. This spice has a flavor that is great for balancing out the fruitiness and bitterness found in coffee.
Cardamom has antioxidant properties, and has been found to help fight cancer and lower inflammation, and aid in digestion.
5. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is commonly used in many Central American and Middle Eastern dishes, and often stirred into coffee or tea–along with milk, sugar, or chocolate. Just like with many strong spices, Cayenne contains a lot of antioxidants and is known for boosting metabolism and blood circulation.
6. Ginger
Ginger has been used for various medicinal purposes throughout history, and is now being studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Ginger’s benefits don’t stop there, though–it also has notable anti-nausea properties. In the Middle East, ginger is often used to spice up coffee, as well as traditional drink, Qishr.
7. Peppermint Oil
Scientific research has proved that peppermint oil has numerous health benefits, which include easing symptoms of IBS, relieving headaches, and easing digestion issues. However, if minty coffee sounds strange, try adding some chocolate to create a peppermint mocha flavor.
8. Nutmeg
Nutmeg tastes sweet, nutty, and warm–making it a delicious addition to coffee. It is a spice with antibacterial properties that can also help improve memory. Nutmeg contains the compound eugenol, which has been known to benefit the heart and help relax muscle tension.
9. Honey
While cutting back on sugar is a good idea, it’s not always easy to give up that sweetness in your coffee. So, why not use honey, instead? It has more nutrients than refined sugar and can make a warm drink even more soothing.
10. Orange Zest
Lastly, there’s nothing better than a freshly-made espresso topped with the peel of an orange. It’s often served in Italy, and is said to eliminate the bitterness of coffee.
The idea of combining orange zest and coffee might seem strange, but it’s actually an American invention. Besides being refreshing, orange zest is rich in potassium, vitamins A, B, and C, and calcium–which are all necessary for good health.
Final Thoughts
By taking advantage of the variety of flavors in this list, it’ll be hard to get bored with your morning cup of joe, and you’ll be adding in some extra health benefits, as well. Now, you’re the barista!
