Add Flavor to Your Coffee by Grinding These Spices Into Grains
Sugar and syrups are a pretty standard way to add flavor to your coffee, but if you want to add flavor and complexity without increasing sweetness, take a look at the spice rack.
One of my least favorite habits is my tendency to buy a bottle of spices, use them once, and then leave them on the shelf until they lose their flavor, strength and dignity. Fortunately, one of my favorite habits can help with this problem, as these “extra” spices just begs to be brewed with coffee.
The process is very simple and does not require any additional effort on your part. (Which is great, because no one wants extra work in the morning.) Instead of chopping spices and pouring them over a cup of caffeine, just grind them along with the beans and cook as usual. To figure out which spices, condiments, and flowers (yes, flowers!) Might be good candidates, I raided my semi-abandoned spice rack and experimented.
Cocoa nibs with rich chocolate flavor
Cocoa nibs are what existed in chocolate before it made the sweet, rich bars you used to chew. These dried, fermented bean chunks are crispy, lightly chewed, and taste like a nutty, less creamy version of dark chocolate. They are delicious paired with ice cream or red meat, but I absolutely love them in my coffee.
To get the cocoa flavor in your morning tea, toss ½ teaspoon (for every two cups) of the little guys into the grinder along with the coffee beans. Brew a beer (I’m using the AeroPress) and enjoy. The result is a delicate chocolate flavor that won’t overshadow or compete with your coffee; it’s almost like a super thin mocha.
Cardamom adds warmth and flavor
You guys know how I feel about cardamom and coffee . (If not, let me be clear: I really like this). The aromatic, unique aroma and taste of cardamom give a cup of coffee a light tea note, and on a cold morning it gives a feeling of warmth and care.
A pod or two ground beans adds a lot of flavor to two servings of joe, so this is the perfect way to use up extra cardamom you don’t want to waste. (And I’m sure you don’t want to waste; it’s expensive.)
Nutmeg adds depth and flavor
Freshly grated nutmeg lends depth and an earthy sweetness to almost anything it touches, and any leftover nuggets or nuggets will fit into a cup of coffee. The contribution is mainly in the scent, which is warm, inviting and slightly sweet. It’s quite difficult for me to tell you how to measure this, but I found that this little shard is enough for my only 8 oz cup.
Star anise enhances the effects of licorice
Your enjoyment of it depends on your addiction to licorice taste. Half a pod is enough for one cup, and the combination of aniseed with good beans creates a flavor almost like root beer.
I’m not a big fan of licorice, but even I found it quite enjoyable and I think it would go especially well with a couple of cardamom pods.
Lavender – spring rush in your cup
If you want your coffee to change with the seasons, consider giving it a spring look by sprinkling some dried lavender flowers in a coffee grinder. I agree with you: I wasn’t sure if it would be such a good idea, but I had a lot of them left over from the Great Gin Experiment in 2016 and I was curious.
The result, as you’d expect, is a beer with a pleasing floral flavor. Dark coffee tastes unpleasant, but very pleasant in bright, citrus drinks and is especially well frozen. Be careful, however, add too much and the fragrance can become soapy. I found that five small flowers are enough for a cup.
Carnation adds smoky depth (but you either love it or hate it)
Pretty much everyone has a stud in their closet, so they seemed like an obvious choice for this little experiment. It was the only twist that I really didn’t like about this app, but perhaps it had more to do with my personal history than anything else.
Coffee and cigarettes are a fairly common combination, and it was this combination that reminded me of: clove cigarettes. And since I only smoke clove cigarettes if I drink heavily, it felt like a hangover in a mug, which was unpleasant, albeit a little nostalgic.
If you’ve never smoked a clove cigarette, you probably have a better choice – enjoy this spicy coffee and clove blend, but they’re so strong that you can probably avoid one serving per pot.
Of course, don’t be limited to the above, check out your own spice rack and see what flavorful goodies might be hiding there. Yes, and don’t forget to clean the grinder well afterwards. I am a big fan of the bread method .