Nothing quite beats that first sip of morning coffee, but if your daily brew has started to feel like more of a routine than a ritual, it might be time to spice things up. Improving your home coffee setup doesn’t require barista training or super fancy equipment, just a few alterations and additions can make your kitchen setup feel like your own mini-cafe.
Here are five ways you can spice up your morning coffee from the comfort of your house.
#1 – Syrups
One of the best ways to give your coffee a flavorful twist is through flavored syrups. Syrups come in a wide variety of flavors, ranging from classics like vanilla or caramel to statements like hazelnut or peppermint. Syrups can even contain health benefits. For example, maple syrup is a healthier alternative for sweetness in the place of sugar, due to its higher nutrient content. Syrups are relatively cheap, often retailing for $5-10, and can be found in most grocery stores or online.
If you have the time, you might even consider making your own syrup at home. “I made this orange syrup, and it was very tasty,” says Isaac Steele, coffee fanatic and sophomore at IBW. “It was kind of a nightmare to make, but it was very good, and it made the coffee taste nice.” Homemade syrup takes time and effort, but it produces a customized result that you’re guaranteed to love.
“I really like the whole lavender thing Starbucks is doing,” says Karys Boyce, chronic coffee-lover and freshman at IBW. “It’s just oat milk and lavender [powder], but it’s such an interesting flavor which you can add to anything.”
Lavender cream can easily be whipped up at home using oat milk and lavender syrup.
#2 – Toppings
Add-ons and toppings are another fun way to quite literally spice up your coffee. Adding spices like cinnamon or citrus peels on top can highlight coffee flavors and draw out the subtle notes of the coffee beans. More adventurous options could include cardamom, ginger, or crushed nuts.
“I like adding cinnamon and nutmeg to my coffee,” says Steele. “And obviously sugar. So sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and the orange [syrup] taste great.”
A drizzle of honey or condensed milk on top is a nice way to make coffee sweeter without adding table sugar or artificial sweeteners. In Australia, it’s quite common to dust cocoa powder on cappuccinos, which gives the coffee a rich, chocolatey undertone.
You can also try sweetening the milk in your lattes, like Boyce does. “Brown sugar and milk are definitely a really good combo,” says Boyce. “I froth the brown sugar with my milk and put it in there.”
#3 – Cold Foam
Recently, cold foam has taken the internet by storm. Popularized by Starbucks in 2018, this merengue-like foam is a great option for sweetening cold drinks by making a fun velvety cloud on top. You can also find cold foam in grocery stores, usually close to whipped cream, another popular coffee add-in.
Unsurprisingly, cold foam can be made at home as well. It only requires a few household ingredients: heavy cream, 2% milk, vanilla extract and a good milk frother. Nespresso sells a milk frother cup called the Aeroccino, which is easy to clean and great for making cold foam.
“It’s relatively easy to make, if you have the stuff, and I think it’s just one more fun little thing you can do to iced drinks,” says Steele.
#4 – Latte Art
If you’re an artist or looking to experiment with milk texture and balance while achieving a nifty design in the process, latte art is the way to go. It works by carefully controlling the flow and texture of microfoam (a mixture of air and milk made using a milk frother) when pouring it into coffee. You can manipulate the flow using different pouring techniques and speeds to create intricate designs that will transform your coffee into a work of art.
Steele has experimented with latte art at home. “You have to pour the steamed milk into the cup from about half a foot above until the drink reaches roughly the lip of the cup. Then you have to get as close as you can with the pitcher to your espresso, and you have to pour while rotating both parts. If you want any sort of fancy design, like a heart, you make a blob [of microfoam], then pull through a stream, and the milk pushes some parts of the foam back into the drink itself so it stands on top. And that’s latte art,” says Steele.
There are numerous latte art tutorials online, ranging from simple designs like hearts or rosettes to complex illustrations like animals and flower arrangements.
#5 – Good Coffee and Equipment
When Boyce goes camping, she likes to use a French press for a change of pace. “I like the whole process of pushing it down, waiting ten minutes and all of that,” says Boyce. “I don’t know if I have a particular preference about the taste of it, but it’s fun.”
A French press can be convenient to carry around, and switching up your equipment can be fun. Pour-Over coffee machines, drip coffee makers and siphon brewers are other interesting alternatives to try.
If you’re still looking to switch things up, you might consider looking for new coffee altogether.
“The best thing you can invest in to make better coffee is better coffee itself,” says Steele. “Trade Coffee is a very good organization that sells coffee online. It’s a little expensive, but they partner with local roasters in your area that get paid well, and that’s why it’s expensive. It’s good coffee.”
Portland has a lot of local coffee shops that are also great options for buying coffee beans. Thornton Family Coffee Roasters, Sterling Coffee Roasters and Less and More Coffee are Portland-based cafes and coffee shops that sell whole bean and ground coffee both in-person and online. After all, Portland is one of the best coffee cities in the U.S., and you’re bound to find something that, with a little bit of coffee spice, fits your liking.
