Recipe Station

Cardamom –This addition comes to us from the Middle East. Cardamom gives coffee a bit of an exotic flavor. It is promoted as an addition to coffee because it helps to neutralize the stimulating effects of caffeine which to me is pointless as that is one of the reasons I love the stuff. To add this to your coffee all you have to do is sprinkle ground cardamom into a cup of brewed coffee, or add a few whole cardamom seeds to your beans before you grind them.

Salt –  I think that this must have been discovered by mistake! Someone was reaching for the sugar and grabbed the salt instead and now it's “a thing.” Some say that it's a good addition to coffee because it softens the bitterness. Some people add it directly to their grounds before brewing, but if you're using good beans, you shouldn't need to neutralize any overly bitter flavors. That being said, salt can be a great addition to cold brew, and many people swear by a dash of it to help maximize the flavor of their cold coffee.

Cinnamon – This one I knew about and I LOVE it!  It is said that doing so can apparently save you several calories per cup, as well as reportedly provide a few additional health benefits, like helping to boost your immune system. You can even brew your coffee with a cinnamon stick to replicate the Mexican drink cafe de olla.

Butter – Wait, ok you lost me with this one. I mean seriously what's the deal with butter in coffee? Wellness experts, and particularly the Paleo crowd, swear by the buttery morning drink, after a guy named Dave Asprey came up with the original recipe, calling it “Bulletproof Coffee.” The idea, inspired by traditional Tibetan yak butter tea, is that adding butter to your morning drink boosts energy. Some even use it as a replacement for breakfast. But I have a feeling that if I did this I would do just that…”yak”

Booze – I laughed at this one because I'm Irish and there are just too many jokes and not enough time.  Irish coffee is a well-known classic, and in Sweden, there's even a traditional coffee drinking method called “kaffekask” or “kaffegök” which involves adding strong distilled liquor like vodka. Some people also refer to this as Russian Coffee. Whatever you call it, there's no denying that a spiked cup of coffee is sure to put a spin on your normal drink.

Vanilla Extract – I have a friend that SWEARS by this one as a replacement to traditional creamers. For a different taste, you can also try almond extract.

Coconut Milk – Since I am NOT a fan of coconut milk I will keep moving right along but for those of you who are craving a non-dairy latte this may be for you! Make your own with coffee and coconut milk. Some may not like the coconut flavor that comes through, but for those who do, it provides for an interesting alternative to regular milk. Mix it with vanilla extract for a homemade coffee creamer.

Ice Cream – This sounds EPIC! Want a scoop of ice cream floating on top of your cup of coffee? Why not. I love coffee flavored ice cream so why not try this. In fact, there's even a German drink called Eiskaffee that's a blended drink made with coffee and ice cream.

Egg – And you lost me again…seriously who invents this stuff? Apparently, it's a drink that hails from the Nordic countries of Scandinavia. Why add an egg? The idea is that it clarifies the coffee, leaving a perfectly colored drink with no sediment. Want to go out on the proverbial coffee limb and try it? Here's a how-to video.

So there you go. What other things do you or anyone you know put in their coffee? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: TheKtchn