A warm cup of coffee can infuse joy into your day. If you’re a serious coffee lover, you are probably used to making regular trips to your local coffee shop. While this is a great activity, doing so every day can start to get a bit pricey. For days when you would rather enjoy the comforts of home, there are many ways to incorporate coffee into your food in surprisingly creative ways. Here are some of the possibilities for you to make for yourself, or another coffee drinker in your life.
1. Coffee Cocktails
Drinks made using coffee liqueur can be a great option to add the rich taste of coffee to a party or evening with friends. There are a lot of recipes out there for coffee-based cocktails, such as this espresso martini recipe. Coffee cocktails can be easy to make and allow you to create similar results to your favourite restaurant or bar right in your home kitchen. As with most cooking skills, mixing drinks takes practice and you may need a few tries before you get the ratios down exactly how you like them. Once you do, though, you should find it to be an entertaining and satisfying way to make your drinks exactly how you prefer them.
2. Pastries and Baked Goods
The classic pairing for any good cup of coffee is a tasty pastry or baked good. While picking these up at the coffee shop is all well and good, for days when you want to save a little money and get to enjoy a truly fresh-baked option, nothing quite beats something homemade.
If you do not have much experience baking, consider trying something simple at first, such as muffins or bread. If you are working on developing your baking skills, you may be excited to learn that there are many recipes for more advanced favourites such as biscotti, bagels, and croissants. While recipes vary in skill level, there are simplified versions of almost any coffee shop classic that are easy to throw together and enjoy at home.
3. Coffee Rubs, Glazes, and Sauces
A surprising way to use coffee in your savoury meals can be to incorporate it into rubs, glazes, and sauces for meats and vegetables. Coffee can add a surprising and delicious complexity to meats and is often used as an element to meat dishes in upscale restaurants. Consider starting with something simple like a coffee rub for steak or a coffee barbeque sauce to see if it agrees with your pallet. Most decaf coffee is produced using a solvent-based method, though most small-batch, artisanal roasters use the Swiss Water Process. All of the coffees on our list and most decaf coffees are produced using decaf beans because of their lower caffeine content.
4. Lattes and Espresso
Of course, no list of best foods and drinks for coffee makers would be complete without the classic cafe-style beverages most coffee enthusiasts love. The good news is, it is possible to make your own lattes and other speciality coffee concoctions at home. The not-so-great news can be that it requires some equipment to do. That being said, it is still an accomplishable goal. You can buy an all-in-one espresso machine to make these items. There are also some more affordable options, such as milk frothers and traditional stovetop espresso makers, that can be a bit more involved but are also fun to use.
Next time you want to test out something new in the kitchen, consider using coffee in a new way. Whether you are looking to start your day with your traditional morning beverage or change things up at dinner time, coffee can be a surprisingly versatile ingredient. Don’t be afraid to try and fail as you experiment with new flavours. You should find that with practice, you can master any of the foods and drinks mentioned in this list.
