Alright, where are Our Coffee Queens at? 👑
If you’re anything like us, coffee is a MUST in the morning. There’s really nothing better than starting your day with that delicious cup of heaven 😍
So today we’re going to talk all about coffee: our favorite ways to make it, hacks to keep it healthy, and a few bonuses just for fun. Let’s jump right in, shall we?
We’re going to start with some coffee hacks for when you’re making it at home! 🏠
1. Flavor your coffee with spices rather than syrup.
Are you wanting to add flavor to your coffee, but don’t want the sugar or additives that come from those syrups? Try putting spices into your coffee grounds before you brew it! And no I’m not talking about garlic or onion powder lol. You can use cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, cardamom, star anise, or clove and it will taste A M A Z I N G ✨ These are especially yummy during those fall and winter months when you’re looking for something to heat you up from the inside out!
2. Be aware of the ingredients in your creamer.
This is something you might not think about, but I encourage you to go into your fridge and look at the ingredients list in your coffee creamer! I recently switched creamers when I did this exact thing. I looked at what was in my creamer I had been using for YEARS and the first ingredients were water, sugar, and vegetable oil 🙊 Along with 7 more ingredients I couldn’t pronounce. (Not a good sign.) There wasn’t even any dairy in it… Like what? I thought this was CREAMer, but really it was just vanilla-flavored vegetable oil. That just doesn’t sit right with me.
Now the creamer I buy only has 4 ingredients, and I can pronounce them all: Milk, cream, cane sugar, and natural flavors. Same brand – different style. We’re here for it!
Another option is plain ol’ milk, half & half, or heavy cream. You don’t need a lot, and it is about as basic as it gets!
3. Be intentional about which sweeteners you’re using.
If you enjoy a little bit of sweetness in your coffee, we’re not going to tell you to cut it out completely! But let’s pick the best options. And “best” I would break up into two categories. 1) Minimal Glucose Spike 2) Most Natural.
Sweeteners that won’t Spike your Glucose: Monkfruit & Stevia Extract (be cautious with Splenda, Sweet N Low, etc.)
Natural Sweeteners: Honey, Real Maple Syrup, Coconut Sugar (be cautious with agave due to its high fructose content, and artificial sweeteners)
4. Freeze leftover coffee to create ice cubes.
This serves multiple purposes. Maybe you’re not sure what to do with your leftover coffee. Or maybe you LOVE iced coffee but HATE when it gets watered down by the ice cubes. Whatever it is – we’ve got you covered! Grab an ice mold, pour your coffee into it, and stick it in the freezer. BOOM, next day you’ve got coffee ice cubes! This could also be super yummy in a White Russian or coffee-themed cocktail 😍
5. Refrigerate your leftover hot coffee for iced coffee the next day.
More leftover ideas! Anytime we can strive toward zero-waste we will. If you accidentally make more hot coffee than you can drink, or you intentionally make extra, stick it in the fridge once it cools down and you can drink it tomorrow! This works best in an airtight container like a Mason Jar, but if you don’t have one you can always just stick the whole pot in the fridge too. This is also PERFECT for when you have to wake up early and don’t have time to make coffee in the morning!
6. Sprinkle your coffee grounds on your garden or lawn.
Continuing the theme of being environmentally friendly, coffee grounds make great fertilizer! (Although you probably shouldn’t use this hack if you added pumpkin spice or other seasonings to your grounds lol) It can help kill weeds, it’s good for worms, and overall just creates strong growth! A quick Google search will tell you how to best distribute these grounds.
7. Fresh ground coffee beans taste better than pre-ground beans.
We know this is an extra step and might be slightly inconvenient, but there’s a SIGNIFICANT difference in taste when it comes to freshly ground vs. pre-ground beans. You can find spice/coffee grinders for about $20-30 on Amazon or your local supermarket. If you’re wanting to get that fresh coffee shop vibe at home, this is the way to go!
8. Use quality milks for frothing.
This is another one that will help you achieve the coffee shop vibe at home! If you’re wanting to make a delicious latte, cappuccino, or macchiato, you’ll need a frother. They’re less than $10 and will give you that luscious foam you’re looking for. Whole milk is the best dairy milk to use for this, and oat milk is the best plant-based milk. 👍🏼
Okay, we know what you’re thinking… What if I don’t always want to make my coffee at home? What are some coffee hacks I can use while ordering out? Don’t worry, we got you covered there too! Here are a couple of helpful hacks to keep in mind when ordering your coffee out at a coffee shop.
9. Check out your go-to drink order in the app or online.
Most places these days have nutrition facts available to you. We’re not saying anything is off-limits or that you shouldn’t get something because it’s higher in calories or sugar. But it’s always good to be aware of what you’re ordering! Maybe your 2nd favorite drink tastes just as good AND has more natural ingredients – You’ll never know unless you look! The more you know, the more intentional you can be about what you put in your body.
10. Ask for “half sweet” or reduce syrup by a pump/multiple pumps.
This is something most people don’t even know they can do! For example, a Blonde Vanilla Latte at Starbucks has 4 pumps of vanilla syrup. And that adds up to about 35g of sugar. If that’s your favorite drink, but you don’t necessarily want to start your day with that much added sugar, ask them for it “half sweet” and they’ll only put 2 pumps of syrup in! Or you can get more specific and ask for a certain number of pumps. When in doubt, talk with your barista and see what they recommend!
I know that was a lot of information… How are you feeling? Which coffee hacks are you most looking forward to trying? Let us know!
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