Coffee Concoctions
As the pandemic continues, we are all forced inside our homes. While stuck inside, we have more time to explore hobbies and develop new talents. We have been forced to find new ways of doing everyday things, such as drinking coffee. In the United States, over 50% of adults drink some form of coffee everyday. Undoubtedly, this pandemic has eliminated the commute of many people and thus their coffee shop stops on their way to work. However, making coffee does not have to be a difficult task. There are numerous ways of making coffee right from the comfort of your own home. Whether you drink coffee to keep you awake or like trying new coffee types and techniques for the flavor and experience, with a little practice, you can learn to make it at home! Here are 8 different ways to prepare coffee at home.
Dalgona Coffee
You might remember this type of coffee that went viral at the beginning of March. This fluffy and whipped drink was all over Instagram pages, Twitter feeds, and TikTok videos. While its origins are disputed (some claim it is from South Korea, others say Greece, Italy, or India), it is, no doubt, a delicious beverage to make and even more beautiful to look at (and it only takes five minutes to prepare)!
Serves 1
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons instant coffee (only instant coffee will work, you will not be able to create the foamy texture with ground coffee beans)
2 Tablespoons sugar (any type)
2 Tablespoons hot water
Milk
As you can see from the ingredient list, it is equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water. You can make more or less coffee depending on your preferences, but just makes sure to keep all ingredients equal.
Steps:
Add the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water to a bowl. Using either a hand mixer/spoon or an electric mixer, mix the contents of the bowl for about 2 minutes. Depending on the speed of the electric mixer or how fast you mix the coffee by hand, this process may take up to 5-8 minutes. Continue mixing until the coffee mixture is fluffy.
In a cup, pour either warm or cold milk, depending on what you prefer to drink. Spoon the coffee mixture on top of the milk. Mix the fluffy coffee and milk together, if desired. Enjoy!
Caffe Mocha (Iced or Hot)
Photo: Starbucks
If you aren’t a die-hard coffee lover, this more milder beverage may be just for you. Mocha’s are essentially a blend of coffee and chocolate, and they make the perfect drink after a long day. With hints of rich chocolate, this drink is perfect for both coffee and chocolate addicts alike - and it takes just minutes to prepare.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 cup hot coffee
¼ cup milk of your choice (regular, almond, soy - any milk works well!)
5 grams unsweetened cocoa powder/chocolate powder
Sugar (optional - add as much or as little as you like!)
1 tablespoon heavy cream/whipping cream
Whipped cream (optional)
Steps:
Combine hot coffee, milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and heavy cream in a stovetop pan and place over low-medium heat
Whisk together vigorously for a few mins or until desired temperature is reached
Pour into a cup and top with whipped cream if desired. Enjoy!
If you would prefer a cold/iced drink, simply pour the drink over ice and let sit for a few minutes to cool down. Enjoy!
Recipe taken from Baking Mischief.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee or Cà Phê Đá
Let’s jet-set to Vietnam and try this iced coffee that is found in the cafes and streets of Ho Chi Minh City all the way to Hanoi. Vietnamese iced coffee is not for the faint of heart - it is a strong blend of intensely brewed coffee and condensed milk, the perfect blend of bitter and sweet. Luckily, we don’t need to buy plane tickets to try this popular drink, we can make it from the comfort of our own kitchens.
Serves 1
Ingredients and Equipment:
Vietnamese coffee press (you can easily find this on the internet, but regular espresso shots work just as well)
2 tablespoons MEDIUM coarse grind coffee (french roast is best, but any type will work, as long as it is medium. Medium coarse brings the best flavor for this drink)
2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated, you want to use thick, condensed milk for this recipe)
Water
Steps:
Heat water in a pan until it starts to boil. Remove from heat and let cool for a minute.
Add the condensed milk to a cup. In a separate cup, add some ice. The more ice you add, the less strong the coffee will be, so it is up to you how much ice to include.
Add the coffee to the coffee press and add the hot water. It will take about 5 minutes to brew. Once brewed, add to the cup with condensed milk. If you don’t have a vietnamese coffee press, simply skip this step and add 4 oz. (100 g) of espresso to the cup with the condensed milk.
Add ice to the cup, stir, and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Steamy Kitchen and Analida's Ethnic Spoon.
Cortado
Let’s head out of head out of Vietnam and visit Spain and Portugal. Cortado is a classic milk-and-coffee drink found in many Latin American countries. It is a strong blend of espresso and dairy, and due to its intensity, is a small drink meant to be sipped slowly and leisurely. This drink is perfect for coffee-lovers who are looking for a strong and rich drink to start their day (although in many Latin American countries, coffee is not always a morning drink - it is an evening drink as well!)
Serves 1
Ingredients:
2 shots of espresso
2 oz. (50 g) of steamed milk
Sugar (optional - this drink is meant to be strong and unsweetened, but you can add as much sugar as you like)
Steps:
Using the coffee beans and coffee machine of your choice, place two shots of espresso into a small cup (make sure the cup can hold at least 4 ounces).
Steam/froth the milk (The recipe calls for 2 oz. (50 g) of milk, but steam 4 oz. (100 g) of milk. 2 oz. (50 g) is too little an amount and you may end up burning the milk). If you don’t have a steamer, check out this article for alternate ways to steam or froth your milk.
Pour the milk over the espresso and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Coffee at Three.
Mint Iced Coffee
Photo: Cooking with Cocktail Rings
If you are looking for a refreshing drink for a hot summer day, look no further. Mint iced coffee is the perfect blend of cooling mint and coffee grinds, a great drink to enjoy at the end of a long day or whenever you need to feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Simple and quick to prepare, you can leave this drink in the fridge overnight and prepare ahead of time so you always have fresh, cool coffee whenever you need it.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
Unsweetened coffee of your choice
Ice
Mint sprigs
Sugar (optional - add as desired)
Steps:
Add the mint sprigs to the bottom of your cup. You may add as many or as few as you like. For a subtle mint flavor, add one sprig. For a stronger mint flavor, add 2-4 sprigs, or even more!
Using a muddler, or any “mashing-spoon” you have, crush the mint leaves to release the flavor.
Add ice as desired and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Brit + Co.
Viennese Iced Coffee
Photo: Simply Romanesco
Let’s depart from Spain and Portugal and head over to the fabulous city of Vienna, Austria. This coffee uses two simple ingredients - coffee and ice cream! Yes, ice cream! Even if you aren’t an avid coffee drinker, a viennese iced coffee is sure to wow you. Smooth and creamy vanilla combined with rich, bitter coffee makes for the perfect drink on a humid summer’s day (or a nice drink by the warm fire during winter, because ice cream should be eaten all year around!)
Serves 1
Ingredients:
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
½ cup strong coffee of your choice (must be cold)
Whipped cream (to top off the drink)
Unsweetened cocoa powder (optional - for dusting)
Chocolate shavings [dark chocolate preferred, but any will work] (optional - for dusting)
Sugar (optional - this drink is already sweetened by the ice cream, but you can add more for your liking)
Steps:
Add the vanilla ice cream to a cup and pour the cold coffee over the ice cream. You may add more coffee if desired.
Add some whipped cream to the top of the drink. If desired, top with cocoa powder and/or chocolate shavings. Add sugar if not sweet enough. Enjoy!
Recipe from Lil Vienna.
Coconut Caramel Cold Brew
Photo: The Fresh Market
Caramel cold brews are a common and popular drink at many American coffee shops. This recipe takes that same beloved drink and adds hints of coconut to create a sweet yet refreshing drink perfect for any time of day. This drink takes just 5 minutes to prepare and is perfect for whenever you are craving coffee with a little more sweet flavors.
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 cup iced coffee or cold brew of your choice (if using store-bought cold brew, make sure it is regular coffee without added flavors)
Ice
1 tablespoon of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of caramel syrup (may add more to your liking)
Sugar (optional - add as desired)
Steps:
Prepare the cold brew/coffee as you normally would. Make sure it is cold.
Add ice to cup and add cold brew over the ice.
Add coconut milk and caramel syrup to coffee. Stir well. Enjoy!
Recipe from Gourmet RD.
Coffee Popsicles
Photo: Salted Plains
This last recipe isn’t necessarily a drink, but it makes for a great dessert (and a healthy one too)! You can even use your leftover coffee to quickly whip up this sweet treat.
Makes 10 popsicles
Ingredients:
3 cups iced coffee of your choice
½ cup coffee creamer of your choice
Popsicle mold (or something similar to freeze the popsicles in, such as a cupcake tin)
Tin foil/aluminium foil
Wooden sticks (or something similar to create a handle for the popsicles)
Steps:
Mix together the iced coffee and creamer until well combined.
Pour the mixture into your popsicle mold. Make sure to not overfill!
Cover tops of your mold with tin foil and make small slits with a knife where the sticks will go in.
Place sticks through the slits. Make sure that you don't push the sticks all the way in (some parts of the stick should be still visible so you can easily grab the popsicle once frozen).
Place into your freezer for at least 4 hours to set. Overnight is best to make sure the popsicles fully freeze.
Once time is up, run the bottom of your tin/mold under warm water for 30-660 seconds to loosen the popsicles from the mold. Popsicles can be placed back into the freezer and eaten later. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Tornadough Alli.
Vocabulary list:
Commute (v): the travelling time/journey between home and work
Vigorously (adv): with great strength; very fast
Jet-set (v): to travel, often by plane, hence “jet”
Faint of heart (idiom): not very confident
Rejuvenated (adj): to feel refreshed, to feel young again
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Annik Brar is a student at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. studying International Affairs and Psychology. In her free time, she manages a support page for people with Type 1 Diabetes. She also loves photography and traveling and can speak Punjabi and Hindi fluently!