Looking for a refreshing change of pace with your daily cup of coffee? Consider adding some spice, directly to your cup, or as part of the brewing process. A little spice can enhance flavor profiles, and it's easy to experiment.
Here are some of our favorite spices to pair with coffee, and how to add them to your cup:
5 spices to try with coffee
- Cinnamon - one of the most popular spices for adding to coffee, and also super easy - just add a sprinkle on top of your cup. You can also add cinnamon sticks on top of your coffee grounds, then brew.
- Cardamom - for a fragrant cup that evokes Middle Eastern cuisine, try adding Cardamom to your coffee. As with cinnamon, you can add cardamom pods on top of the coffee grounds before brewing.
- Ginger or Nutmeg - every Fall, we look forward to the return of pumpkin beverages at our cafe locations! You can't help but think of fond holiday memories with the aroma of ginger or nutmeg, two classic pumpkin pie ingredients. Try adding freshly-sliced ginger on top of the coffee grounds before brewing.
- Vanilla - in any cafe, vanilla-flavored syrups are one of the most common coffee add-ins. Home brewers can use specialty syrups that are ready to use, specifically made for coffee, or you can experiment with making your own syrups at home.
- Saffron - if you enjoy floral flavors, give saffron a whirl. A great option for adding a new flavor profile to espresso drinks with milk.
Where and how to add spice
When adding spices to your coffee, you have several options. You can sprinkle them directly in your cup, grind the spices and brew them along with the coffee grounds, or add them (sliced) right on top of the grounds.
The best method for adding spices depends on your preferences, as well as how you plan to brew:
- Adding ground spices is simple. You can purchase pre-ground spices, or for a fresher option, grind yourself at home. Keep in mind: ground spices can be significantly finer than coffee. To prevent clogging your equipment, consider grinding spices yourself, and keep the grind coarse - at least as coarse as the coffee itself.
- Some spices, like ginger, lend themselves to being fresh sliced instead of ground.
- With cinnamon, cardamom, or similar spices, grinding might not even be necessary - just add them on top of the grounds before brewing.
You have the most flexibility when using a thick filter, which will catch all the ground spices, keeping them away from your brewing equipment. Pour-over coffee is ideal for experimenting with spices for this reason. Because it can take several minutes to complete the brewing process, pour over coffee can really allow aromatics found in these spices to develop.
What about adding spices to espresso?
For espresso, it's probably best to add spices directly into your cup. Finely-ground spices can clog your portafilter! Instead, add the spices directly to your cup after pulling the shot.
If you do decide to add spices to the portafilter due to personal preference, tread carefully, and keep the spices coarsely ground to reduce the risk of clogging your equipment.
