A few weeks ago, we discussed the wonderful beverage that is coffee. Now, let’s talk about what people put in this tasty beverage to make it such a marvelous drinking experience.

Now certainly some like theirs black, while others throw everything known to mankind into the cup – and not just sugar, cream, and milk.

What do you put in your coffee? Let us know by leaving a message, in the comment section below.

Top Additives

According to thecoffeebeanmenu.com, these are some of the top additives:

  • Cream
  • Milk
  • Sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Vanilla extract
  • Coconut oil
  • Pumpkin spice
  • Chocolate

Some Unusual Additives

But lurking beyond those additives, are plenty of others. Some you may never have considered. According to homegrounds.co, here are some of those unusual additives:

  • Butter: Adding butter to your brew is a growing trend, particularly for those following the keto or intermittent fasting diets. The key is to use high-quality grass-fed unsalted butter or ghee.
  • Salt: Adding salt to your grounds can eliminate the unappealing bitterness found in some coffees.
  • Cardamom is a warm spice popular across the Middle East and India, where it has a long history as a coffee additive. Its flavor is a natural pairing for the fruity and bittersweet nature of coffee.
  • Cayenne pepper is common in many Central American and Middle Eastern countries, where they often add it along with milk, sugar, or chocolate.
  • Maple syrup has a rich, smooth taste that interacts well with coffee flavors.
  • Ginger has a long history as a coffee addition, as in the traditional Yemeni drink, Qishr, to which it adds its characteristic spicy flavor.
  • Hazelnut is one of the most popular flavors, thanks to its inherent buttery sweetness.
  • Peppermint oil has been well studied for medicinal properties. If mint and coffee seem like a strange combination, add chocolate and try a peppermint mocha.
  • Nutmeg is an intense spice, with warm, sweet, and nutty flavors that pair nicely with coffee.

And Check Out These Additives!

  • Lavender’s flavor profile is floral and sweet, with a touch of herbal and earthy tones.
  • Rosewater is a liquid made from water and rose petals, giving it a sweet and floral flavor. It is popular in the Middle East, where they often add it to coffee along with other spices like cardamom and saffron.
  • Star anise, long popular in Chinese cooking, has a sweet and licorice-like flavor that can pair well with fruity or earthy coffees.
  • Cloves have a pungent, sweet flavor that verges on hot or numbing. They are naturally bitter, so pair them very carefully.
  • Alcohol is an undoubtedly festive and delicious choice, perfect for a warming winter treat—spike your morning brew with a creamy choice like Bailey’s. Add a sweet liqueur, like Frangelico or Amaretto, or opt for the classic whiskey-based Irish coffee.
  • Ice cream: Your favorite flavor of ice cream, be it mint chip or butterscotch, can be melted into a decadent coffee beverage.
  • Orange juice: In Italy, they often serve espresso with orange peel on the side so that the citrus can cut the coffee’s bitterness. But orange juice in coffee is a uniquely American invention, consisting of cold orange juice topped with a floater of hot espresso, for a refreshing concoction with a distinctive layered look.
  • Lemon or lime: Citrus is a common addition as it can cut through the bitterness and brighten a coffee’s flavor.
  • Raw egg: Whisking an egg into hot coffee gives it a creamy consistency, and using pasteurized eggs and the hot drink avoids any risk of Salmonella.
  • Cheese in coffee is a regional delicacy popular in northern Scandinavia, where it is known as Kaffeost. The cheese used is a firm variety called leipäjuusto, which softens in the hot liquid but does not melt.

Recording Your Coffee Additive Purchases

Reminder: Please record all of your household’s coffee-related purchases!

When it comes to coffee, if you buy any packaged ground/whole bean that has a UPC barcode, scan the barcode to record the purchase.

If your ground/whole bean coffee purchase does not have a barcode, scan the Coffee-Ground/Whole Bean barcode listed in the Barcode Reference Booklet if you use NCP’s handheld scanner, or if you use the NCPMobile app, select Coffee-Ground/Whole Bean category in the Non-Barcoded Items section of the app.

You can record ready-to-drink coffee, too! If you buy a cup of coffee select Coffee-Cup of Coffee to record the purchase.

And if you buy any type of creamer, chances are it has a UPC barcode.

Have a great weekend and remember to scan all your purchases so you can earn your rewards points!

Best wishes,
Taylor

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