Some brave souls drink their coffee black. I can’t do that. In a perfect world, I could have a white chocolate mocha every day and not go broke, but more often than not, I end up drinking blah coffee from the dining hall. Milk and sugar make it bearable, but surely there is something better.
I set out on an Internet adventure to find out what other people were adding to their coffees. Here’s what I found to make boring, bitter coffee much more of an adventure.
Egg
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
Yeah, you read that right. Various Scandinavian countries mix a raw egg with their morning coffee to create a smoother, richer coffee drink. Only add it to the grounds before you brew it though, otherwise you may end up with a bad stomachache later. For a full tutorial on the authentic recipe, check out this video.
Ice Cream
Photo by Caty Schnack
Soft-serve ice cream can make bitter coffee a whole lot sweeter. The whole thing reminded me of a Starbuck’s Frappuccino, especially when I added a touch of caramel sauce. You might get some weird looks standing at the ice cream machine with a coffee mug at 9 am, but it will be worth it.
Maple Syrup
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
This is great because it makes coffee taste just like candy. Or waffles. Or oatmeal, that time I also added cinnamon. A word of caution: it’s really easy to go overboard and add too much. Syrup can take coffee from sweet to sickening with a difference of less than a teaspoon.
Salt
Photo by Bobbi Lin
Heard of putting salt on watermelon or cantaloupe? Same idea. The salt actually tricks your mind into thinking you’re drinking something sweet.
Peanut Butter
Photo by Beth LeValley
Peanut butter pairs well with a lot of ingredients, and coffee is one of them. Make sure your coffee is scorching hot though, otherwise the peanut butter will create gross little chunks at the bottom.
Nutella
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
Do I have to say much about Nutella? It makes everything better, coffee included.
Coconut Oil
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
Becoming increasingly more popular, coconut oil is healthy and can give your coffee a tropical twist. We recommending blending it rather than simply stirring it in your coffee just to be sure of the right texture.
Candy Cane
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
Counting down the days until Christmas? Stir your coffee with a candy cane to get a sweet, playful reminder that Christmas will (eventually) be here.
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Photo by Beth LeValley
This is a great addition to coffee if you don’t use flavored coffee normally, and it’s especially great to use in the fall. Don’t get trapped paying $5 for a pumpkin spice latte—instead, just throw a couple shakes of pumpkin pie spice into your morning cup o’ joe.
Sriracha?
Photo by Shelby Jensen
Actually no, not sriracha. This was my literal take on “spicing up” coffee, and if you value your life, you should never attempt it. On the other hand, I’ve found a good drink to dare your friends to try. Make sure to take pictures.
For more coffee ideas, check out these creative sites: