It’s been called the elixir of life. Devil’s brew. Brain juice, liquid energy, cupped lightning, rocket fuel, jitter juice. Morning mud, dirt, or just good ol’ cup of joe. There are entire shops dedicated to serving it, and careers dedicated to roasting and brewing it. That’s right, today we’re talking about coffee.
Maybe it’s because it feels like winter’s making an early arrival this year, or because Juan Valdez has abandoned me for a spell and I haven’t had any coffee in over four weeks. (Don’t cry for me … Colombia.) All I know is that coffee’s been on my mind. I’ve been dreaming of it in cappuccinos, lattes, frappuccinos, and even ice cream. I know I’m not alone in my professed love for coffee, and there are as many ways to enjoy it as there are people who can’t do without it. So tell us:
What’s your favorite way to enjoy coffee?
I’ve always loved coffee ever since my cousin Vicky served me a cup of coffee with a bit of Kahlua, lots of cream and sugar, and a ridiculous mountain of whipped cream on top. We were about nine or ten years old (sorry, Mom!) and it was the best thing we had ever tasted.
My everyday coffee preference used to be simple: just a really strong cup of coffee, half-and-half, and raw sugar. Occasionally, I’d even skip the cream and sugar. But after a trip to Italy, I’m now obsessed with espressos and lattes. I’m secretly hoping my current coffee machine gives up on me so I can justify getting an espresso machine, after which I fully expect to spend an absurd amount of time trying to learn how to make latte art. Because I tend to pursue really important life skills like that.
But enough of me and my obvious love affair with this bean. There are so many different gadgets, contraptions, and machines dedicated to coffee, and we want to know what you use, how you use it, and how you make each cup just so, perfectly perfect for you. Come share your tips below!
34 Comments
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Caitlyn on 3.17.2015
This is a really well written review! i look forward to reading more like these.
Russ on 12.31.2014
Is it weird that I look forward to my morning coffee the night before?? I love my morning cup of black coffee. No milk or sugar necessary. I also love a good black espresso! I fell in with them while traveling through Europe
ajane on 12.12.2014
I love to pour half whipped lightly sweetened whipped cream over the back of a spoon onto coffee or hot chocolate so that it floats over the top. When you take a drink you get the cold cream on the top of your palette and warm the drink on your tongue. It’s incredibly good.
JoyK on 12.12.2014
This may sound odd, but I love the smell of coffee but can’t stand the taste of it. So, while I honestly admit that nothing smells better than walking by a coffee shop or just opening a can, I boil me some water and plunk a tea bag in it.
Nanci (TK) on 12.12.2014
That’s clever, Glenda! I too, am a coffee addict. Well, just the two strong cups each morning, with a bit of half-and-half and sugar. I’d love to be able to do without it but I think I’d be a mess! Thanks for all the great ideas! Freshly roasted beans or fresh from Costa Rica sound wonderful!
Arlyne Michelle on 12.11.2014
I buy freshly roasted coffee beans from a local roaster in town. My husband grinds fresh beans each morning and makes coffee for me just as he leaves the house. I work from home so I get up a few minutes after he leaves to freshly brewed coffee. I drink it with real cream.
On the weekends, he makes the same fresh coffee so we can sit in the hot tub and visit. For his coffee, I add good quality chocolate and cover it with whipped cream.
Glenda on 12.11.2014
Hi my name is Glenda! I am a coffee addict. I looove coffee. We do mission trips to Costa Rica and I always take an empty suitcase to bring back coffee. In my opinion it is the best ,very mellow and not acidic. I have an espresso machine and have two a day. When I travel I have a coffee bag with a French press,electric kettle and an electric milk frother to make my own. Starbucks is a last resort not as good as my home brew.
saraf on 12.11.2014
I love mixing my protein drink with my coffee and a splash of sugar free raspberry—iced! Doesn’t get better than that.
Theresa on 12.11.2014
I like my coffee dark and rich, with cream and a bit of sweetener. And you don’t need to spend a lot on a fancy machine. A few Christmases ago, my brother gave me a Capresso milk frother (http://www.capresso.com/milk-frothers/froth-pro.html) and it’s amazing!! I love breve lattes and this gets the job done and then some. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make their fave coffeehouse drink at home. Dark roast coffee, some frothed up half and half, and just a touch of your favorite flavored syrup is a divine way to start (or end) your day!
Ja Ella on 12.11.2014
I usually only drink hot, drip coffee on the weekends at home. We have a Starbucks where I work. Summertime means cool coffee drinks & I found a low-calorie, inexpensive way to enjoy iced coffee. I get a cup of brewed coffee from our breakroom & allow it to cool to room temp. Then I stir in 2 Int’l Delights Mini’s in Hershey’s Chocolate Caramel & 1 Int’l Delights Mini’s in Caramel Macchiato. To this I add 1 tablespoon of Torani Sugar Free Classic Caramel flavoring syrup. Stir well & pour over ice. Total calories 90. Less than 50 cents per cup (the coffee is free). Just like the Frappachino from Starbucks, minus the whipped cream. Yummy!
Margherita on 12.11.2014
I love good coffee! Every weekday morning I go through the Dunkin’ Donuts drive through on my way to work for an iced latte, even through the winter. I usually get just skim milk in it, but this time of year I also go for the peppermint mocha. On the weekends I grind beans from Gloria Jean’s Coffee and right now I love their mocha merrimint flavor. I have it with a little bit of peppermint mocha flavored creamer. I also make espresso with a stove top maker that came from Italy, but I would love to get a Nespresso coffee maker.
Marsha M. SOCAL on 12.11.2014
I have my coffee maker all set up so I have a hot pot of coffee waiting for me when I wake up. I like it strong with half & half in it, and drink a big cup of it, and I’m ready to go for the day.
Robin C on 12.11.2014
I’m a decaf girl all the way. During the work week I drink tea. On the weekends, it’s all about grinding beans from a local coffee shop that roasts their own and using a French press. I like my coffee strong and sometimes I will put a little bit of sugar in it, especially if we are having something savory for breakfast.
Dawn on 12.11.2014
i’m not a big coffee drinker but i’ve been using DandyBlend. it’s made w/ dandelion. it’s wonderful! i’ve started that w/ a teaspoon of coconut oil stirred in. i’m in LUV <3
jan g on 12.11.2014
If there were a Starbucks across the very rural country road from my house, I would have a nonfat venture latte every morning; lower fat eggnog latte this time of year. But since that’s not happening, I’ll take a sthong chip of “good” coffee… my treat is to but good bagged coffee, the darker, richer the better whether it’s Starbucks or Seattle #5 on sale at kroger, french roast from trader Joe’s or Hawaiian at the check out at t.j.maxx… in my big creamy white cup. Sigh.
Mary Callender on 12.10.2014
Esspresso with milk and a shot of vanilla. Now that is coffee.
angela radke on 12.10.2014
Coffee every morning is almost a ritual. Most of the time its drip with half n half. Winter months eggnog is used. Once in awhile chocolate, caramel. or cinnamon is a fun compliment.
Coffee added to some baking goods or in ice cream tastes great too!
Cathey on 12.10.2014
Our Monday – Friday is strong coffee with milk and sugar and trying to get ready for the day, one or two cups each and another for our daily drive to work. Weekends we grind hazelnut beans, but no Holiday would be complete without my handy expresso pot with a little added sambuca and 3 whole beans.
Yanica on 12.10.2014
As I sit here with a homemade eggnog latte… I confess I’ve become a coffee snob. We like to grind Starbucks house blend beans at home. For regular coffee we use a percolator and then add cream and sugar. But often it’s a latte made with a machine we were given – whole milk, sugar, and a dash of vanilla is the norm. Try not to think about the calories!
Patricia @ ButterYum on 12.10.2014
I like coffee, but I never wanted to be addicted so I only partake a couple of times a month, at most. When I do, I like it “light and sweet”, with the exception of real espresso which I drink straight up.
Melodie O on 12.10.2014
Starbucks is also my coffee location of choice. I love a latte, with only 1 pump of their cinnamon dolce syrup and cinnamon on top. Seems silly to pay for the syrup, but, I love that it “softens” the coffee.
I still dream about the Jamaican Blue Mountain they served at the resort on our honeymoon. It was so rich and chocolatey -without any chocolate in it. Just a splash of cream – so good!
Oh – and that italian dessert where they pour the scalding hot espresso over ice cream…oh man! The creaminess, the boldness…the worry that doing it might break the fancy glass! Love it!
I wanted one of those machines that made the layered drinks…..I think nescafe made it? Ugh, learned it failed (I guess better I didn’t buy it then find out they aren’t going to keep making the stuff).
…and, I seriously need a cup of whatever is in the picture that led me to this blog entry!
Erika (TK) on 12.10.2014
Hi Melody! If you click on the photo, it will take you to Ree’s post for Dulce de Leche Coffee. I don’t blame you for wanting some!
Carol in PA on 12.10.2014
I’m not picky when it comes to coffee. I like it strong and black, although I will occasionally use light cream or half & half. Never any sweetener! Recently I started putting a heaping spoonful of coconut oil in my coffee after hearing about buttered coffee. I love it! Give it a try!
kim on 12.10.2014
Two Christmases ago I got a Nespresso espresso/cappuccino machine from my husband. So on the weekends during the colder months I make fancy coffee drinks that, if I do say so myself, are as good as Starbucks. During the week I’m happy with either a to-go cup of strong black coffee from my Keurig, or a $1 McDonalds version.
In the summer months I can’t start my day without a big glass of Ree’s cold brew iced coffee.
Shawna C on 12.10.2014
When I was in grade school, my standard breakfast was a slice of buttered toast and a cup of instant coffee with cream and sugar. I still love that combo.
Now, I drink decaf with milk and sugar from Tim Hortons (why yes, I am Canadian) mostly, and will occassionally splurge on a Starbucks fancy coffee (decaf, no lactose, and light whip are the constants but the flavour I order varies) for a social meet-up. My favourites in terms of flavour though are:
1) The delicious, though environmentally-unfriendly-plastic-packaged decaf cappucino my mom’s Tassimo makes.
2) The maple coffee we make during sugaring season: a spoonful of instant coffee in a mug of half-boiled-down maple sap with a splash of cream. Carrying on the family tradition, this is my 6-year-old’s favourite.
His Wife on 12.10.2014
I pay Starbucks buckets of money to make it for me and remove most of the coffee flavor by burying it in chocolate or caramel. It’s sad, but true. TL likes his black and plain and must have a full pot or two just for himself daily. Drip, instant, pressed. He doesnt’ care. Just coffee. Lots of it. He’s now mainly on decaf. I like the coffee flavor IN things like Giada De Laurentiis’ mocha meringues or coffee ice cream, just not in my cup in the morning.
Susan McClellan on 12.10.2014
A full-bodied organic coffee with a good quality creamer (real cream) AND, MOST IMPORTANT: organic, unrefined coconut oil, maybe a third of a teaspoon. This lends a subtle flavor and (do) you know that coconut oil is good for you (check it out)!
C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 12.10.2014
Oh my I do love coffee. My fav is Columbian brewed with my love for my Keurig!!! Happy Cooking Everyone! Cheryl.
Jenelle on 12.10.2014
Love my machine!! I have a latte with skim milk every morning that I am home, a little flavoring–hazelnut, caramel, vanilla, peppermint—whatever I have (it’s fairly cheap at Sam’s Club), a little squirt of cream-in-a-can on top. Then I spend some time with my Bible, sipping the brew!!
Isaiah's Granny on 12.10.2014
every morning I enjoy a big mug of Classic Foldgers with 1/2 & 1/2
deb on 12.10.2014
I have a cup of freshly ground coffee with dark chocolate almond milk. I call it my “Poor Man’s Mocha”…
Juliana on 12.10.2014
Every morning a drink just plain old black store brand coffee, nothing fancy. I am kind of like Donna, I can’t afford to spend money on fancy coffee. I did how ever make some Irish coffee the other evening for my husband & myself. We sat there drinking our coffee looking at the Christmas lights & our kids decorating our tree. I would have to say, that was nice cup of coffee.
Donna H on 12.10.2014
I have plain ol cup of coffee nothing fancy each morning. I do put in a half of pack of Splenda Mocha flavoring just to get that bitter taste out. I can’t drink anything real sweet anyway that would kill the taste of coffee. I’ve never had any fancy coffee like from Starbuck’s or anywhere else. I can’t see spending that high money for a cup of coffee. The reason I say that is I don’t have the money to spend on it, if I did I’d probably change my mind. Mom did give me a taste of coffee when I was young, just a sip because she didn’t want to stump(I hope that’s how you spell it) my growth, lol! I can hear her say that right now, hahahah! Up untill about 10 years ago I didn’t drink coffee I was a tea drinker. It was black tea or Earl Gray tea I do believe back in the years the tea business didn’t have too many flavor to pick from. Now when I drink tea it’s mostly green tea. Everyone enjoy your cup of coffee!!
Pammy on 12.10.2014
My favorite way to enjoy coffee is with my oldest son, sitting outside in the morning, just chatting. He’ll be down for Christmas and I need to get my Gevalia ordered!