Seasonings and spices for coffee change its taste and aroma beyond recognition. You will like spices if you have already tried coffee variations and are familiar with the varieties and types of beans. Depending on the type of additives, you will get notes of warmth, sweetness, spiciness, bitterness, and sourness. At your disposal are pepper, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom, anise.
Who and when came up with the idea of adding seasonings to coffee drinks?
The idea of adding spice to coffee is not related to the desire to add variety. It all started in the 13th century, when people began brewing coffee en masse.
Eastern merchants noticed that during long transportation the grain began to rot and smell unpleasant. In order not to lose income, they came up with the idea of mixing them with seasonings. This helped sell damaged goods.
According to another version, spices began to be added in the East to neutralize harmful caffeine and enhance the tonic properties of the drink.
In coffee shops, spices were added to mask the aroma of the cheap Robusta coffee variety. Over time, the method began to be used to give an unusual taste and maintain health.
Do not add seasonings to elite beans: Blue Mountain, Yemen Matari, Kopi Luwak, Old Java. This will spoil the taste.
Let's look at what spices are added to coffee.
Recipes
We figured out what spices can be added to coffee - go shopping right now! And if you have already purchased the necessary spices, it’s time to prepare a delicious drink - we will tell you several methods of preparation, choose the one you like.
With cloves
First prepare the following ingredients:
- 120 ml water;
- 30-40 ml cream;
- 2 tsp ground grains;
- A teaspoon of sugar;
- Four carnation stars.
Now let’s start preparing coffee with spices in a Turk:
- Grind the cloves in a mortar or coffee grinder;
- Pour the spice and grains into the Turk, add sugar;
- Place on the fire and keep on the stove for about thirty seconds, stirring;
- Pour in water and wait until foam forms;
- Remove the Turk from the stove for a couple of seconds, then repeat the action;
- Pour the drink into a mug and add cream to taste.
Now grab the Tunisian spiced coffee recipe – you won’t soon forget this unique taste!
In Tunisian
Prepare the following components:
- Water – 150 ml;
- A teaspoon of ground grains;
- Cinnamon – 1 tsp;
- Two carnation stars;
- A third of a teaspoon of cardamom.
We also recommend: Milk with turmeric
Now do the following:
- Warm the empty Turk over low heat (one minute is enough);
- Add sugar, ground grains and spices, stir;
- Add water and place on low heat;
- As soon as the drink boils, remove the Turk and let the foam settle;
- Place on the heat again and bring to a boil;
- Let the drink brew for a few minutes and pour into cups.
Universal Supplements
Black pepper
If you're new to making spiced coffee, try black pepper. It will highlight the natural coffee flavor.
Pepper cleanses the gastrointestinal tract and regulates its functioning. If used regularly, it will help get rid of toxins, cleanse the blood vessels of the brain, improve memory and mental performance.
Salt
No more than 2-5 grains of salt will change the flavor of the coffee. To avoid spoiling it, use purified salt.
In many eastern countries, salt has become a secret ingredient. It is added to the cezve during cooking.
To learn this method at home, read the article “How to make coffee with salt.”
Useful tips
Different mixtures of coffee spices will also help diversify the taste; some of them go very well together. It is not recommended to add a mixture of three or more additives at once. It is better to experiment with small portions, adding one new spice at a time to the base taste of the main spice in order to find your combination for coffee with spices.
If you want to fully experience the rich taste and aroma, you can try making coffee by adding a few grains of salt to the Turk during preparation and ground black pepper on the tip of a knife.
In Tunisia, a favorite recipe is a drink where cinnamon powder, 1 clove bud and two or three grains of cardamom are added to the water as additional ingredients on the tip of a spoon. In coffee shops in Rome, when preparing a drink, cardamom and cinnamon are ground into powder and a little lemon juice is added to this mixture. All this is poured with hot coffee brewed according to the classic recipe. This combination of spices creates a real tropical aroma and uplifts your mood.
As you can see, spiced coffee has many variations. By making different compositions of spices or adding one of your favorite spices to a drink, you can make your life brighter and more varied.
Classic and other options
Cinnamon
A common seasoning. It is added in the form of powder and sticks. Suitable for tea and coffee. Use cinnamon in other warming drinks like mulled wine.
Aromatic cinnamon combines harmoniously with Arabica, shades its sourness, and adds spice. Add it at different stages of cooking. Cinnamon stick - during or at the end of cooking. Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top of the finished drink. Dosage: for one cup – no more than half a teaspoon of powder.
Interesting! How to brew coffee in a saucepan on the stove
The spice speeds up metabolic processes, helps break down fats, and warms you up on cold evenings.
Vanilla
The seasoning is used in the form of powder or vanilla pod. With it, it becomes tender, sweet, with a dizzying aroma.
Vanilla warms, relieves tension, relaxes. To get the effects, add half a teaspoon of powder. Or soak a vanilla stick in the hot liquid for 3-5 minutes.
A drink with vanilla is considered an aphrodisiac that stimulates libido.
Carnation
The spice is fine if you are not afraid of the excessive bitterness it imparts. The valuable thing about cloves is the smell, which quickly disappears. Therefore, to get a flavorful drink, add it at the end.
The seasoning is refreshing. And thanks to clove essential oil, it kills harmful microorganisms. Cloves warm and help with colds.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg gives a tart, astringent flavor. Use it grated, no more than 1-2 grams.
The seasoning tones and stimulates the heart, invigorates. Doctors prescribe it for the complex treatment of sexual disorders: erectile dysfunction, impotence, lack of sexual desire.
Cardamom
Cardamom has a rich scent that is similar to a combination of ginger and cloves. It intensifies the coffee taste and emphasizes its bitterness. Use in powder and grain form.
You will get a specially spicy coffee if you add no more than 3-4 cardamom grains. Just take them out of the plant box and crush them. If desired, replace the grains with 2-3 grams of powder. It goes perfectly with cappuccino and latte. You can enhance the taste and pour 10-20 grams of cream liqueur.
The seasoning soothes, freshens breath, cleanses the digestive system and kills harmful microorganisms.
Star anise
The fruits of this plant are shaped like a star. They help treat the throat during colds and improve the functioning of the digestive tract.
To achieve a rich, pleasant coffee taste and aroma, add 2-3 grains of star anise when cooking in a Turk.
Ginger
Use fresh ginger so it retains its beneficial properties. It warms up, strengthens the immune system, accelerates blood flow, and improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Add grated or thinly sliced ginger at the end of cooking. It will give the drink a spicy, bitter taste.
Orange zest
The zest will add sourness and bitterness. Suitable for espresso and sweet coffee drinks. The orange addition is combined with black pepper, mint or herbal liqueur. To achieve a pleasant aroma and taste, 5 grams is enough.
Lemon zest
Lemon zest, like orange zest, adds bitterness. But at the same time it makes the aroma fresher. In addition to the zest, dilute the coffee with lemon slices or lemon juice.
Lemon zest or juice removes toxins, improves digestion, and burns fat. This drink is relevant during a weight loss diet.
Red pepper
If you like sweets and spiced Turkish coffee, add red hot pepper. Serve this drink with grated dark chocolate on top and pieces on a saucer.
Instead of powder, take a pod, it will reveal the taste better. Dip it into the finished drink for a minute.
Interesting! How to brew coffee in a coffee maker
Anise
This seasoning is refreshing and invigorating, giving a pleasant taste. Too much anise will overpower the aroma. To get a harmonious and tasty drink, add no more than a quarter teaspoon of powder. Pairs well with cinnamon, vanilla and honey.
Bay leaf
A classic spice that can also be added to coffee. More often used in powder form, less often in sheets. Gives a piquant aroma and taste, soothes, reduces blood pressure, and eliminates headaches. Has a mild antidepressant effect.
Add the powdered spice during cooking, and dip the leaf into the hot drink for a few seconds.
Caraway
Use cumin if you like spicy coffee with a fiery aftertaste. The spice imparts a subtle aroma with pungent notes that stimulate the appetite. It also invigorates and tones the circulatory system.
Don't overdo the portion of cumin - there will be enough on the tip of a knife.
Dill
If you compare it in taste, this spice is similar to cumin and anise. It did not find a wide response, but it has a circle of admirers. If you overdo the dosage, the coffee will turn out too spicy. Use dill seeds - no more than 2-3 per cup.
Saffron
If you want royal morning coffee, add saffron. The seasoning has earned a high status due to its sweet-tart aroma with a slight bitterness and cost - from 500-600 rubles per 50 gram bag.
Saffron is a storehouse of vitamins. It tones the heart, normalizes blood pressure to 120 to 80 mmHg. It also cleanses the blood and liver and calms the nervous system.
Coriander
Connoisseurs of Turkish coffee with spices like to brew it with coriander. It has woody and spicy notes, which, combined with the aroma of a freshly brewed drink, improve your mood and general condition in the morning.
Coriander calms the nervous system, relieves tension, improves the functioning of the digestive system, and restores metabolism.
Rules for combining coffee with spices
Do it right
To make delicious Turkish coffee or another recipe with spices, follow the recommendations:
- do not combine more than 3 types of additives in one drink;
- do not use elite blends of Arabica with Robusta to prepare a spiced drink;
- For the first experiments, start with a small dose so as not to overdo it and spoil the taste and aroma.
Brands of mixtures
If you like coffee with additives, but don’t want to bother, purchase factory-made spice blends and seasonings. Their advantage is hermetic packaging that preserves the taste and aroma. Basically, these are mixtures of several types: cloves with cinnamon, vanilla with cardamom.
Brands of seasonings for making Turkish coffee have proven themselves well: Kamis, Sonnentor. Spices of the first brand are also added to tea. The second is created specifically for coffee drinks.
Preferences of residents of different countries
A common seasoning for Turkish coffee in Greece and Italy is cinnamon. Iraqis prefer saffron. The Romans use cardamom with cinnamon. Yemenis also add cardamom.
Scandinavians love to add alcohol to their drinks. Mexicans use vanilla beans instead of a spoon and also add cloves and cinnamon. Tunisians prepare coffee with rose or orange water.
Interesting! How to brew ground coffee in a cup
Residents of Louisiana (America) use cloves with cinnamon and zest. They also like to add brandy and set the drink on fire. The Turks make their coffee thick, sweet, very spicy, and mix different seasonings.
It doesn’t matter what kind of coffee we prepare, the main thing is that it is brewed according to the rules, and that the spices are combined with each other. Let's look at popular recipes for making drinks with additives.
Recipes for cooking in Turk
With cardamom
Making Turkish coffee requires skill and care, especially if spices are added to it. The main mistake is an oversaturated composition of additives that interrupt the aroma of a freshly prepared drink.
Common coffee with cardamom is prepared according to the following algorithm:
- grind the roasted grains;
- warm up the Turk;
- add ground coffee beans, cardamom;
- fill with cold water;
- put on low heat;
- wait until foam appears;
- remove the Turk, after 1-2 minutes put it back on the fire.
If desired, strain the mixture and add sugar.
With ginger
Prepare the drink in the same way as in the previous recipe. The sequence of actions is in most cases similar, only the composition and spice options change.
Add ginger at the end of cooking. Before serving, let the drink brew for 1-3 minutes.
In Moroccan
For this recipe, add spices to the cezve before cooking. These include ginger and cinnamon with cardamom. Add sugar if you like.
In Tunisian
To prepare the drink, prepare cinnamon and cardamom with cloves. Brew the drink using the traditional method. Add cardamom and cloves immediately, and sprinkle with cinnamon at the end.
"Spicy Evening"
For the recipe, use high-quality Arabica beans and 2-4 salt crystals. The drink will be piquant, with a rich smell and taste.
In Kenyan
Coffee beans from Kenya are ideal for this recipe. A distinctive feature is the addition of hot Cayenne pepper at the tip of the knife. This drink should not be drunk by people with gastritis, ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.
With nutmeg
Nutmeg and cinnamon are the perfect combination. Add nuts during the cooking process, and cinnamon at the end, in the form of a powder or stick.
With ginger, cognac and whipped cream
Brew coffee the same way as in the first recipe. Grate the ginger and add to a hot drink. Pour 10-20 ml of cognac in a thin stream. Decorate the top with whipped cream.
When you add alcohol to a spiced coffee recipe, try to drink no more than 1-2 cups. Otherwise, the warming and invigorating effect will turn into problems with blood pressure. It can rise to 140/90 mmHg. You cannot drive after an alcoholic cocktail.
Top 13 Spices for Coffee
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Carnation
- Cardamom
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Zest
- Black pepper (peas)
- Red chili pepper
- Garlic
- Star anise
- Cocoa
A little strange, right? Salt is a healthy mineral when consumed in moderation, but what does that have to do with coffee? But coffee is very appropriate here. True, we are talking exclusively about black coffee. It is recommended to add salt at the beginning of the cooking process in a small amount (at the tip of the knife). This mineral can perfectly highlight the taste of coffee, and the salt will not be felt in the finished drink.
Cinnamon is the dried bark of the Ceylon or Chinese Cinnamon tree. Traditionally, the bark of the Ceylon tree is valued higher than the Chinese one. As a spice, it is sold either in powder form or in the form of small sticks.
It can be added at the beginning of the coffee preparation process, it can be used to decorate milk foam in already prepared coffee, or you can simply put a couple of sticks in a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Vanilla is a spice obtained from the unripe fruits of plants of the Vanilla genus. In ancient times, vanilla beans were used as money, and the Aztecs even collected tribute from them. Natural vanilla is still one of the most expensive spices: this is due to difficulties in the production process.
If you are lucky enough to get your hands on some vanilla beans, carefully remove the vanilla beans from the pod and add them to the grinder along with the coffee beans. Or you can just buy and use vanilla sugar to taste.
Cloves are the dried, unopened buds of the clove tree. Moreover, the taste in this spice is distributed unevenly: the spicy taste and aroma is in the bud, and the stem gives heat and pungency. If you don't like the latter, use only the buds, adding them towards the end of cooking.
Cardamom is the fruit of a perennial herbaceous plant called true cardamom. Along with vanilla, cardamom is considered one of the most expensive spices. Like vanilla, it is often called the “Queen of Spices.”
You can also buy ground cardamom, but let’s take the liberty of suggesting that it would be more interesting to take three or four cardamom boxes, crush them with the side of a knife, and cook them in a Turk along with coffee.
Nutmeg grows on Old World tropical evergreen trees. There it is collected, ground into powder, and turned into a spice that can be added during the brewing process, or you can sprinkle it on the creamy foam of already prepared coffee.
This spice perfectly warms you up in the cold season, but you need to use it with caution: too large a dose can cause discomfort in the stomach, nausea, and have a bad effect on the nervous system.
Ginger is a spice that is the rhizome of the so-called real ginger, native to South Asia. Coffee with ginger, a drink with a specific taste and very warming, like nutmeg. The easiest way to prepare it is to peel a small piece of fresh ginger, grate it and add it to boil in a Turk along with coffee. However, opinions differ here: a number of baristas prefer to add ginger, like cloves, a couple of minutes before readiness.
Coffee goes well with any citrus fruits and fruits in general. Lemon, orange or coconut zest is mixed with ground coffee and brewed, adding fruity notes to black coffee. And fruit juice (for example, orange) can simply be added to a mug of black coffee. It will be delicious.
Another warming spice on our list! Black peas not only add warmth, but also add a spicy kick to the coffee. Coffee beans are ground together with black pepper and then brewed with coffee.
The hottest, warming, headache-relieving spice on our list! Just take a chili pepper and put it in your coffee for a couple of minutes. However, just like with black pepper, you can simply grind it with the grains.
Don't forget to serve this coffee with good dark chocolate.
An unusual and piquant coffee can be made with simple garlic. Just add one or two cloves of garlic to the Turk along with coffee grounds and brew it. Garlic goes well with salt and black pepper, so we recommend using them together.
Star anise is the dry ripe fruit of the Real Star Anise (also called Star Anise). This spice is especially widespread in Chinese and Indian cuisine. Star anise gives coffee a specific taste, and therefore, like, say, ginger or garlic, this is a spice for everyone.
Usually a few star anise are simply ground together with the coffee beans.
Cocoa is a powder made from the roasted beans of the fruit of the Chocolate tree (or Cocoa tree). For some reason, some people are sure that coffee and cocoa do not go well together: a deep misconception! You just need to sprinkle cocoa powder on top of the milk foam or cream and see for yourself. Additionally, cocoa is often sprinkled with chocolate chips.
