5 clever ways to up your coffee game at home

Summer’s on the way and the temperatures are rising – and this means that it’s definitely time for iced coffee. The main problem with this stimulating refresher is that, as flavourful as it may be for the first few sips, it all too often devolves into an insipid mush as the ice melts and waters down the caffeine. A pro tip when making your own iced coffee at home: substitute ice cubes with coffee cubes. We recommend foregoing the drain and pouring the remaining coffee in your latest brew straight into the ice cube tray. Leave it for three hours in the freezer and you’ll have cubes that will keep your next iced coffee cold whilst giving it a constant injection of flavour. 

This condiment doesn’t only have a positive effect on the taste of our food; it can also work wonders in coffee– who’d have thought, right? One common issue with coffee is that, whether because it is too finely ground or over roasted, it can be a tad bitter on the taste buds, and this is where our friend sodium chloride comes in. Adding a pinch of salt to your brew will neutralize the bitterness and acidity in coffee, leaving you with a cup that is well-rounded and full of flavour – just as you deserve.

There are probably plenty of spices and seasonings lying about your kitchen that may be a little easier to stomach than adding salt to your cup, and many of them can also work to elevate your morning cuppa from mundane to majestic. Raid your spice rack and get creative, but do so sensibly – we’re not sure that garlic coffee will be supplanting Gaelic coffee anytime soon. From cinnamon to nutmeg, star anise to cardamon, even chilli – some surprising combinations will truly compliment your coffee and turn it into something special, perfect for a morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

Bulletproof coffee became a thing a few years back, when it was touted as one of the best ways to boost energy and fat-burning capabilities ahead of a morning workout. A Keto diet classic, this beverage is high in fats, and – above all – is decadent and delicious. To make your own, simply add around a teaspoon each of grass-fed unsalted butter and MCT oil to your cuppa – the recipes vary, so add to taste – and mix away. Feel free to sweeten or season with cinnamon, and then get those muscles working to burn off the calories!

As if we could forget to mention this one. Dalgona coffee has recently taken the internet by storm, with thousands of videos and photos flooding social media in the past weeks from people creating their own versions at home. As all this should tell you, whipped coffee is pretty easy to make in your own kitchen, and requires minimal skill to produce fabulously foamy results. Whisk the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water mixture– this may take a bit of time – until it turns into a froth, and then spoon it lovingly over milk. For those who are more adventurous, we recommend replacing instant coffee with matcha powder for a gorgeously green creation. From here, ‘gram it, and then wait for the likes to roll in as you sip away.