Spice Up Your Autumn: Coffee Edition
It’s the time of the year when we start switching our iced go-to favorites and cold brews for their warmer counterparts, delighting in the fragrant steam and the comforting heat their presence brings when we wrap our shivering hands around them.
Pumpkin spice season… yes, we will always find it in our hearts to make time for all-time favorites, no matter how ‘basic’ others might deem us. Nonetheless, this autumn promises to mark change in the ‘basic’, bringing in a whole new wave of interesting flavors and ingredients to elevate your coffee to a new level.
Here are this season’s top picks to spice up your daily cup of joe:
Coconut Creamer
“Not only is it a healthy, delicious, vegan creamer, but it's portable and does not need to be refrigerated. Tossing one of these packets in your bag is just one way to make your coffee habit healthier.” - Taste of Home
Cinnamon Powder & Sticks
Cinnamon has long been known for its medicinal properties: helping to reduce inflammation, loaded with antioxidants, and lowering blood sugar levels among many others. Not to mention the notorious kick it adds when either sprinkled over your latte’s white froth or used as a stirrer for a plain Americano.
Turmeric Powder
Yielding the caffeinated relative of a Golden Latte, turmeric powder will help brighten your cup of coffee while pumping in all the benefits of a superfood.
Mylks
“Mylk” was recently coined as the official spelling for plant-based substitutes to traditional “milk”. With the rise of environmental awareness and a shift towards plant-based diets, coffee shops around the world hustle to keep up with today’s youth tastes and preferences. In doing so, we can easily opt for almond, soy or coconut mylk in most cafés both around campus and around Chicago. Try experimenting with some homemade coffee, splashed with flavours like hazelnut, macadamia, walnut or rice mylk, to name a few. Seed? Nut? Plant? You name it. There is probably a mylk out there made out of it.
Vanilla & Lavender Extract
Try adding a few drops of vanilla or lavender extract into your cup of coffee for a familiar and welcoming aroma, followed suit by a rich taste.
The Rise of Syrups
Following on from the mylk revolution, we have been seeking to experiment with new plant-based sweeteners. These range from popularised agave, to coconut syrup and rice syrup. If you prefer your coffee slightly sweeter, try out any of these new alternatives to honey and sugar.
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