Kevin's Watch

My wife ordered the Pumpkin Spice latte at Starbucks. It was wonderful, as usual. But then she looked up the calories. 270 for a small! This is coffee, not a meal!

So I started thinking about how to make this at home with fewer calories. Sometimes, I just have a knack for flavors. I drink a lot of green tea, green chai tea, black chai tea, etc. In a flash of inspiration, I grabbed one of my tea bags and dunked it in her coffee. A few minutes later, a little half&half, and some Splenda, I had her wowed. The cinnamin and cloves of the chai tea mixed with the coffee tasted (to her) a lot like the Pumpkin Spice drink. I've never had the Starbucks version, so I can't vouch for the similarity. But it was quite tasty. And it gave me a way to use up my Salada brand green tea chai bags (I thought that brand had too much spice, so I switched to another). I prefer it with vanilla soy milk, but I'm just weird that way. I like the subtle vanilla flavor it imparts. Do NOT try this with flavored creamer--yuck. Though you can find a pumpkin spice creamer at the grocery, that stuff tastes so artificial.

Any way, what tips or tricks do you all have for coffee?

Wow, that sounds yum!

My only trick so far is to put cinnamon in the grounds before I brew it. But I guess I might also have to try Pumpkin Pie Spice.....mmm coffee.

Malik23 wrote:My wife ordered the Pumpkin Spice latte at Starbucks. It was wonderful, as usual. But then she looked up the calories. 270 for a small! This is coffee, not a meal!

So I started thinking about how to make this at home with fewer calories. Sometimes, I just have a knack for flavors. I drink a lot of green tea, green chai tea, black chai tea, etc. In a flash of inspiration, I grabbed one of my tea bags and dunked it in her coffee. A few minutes later, a little half&half, and some Splenda, I had her wowed. The cinnamin and cloves of the chai tea mixed with the coffee tasted (to her) a lot like the Pumpkin Spice drink. I've never had the Starbucks version, so I can't vouch for the similarity. But it was quite tasty. And it gave me a way to use up my Salada brand green tea chai bags (I thought that brand had too much spice, so I switched to another). I prefer it with vanilla soy milk, but I'm just weird that way. I like the subtle vanilla flavor it imparts. Do NOT try this with flavored creamer--yuck. Though you can find a pumpkin spice creamer at the grocery, that stuff tastes so artificial.

Any way, what tips or tricks do you all have for coffee?

sheesh. you belong here in california, chai-boy!! i can hear you ordering this concoction now ala L.A. Story!!! (member the scene where the entire table orders coffee drinks!! hilare)

i do a thing with coffee that i have found few people do.
i sweeten with local honey.
i like the taste of coffee with honey in it.
and guess what, i haven't had to take an allergy pill in 2.5 goin on 3 years now!!! the daily dose of local honey has relieved me of all seasonal allergy symptoms!!! believe me, this is an AWESOME developement in my life as i was plagued all my life with horrendous allergies (specially in kentucky - ragweed and goldenrod hayfever)

anyway...if you don't care about the affects of honey...just try it for the flavor. its yummae.

Thpppppft!


Coffee is a tool, sort of like the paddles that ER doctors use to jump-start someone. If you're adding stuff to it, it ceases being coffee, because everything y'all are talking about adding reduces or masks the flavor of the coffee (sort of like putting ketchup on a hot dog).

What I like to do is buy whatever's on sale (usually Maxwell House Master Blend, it just sounds so hoity-toity). Then, when I brew it, I use twice the recommended amount, and use 3 or 4 filters, so the water absorbs as much of the coffee as possible. Do this right, and not only will a spoon stand upright in the evil brew, but you'll feel your heart stumble after the first sip.

Under no circumstances is it acceptable to add milk, creme, or sugar.

I take my coffee like Isaac Hayes; big, black, hot, and strong.

i can coffee drink you under the table dude.

triple shot vente baby. and THEN i'll talk you to death too!!

Not saying you can't. I usually can't stomach more than a cup or two of my devil brew.

I love a good bitter beer. I love really dark chocolate (60%-85%). But I cannot stand black coffee. And you know what? I don't have to. There's no shame in sweeteners.

Heathen.

i have an inmate in the building who can make ice coffee that tastes just like sugar smacks. but then i end up all buzzed and crash after lunch.

Lots and lots of vanilla ice cream in iced coffee is my only tip.

I'm a 'Wake Up' drinker 95% of the time - guarana based hot drink.

I have a tip: use coffee grounds to make coffee. Don't put peanut butter in the filter.

Also! Make sure you breathe while making coffee or you will die of asphyxiation.

Thanks all for the tips (particularly Lord Foul )

3 or 4 Cardamom pods split open and added to a cafetiere of good coffee, then leave for the usual time to stew.

Yummy!

Apparently this is a Turkish thing to add cardamom, but I tried it cos I heard it reduces the more harmful side-effects of caffiene (not verified).

Tastes good black and/or with honey or brown sugar.

Not sure about with milk as I don't drink Moo Juice, but I bet it rocks!

I think you can take out the seeds and use them in a grinder then filter them, but it's much stronger so you only need 1 pod per cup (otherwise you get a cardamom drink with a hint of coffee: bleeargh!).

To wake up, drink it black. To enjoy it, flavor it the way you will. i will agree with Cail in that if a cup of coffee is made properly. in a CLEAN coffee machine, the flavor itself should be enough.

most people don't clean their coffee maker with enough regularity! Clean that bad boy!!!!!

Oh definitely Guns. I clean mine once a week. If you use a plastic travel mug, don't wash it with soap. The plastic absorbs the soap and your coffee won't taste right.

do not drink state coffee at any time for any reason. bring your own. state coffee is so bad the inmates would rather buy their own than steal it. and if i don't get an inmate to clean the coffee urn, no one will get an inmate to clean the coffee urn.

Lorelei wrote: My only trick so far is to put cinnamon in the grounds before I brew it.

I do the same thing, but I try to put a little ground cinnamon (I aim to ingest 1/4 tsp a day) into nearly everything as it's been shown to help blood sugars.

Reave the Unjust wrote: 3 or 4 Cardamom pods split open and added to a cafetiere of good coffee, then leave for the usual time to stew.

Yummy!

Apparently this is a Turkish thing to add cardamom, but I tried it cos I heard it reduces the more harmful side-effects of caffiene (not verified).

Since cinnamon is shown to help blood sugars, this claim about cardamon being true wouldn't surprise me either.

Plain coffee, shot of Amaretto on the side.

--A

chicory.

coffeetea.about.com/cs/coffeesubstitutes/a/chicory.htm

This time of year I occasionally put a little eggnog in my coffee. It is tasty, but a little goes a long way. Starbucks also has an eggnog latte that is very good, although I am afraid to see what the calorie content might be.

it is the holidays, drink up!

you can always use it as a new year's resolution later.