Best Coffee For Winter

Discovering warming coffee for winter ideas opens the door to great-tasting brews during cold, damp days. Gather your favorite ingredients together and add them to your cuppa.

We all know the feeling.

Rubbing your hands together, wrapping your arms around yourself, and stomping your feet. The tip of your nose is icy cold and you can see your breath.

There is no better time than the cold season to enjoy the warmth and comfort of cuddling up with warm socks, a blanket, and something warm to drink.

Cats, books, and a crackling fire are optional add-ons.

What Is Winter Coffee And How To Make It?

Making coffee is popular all year round. But coffee in winter is special.

When the cold weather sets in and starts getting chilly, there are a few ways we can spice up our favorite drink.

THAT is what winter weather coffee is.

It is about making our usual day-to-day brew richer, more exotic, and more warming.

There are no limitations to making a really scrumptious cup of tasty hot coffee on a cold day.

• If you love whipped cream – use it.
• If you adore warming liqueurs, then add a dram or two.
• Your favorite spices can also be infused to add that special flavor.
• And don’t skimp on the chocolate either!

All these and more can be infused, melted, and combined into your coffee cup to create something special.

We will explain the best way to add these delicious flavors to achieve the tastiest results.

Let’s have a look at some ideas on how to kick your coffee up a notch (or two) and warm you up from the inside out with some wonderful winter coffee ingredients!

Related Article: How to make coffee taste good

How Can You Add Spices To Your Coffee For Winter?

Creating spiced winter coffee ideas is very easy.

Simply mix your chosen spices with the ground coffee in the coffee maker.

Alternatively, place a stick of cinnamon into the filter basket of your favorite percolator, drip machine, or Moka pot, for example.

One option is to place whole spices into the bag of coffee beans. This ensures a slow and gentle infusion of flavors.

Other equally delicious options could be:

• split open a cardamom pod, sprinkling the seeds into the filter
• grate some nutmeg into the coffee grounds
• add a few cloves or star anise

The longer you leave the spices, the more intense the final flavor.

You could use:

• whole vanilla beans
• star anise
• nutmeg seeds
• cinnamon sticks
• cloves
• cardamom

Infusing Milk

We can also infuse hot milk with spices.

This is probably the easiest method to control the strength of the aromatic punch of the spice in our cup. Because the milk is extra, we can play around with the richness of flavor and the creamy texture by adding more or less of our infused milk.

You can easily infuse the milk.

1. Add a few drops of vanilla extract and a cinnamon stick to a small pot with a cup of warm milk.
2. Heat the milk gradually – do not allow it to boil.
3. Once it starts to form microbubbles on the surface, it is ready to serve and enjoy.

Golden Milk

Another delicious option, with renowned anti-inflammatory properties, is “Golden Milk”. Golden Milk is an elixir believed to aid in:

1. balancing hormones
2. weight-loss
3. improving sleep

It is packed with antioxidants and is said to have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. It originated in India, but in recent years it has become popular worldwide.

It does vary in terms of ingredients and the preparation method. It is usually made by heating coconut oil and blooming warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger, anise or cardamom, and turmeric.

Turmeric gives the resulting golden milk it’s signature color.

Later, honey is added to create a paste. Finally, add milk to taste and heat over a low flame.

Golden milk lattes are the perfect combination of exotic spices, warmth, and creamy comfort.

What Are The Most Popular Spices To Use In Coffee?

Let’s have a look at how to make winter coffee drinks with everyone’s favorite spices.

Vanilla

Vanilla is a classic that we all know and love. Combined with coffee, it adds a smooth sweetness and depth of flavor, combined with its rich scent.

Cocoa

Is there anything more comforting than rich, creamy cocoa? The perfect balance of sweet, bitter, and delicate floral flavors. A slight acidity may be noticeable and is reminiscent of dried fruit.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a little spicy, woody and sweet – in fact, its name is said to come from the ancient Greek word for “sweet wood”.

It is both calming and warming, aids in digestion, and helps to balance blood sugar levels too. Cinnamon is deliciously fragrant and a firm favorite used in both sweet and savory dishes.

Nutmeg

Aromatic nutmeg adds a nutty flavor while being sweet, warm, and spicy. It is quite intense, and a little goes a long way.

Star Anise

Star anise is beautiful and adds a festive touch when added whole to a cup of coffee. It has a unique sweetness and tastes similar to licorice.

Cloves

Similar to cinnamon and nutmeg, cloves are strongly aromatic and are easily recognizable. They are powerfully fragrant, refreshingly sweet, and spicy.

In large doses, cloves can be bitterly astringent. This is due to the component eugenol.

Cloves are an essential oil with both antiseptic and anesthetic properties.

Cardamom

Cardamom in coffee is a Turkish tradition that adds an exotic twist. it brings the bustling bazaars of the Ottoman Empire to mind.

Its warm flavor is reminiscent of a blend of cinnamon and cloves but distinctly more herbal and citrusy. Cardamom combines perfectly with several flavors – such as coffee, chocolate, or orange.

Ginger

Ginger can work exceptionally well as a winter warmer and has numerous properties. We can use ginger both fresh or dried but need to be careful with the amount used.

Ginger is strong and spicy and can deal quite a punch!

Spice Combinations

All of the spices discussed are tried and tested favorites to add to our coffee. However, they also can be blended together in a variety of ways to create deliciously unique results.

Combinations such as nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon, are a classic when making Christmas coffee drinks. The aroma is reminiscent of mince pies and carol singing.

A sprinkling of orange zest really boosts these flavors.

Cinnamon and vanilla give our cup of coffee a flavor of a freshly baked cookie – sweet and warm from the oven.

Pumpkin Spice

We can make our own spice blends or use commercial mixes such as pumpkin spice! Pumpkin spice is a combination of several spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.

It is a firm favorite to add to lattes.

Variations In Winter Coffee Flavors

There is a myriad of coffee recipes to choose from. You can experiment with lattes, making a spicy cappuccino, or adding extra impact to your espresso drinks.

Everyone has their own favorite spices and/or alcoholic tipple

Use these in your coffee brew to make delicious warm coffee drinks all season long.

We can spice up our black coffee by infusing the flavors while brewing the coffee. Alternatively, add flavored sugars.

Cinnamon sugar is quick and easy to mix together and have on hand.

Stir into coffee or hot chocolate, sprinkle liberally over warm and buttery pancakes, or add crunch to cinnamon rolls.

Sugar is a great carrier for flavor.

Adding citrus zest to sugar adds a perfect contrast to the sweetness. Lavender flowers are an unusual but delicious option to add delicate floral notes to our cup.

Honey is also a fantastic way to ramp up the complexity of the taste profile. Different kinds of honey have their own particular flavors.

These depend on the time of the year and flowers harvested by the bees.

Winter Coffee Syrups

Other delicious liquid sweeteners. Winter coffee syrups include maple syrup or agave syrup. These are vegan-friendly too.

We can also make a simple sugar syrup infusion. Simply boil together equal parts of sugar and water and add our spices.

This creates a strongly flavored sweetener that we can store and have on hand.

Combinations could include:

• clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg
• orange and cinnamon
• chocolate syrup made by adding cocoa to the sugar syrup

Spiced Lattes

Spiced lattes are the epitome of creamy comfort.

Coffee made with a high percentage of milk or cream is that much richer and offers a well-rounded flavor. It is topped off with a more luscious mouthfeel.

Try out a selection of wintery latte flavors by adding or combining sweet and savory spices. You will be surprised by how many variations there are.

Coffee With Alcohol

Adding a dram of your alcoholic beverages to your cup of coffee boosts the warming sensations of the drink.

Irish coffee with whiskey is a classic. However, there are countless options to suit every palate!

Here are some options to create exotic coffee drinks you and your friends will love.

Rum

Rum is a Caribbean classic.

Rum is distilled from the molasses syrup extracted during the sugar production process. It is sweet, with caramel tones.

Schnapps

Schnapps is a sweet and typically fruity flavored liqueur. It originated in Germany and the surrounding areas.

Common flavors include:

apple, peach, berry, melon, and lemon, as well as mint and toffee.

Whiskey

Whiskey was born in Ireland, with the grain distillation techniques quickly spreading to Scotland. Whiskey has sweet (almost vanilla-like) smoky flavors.

Included are hints of the wood used to make the casks that the whiskey is aged in. The toasting process of the malt is also mirrored in the final product.

Popular Liqueurs For Coffee:

Kahlua

Kahlua is a coffee liqueur. It is made from Mexican coffee beans harvested in the southwestern region of the country and rum.

The sweetness balances out the bitterness of the coffee. It is creamy, full-bodied, and rich.

Baileys

Classic Bailey’s is usually enjoyed cold, served neat over ice, or, for an extra indulgent treat, ice cream. It has a signature velvety texture and creamy sweetness.

This comes from the perfect blend of Irish whiskey, full cream, pure cacao, and vanilla.

Baileys is an exceptional addition to coffee and can be added to espresso, a latte, or even an iced coffee. Let’s not forget about adding a splash of Bailey’s to hot chocolate, too!

Frangelico

Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur, with its uniquely shaped bottle, originates in Northern Italy. The nutty tones pair exceptionally well with both coffee and chocolate.

It is not a cream-based liqueur. This means it can be enjoyed in both black coffee and lattes.

Amaretto

Amaretto also has its origins in Northern Italy. Its name comes from the diminutive of the Italian word for “bitter”.

The liqueur is made from apricot stones and almonds. These give the drink the distinctive flavor profile of sweet/bitter.

It is famous for its use in Tiramisu, although it also pairs well with fresher, citrus flavors – such as lemon!

Godiva

The Belgian chocolatier Joseph Drapp started the company in 1926. Since then, Godiva has been one of the best-known names in the industry.

Godiva Chocolate Liqueur is rich in flavor, smooth, and decadent. The ultimate in chocolate indulgence.

It comes in three versatile flavor variations: chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate.

Grand Marnier

Grand Marnier is an orange liqueur. A blend of cognac and bitter oranges is favored for use in desserts or cocktails.

It is also commonly enjoyed as a digestif.

While the combination of coffee and orange may be an unexpected match, the two flavors pair particularly well. Especially when using a darker roast of coffee.

Are All Cold Weather Coffees Hot?

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean that iced coffee options are off the table!

In our warm and cozy homes, we can indulge in cold options too. Cold-brewed coffee and iced coffee are just as doable.

Cold coffee for winter can be spruced up with all the flavorings, spices, and creams that can be added to a hot cup of coffee.

Cold coffees are particularly enjoyable served with ice cream, as they will not cause it to melt!

Experiment with different ice cream flavors. Choose from classic flavors such as vanilla or chocolate to rum and raisin, almond, or even coconut.

You can also play around with your favorite toppings:

• M&M’s
• chocolate chips
• chocolate sauce
• cookie crumbles
• or toasted nuts

Conclusion

With such a wide array of flavor options, you can play around all season long. Experiment to find your favorite winter coffee recipe.

What mixes of spices do you like best?

Will you prefer the luscious creaminess of Bailey’s latte?

Or the zesty punch of cardamom?

Perhaps savor the coffee kick of Kahlua or the exotic tones of ginger and turmeric.

So – is coffee good in winter? You would be crazy not to drink it with all these tantalizing flavor options!

No matter your preference, the cold weather ushers in an excellent opportunity to make delicious coffee drinks to enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions