Black coffee is great. What’s better than a cup of black coffee in the morning? Well, you can elevate your coffee by adding flavor enhancers. Depending on your taste, there are plenty of flavor-improving ingredients that work well with coffee.
Let’s take a look at some amazing stuff you can add to your cup of coffee. These come with a variety of flavor profiles so feel free to pick one that suits you the best. Let’s dive in.
Calorie Boosters
Calorie boosters are ingredients that can add some excellent flavor to your coffee but also some extra calories. If you’re on a diet, then you should stay clear of these. If not, then feel free to try them all.
Milk
If you didn’t think of milk, you lose.
Adding milk to your coffee is a great way to mask the strength of coffee and add some natural sweetness to your drink.
Whether your milk is steamed or frothed, it makes your coffee better and adds some body to it. Here’s a tip, add some milk to your iced coffee and thank us later.
Half and Half
Half and half are made of 50% whole milk and 50% heavy cream.
Like milk, a lot of people like using it in their coffee. There is no artificial sweetness in this, so you don’t have to worry about your coffee being too sweet.
Non-Dairy Milk
If you are lactose intolerant, you can try a range of non-dairy that work great with coffee.
Some of the popular non-dairy milk that goes well with coffee are
- Almond milk
- Soy milk
- Coconut milk
- Oat milk
- Cashew milk
Condensed Milk
If you’re looking to add some milk to your coffee and also make it super sweet, then condensed milk is your friend.
Adding some condensed milk gives your coffee a good body and also makes it pretty sweet. You can try this with instant coffee or even in an espresso.
If you’re someone with a sweet tooth, this one’s a must-try.
Whipping Cream
Whipping cream is another heavy ingredient that goes hand in hand with coffee.
The key is to not mix it but drink your coffee through it. Try that and let us know how you liked your coffee.
Ice Cream
Ice cream also goes well with coffee.
But does just add it to any coffee. You can try it on top of your iced coffee or even a cold cup of dalgona coffee.
The best way to mix ice cream and coffee is to add a scoop of ice cream and then pour a shot of espresso on top of it. That’s an affogato and you will love it.
Butter
Adding butter to coffee has been on the coffee trend for a long time now. Bulletproof coffee is the one that made this idea mainstream, but you can simply add some butter to your coffee and call it a day.
Related Read: Is Bulletproof Coffee Organic?
Ghee
Ghee, also known as clarified butter, is also an excellent addition to coffee.
Adding ghee to coffee is much better and can drive a variety of benefits home. As an added benefit, you also get tastier coffee.
Related read: Ghee in coffee
Egg
If you’re looking to make your coffee rich in protein, adding eggs to it is probably a good way to do it.
Add an egg and some water to your coffee grounds. Mix them well till you get a nice final mixture. Then boil the mixture with more water and then filter it for protein-rich coffee.
The taste might not be for everyone as it is mild and underplays the strength of your coffee.
Sweetness Enhancers
Need a sweet coffee?
We got you.
Honey
Honey is an excellent alternative to sugar.
It is sweet and you will this in your black coffee if you have a sweet tooth.
Not only sweetness, honey is also rich in health benefits. So make sure you add some honey to your coffee every once in a while.
Chocolate
If you’ve had a mocha, then you know chocolate and coffee are a damn good combination.
Adding a tile of chocolate to your coffee brings a bittersweet taste and makes drinking coffee a sophisticated experience.
You can use dark chocolate if you’re feeling fancy otherwise milk chocolate is more than enough.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice but adding it brings a hit of sweetness to your coffee.
Loaded with health benefits, you can enjoy coffee with cinnamon without worrying about anything.
Related Read: Cinnamon in coffee
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is another spice that brings sweetness to your cup of coffee.
You can mix nutmeg powder with the grounds while brewing coffee or simply add some to your black coffee to infuse the flavor.
Palm Sugar
Palm sugar is an excellent alternative to sugar and it comes without any of the harmful effects of sugar.
Add some palm sugar to coffee to experience a different sweet flavor in your coffee. Adding palm sugar to your coffee is a rich tradition in the southern states of India for a long time so you know it is nothing new.
Vanilla Extract
Can you add vanilla extract to coffee?
Of course, you can.
Adding vanilla extract to your coffee will not make it that sweet but you get more of a bittersweet flavor.
So it is important to make sure that you don’t add too much as it can turn your coffee super bitter.
Cocoa Powder
Adding cocoa powder to coffee can also bring the same effect as adding a square of chocolate.
First, you need to add a small amount of coffee and cocoa powder and make a paste. Once the paste is smooth, you can add the rest of your coffee and devour it.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup goes well with coffee.
In addition to the expected sweetness, you get minerals like magnesium, zinc, calcium, and potassium.
There is no problem when it comes to dissolving maple syrup in coffee so that’s one less issue to worry about.
Coca Cola
Yes, Coca-Cola.
We know it’s weird, but you can add this to your coffee.
Adding this sweetened soda to your coffee can make it pop and also very sweet. So keep in mind to not overdo it.
Stevia
Stevia is another natural sugar alternative that makes your coffee sweet.
Using more than you will overpower your coffee with sweetness so do some experiments and find the sweet spot that works for you.
Booze Fest
Want a hint of alcohol in your coffee?
Here’s something that might interest you.
Whiskey
Irish coffee comes with some whiskey in it. For people who like booze in their coffee, it is a great starting point.
You can make your coffee with less or more whiskey in it. Just make sure you’re adding whiskey to your coffee and not the other way around.
Brandy
Just like whiskey, brandy also works well with coffee.
If you have a fresh brew of coffee, add a shot of brandy to it to spike it up.
Amaretto
Amaretto comes with a nutty flavor that goes nicely with coffee.
You will also get a touch of bitterness making it a good choice for cold brew coffee and even some lattes.
Rum
Rum is one of the sweeter alcohols out there.
It goes well with coffee made from dark-roast coffee beans. The darker your rum is, the better the final drink.
Chocolate Liqueur
Chocolate liqueurs are perfect for coffee.
There are many options out there but Dorda and Godiva work well with coffee. You can also use them to mix other alcohols with coffee which is a neat added benefit.
Sambuca
Sambuca brings an anise flavor to your coffee.
If you’re looking to spice up your coffee but with alcohol, then this one is an excellent choice.
Italians love this combination so we know something’s right there.
Hazelnut Liqueur
If we have to find alcohol that’s nuttier than the Amaretto, this one’s probably it.
With hints of cocoa and vanilla, this liqueur will pair nicely with darker roast coffees.
Flavorful Spices
Looking to add something spicy to your cup of joe?
Look no further.
Cardamom
If you’re from the middle east, then you know this already.
Adding cardamom to your coffee gives it a nice spicy vibe.
All you have to do is to add a couple of pods to your brewed coffee and you’re good to go.
Star Anise
Adding half a pod of star anise to your coffee will give a nice licorice-like flavor.
For some, it can be a bit heavy, so be sure to add small amounts and increase it as you see fit.
Clove
Cloves are super aromatic.
For a sophisticated palate, add a couple of cloves to your coffee and let it rest.
You can also add them during the brewing process which will infuse it better but some might find it overpowering. If you love spices, then don’t miss the trick with this one.
Turmeric
If you want to boost the antioxidant properties of coffee, then adding turmeric will surely help your cause.
It is versatile and can improve your mood with a single cup of coffee.
With turmeric, adding a pinch when you’re coffee is brewing will do the trick.
Related Read: Turmeric in coffee
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper brings a nice hit of heat to your coffee.
It’s great for boosting your metabolism and lowering your blood pressure.
Just keep it in moderation, and your taste buds will love you for it.
Ginger
Ginger also packs a ton of health benefits.
Add a small piece of ginger to your coffee while it’s brewing and you will get a nice ginger-infused coffee that not only tastes awesome but also is super healthy.
Mint
Mint is a versatile herb.
You can use it directly as leaves or in an extract form.
The flavor can be heavy for most people so practice moderation when it comes to mint extract. A couple of drops will get the job done.
Oregano
Oregano is not something you think of when you think of coffee.
But surprisingly, it works well and the resulting product is just as good as the oregano tea.
Ashwagandha Powder
This Indian ginseng is a powerhouse of health benefits.
It can help with controlling your blood glucose levels, fight cancer, and also fight depression.
Add a small amount of ashwagandha powder as it comes with a strong flavor profile.
Chicory
Chicory is one of the most common additives added to coffee.
Dried chicory roots are powdered and mixed with coffee during the brewing process.
The final result is an excellent cup of coffee with less caffeine making it a good choice for people with caffeine intolerance.
If we have to mention all the spices you can enjoy with coffee, then this list would go on and on.
The good news is that we’ve done a separate piece on it. You can read it here: Spices in coffee.
Elegant Flavor Enhancers
The following are excellent at improving your coffee’s flavor. If you have a cup of coffee that could do better, then these are the ones that can help you with that.
Salt
Salt makes your coffee better, period.
Got a cup of bitter coffee? Add a pinch of salt.
Whether you’re dealing with an espresso or black coffee, salt works wonders on your coffee drink.
Related Read: Adding salt to your coffee
Lemon
Lemon adds a nice tangy freshness to your coffee.
You can either add a lemon wedge or a few drops of lemon juice to make your coffee filled with the goodness of citric acid.
Related Read: Coffee with lemon
Lavender
Adding lavender to your coffee is a modern coffee trend.
You can use lavender syrup for your coffee and it adds a nice flowery taste. You also get a nice aroma that can lift your mood up.
Cereal
Now, you don’t add cereal to your coffee but the other way around.
Yep, we are adding coffee to our cereals now.
Take a sweet cereal, add some black coffee, and even some milk to it. You just had a nice breakfast with some caffeine in it.
Tonic Water
Yep, you can also add tonic water to your coffee.
Your coffee can turn citrusy but also turn bitter depending on the amount of tonic water you use, so keep an eye on that.
That brings this post to its end.
Whether it is instant coffee, cold coffee, or a hot cup of regular coffee, you can add either of these flavor enhancers to make a nice coffee cocktail.
Do try them and let us know how they worked. Till then, happy coffee days!